Kurts solo on smells like teen spirit is one of my favourites. Its simple but it fits the tune so well. Kurt played for the sentiment, he was a genius at that. Music was like making a collage of sound to him, he was like the van gogh of punk rock.
Kurt’s genius lay in his gift for Melody. His lyrics often served no other purpose than to support the melody, same with his popularly supposed simplistic guitar technique. But the ability to take those simple things and arrange them in ways that create songs that reach into the stratosphere evince Kurt’s true artistry. He was one of a kind.
when I hear him playing on a live video or improvising, he doesn't sound that great. but the bass lines on the records are really good. makes me think that maybe cobain with his talent for melody, told him a few things.
I was an 80s metal head, when Teen Spirit came out I liked it but when I heard Bleach and Incesticide I thought: "Oh great, this is the "authentic" Nirvana".
Kurdt was actually a great guitarist and shredder...did lots of shredding on a version of smells like teen spirit...albeit a parody of van halen's style...because eddie pissed him off...the fact remains...if Kurdt was trying he could have been playing regular scale rock/metal....but he wanted to middle finger the establishment of music...I feel he'd be very disappointed in the nickleback's(post grunge pop bands) that he inspired...but I feel he'd have loved the post hardcore bands he inspired(the chariot/dillenger escape plan/mewithoutyou/slothrust...ETC) anyway just defending....a reasonably sober kurt cobain could shredd with almost of the best of shredders...
I did the same thing with Nirvana. When I first heard Smells Like, I was walking by a TV that was playing it, and I stopped and couldn't leave it until the song is over. However, like you, it went to a fashion trend for asshole teenagers so fast I rebelled against it and went back to listening to the blues rock and metal I was listening to before. Lesson I learned: Don't let tools ruin a great thing for you.
Yeah, it took me a while to get into Nirvana. I avoided them for a long time. After Kurt killed himself, I was even less interested in Nirvana and thought it was rediculous how everyone was "overreacting" over his death. Of course now, I think Nirvana is wicked.
Kurt was a musical genius, he changed the face of rock music forever and penned one of the all time greatest albums. Iconic voice, iconic melodies, just a great band. I'll never forget the moment when I first heard his death announced on the radio...tragedy.
Miles Parker ты прав, товарищ. Однако, попробуй сыграть как он-не выйдет. Конечно техника у него хромала и до виртуозов ему, как до марса, но он самоучка и научился владеть инструментом порядочно. Кстати, ни один сегодняшний виртуоз не может похвастаться более-менее приемлемыми мелодиями.,а Кобейн мог!
That's like saying Hendrix didn't have the skills... They were both masters of their instrument, in my opinion that takes a lot of skill... Just because someone isn't classically trained, doesn't mean they haven't mastered the instrument or music in general..
@@evaderknives Let's be honest. Kurt wasn't a good guitar player. He was even sloppy and you can see and hear that for yourself if you watch concerts. He just had talent for writing songs.
Don't forget that for the most part Nirvana was a 3 man band (give or take occasional appearances by part timer Pat Smear) Not many 4 or 5+ member bands ever matched the energy and ferociousness these guys delivered every performance. AND it was all new. Love it or hate it, they pioneered that sound from scratch and still own it.
Kurt Cobain gave guys like me back in the day hope as a guitar player. Before Nirvana there was Metallica and Guns and Roses. Those guitar players were shredders and I was just starting out on a guitar and it felt like it was gonna take me forever to sound like my heros. Then came Cobain and he changed the playing field, suddenly making me feel like I could achieve a more attainable goal haha. Unfortunately I sorta learned a lot of Nirvana songs and decided i was good enough until the late 90s and then realized it was time to start stepping up my game again. Sorry about the sports puns haha, I'm actually not really into sports.
This lesson shows that kurt did way more than just power chords. He added so much and so little at the same time. It's hard to be so complex within simplicity. He also had a great voice and huge amounts of passion. Backed by an amazing complementary bassist with Krist Novoselic.
He topped itnoff for sure. But everyone always fkrgets about chad channing. He had great parts and sounds. I love the early stuff. Maybe he wasnt so tight live, but sometimes dave was to robotic live, not allowing certain songs to pulsate and drop or go up a few bpm while feeling it in the moment. I know i like just a little slip from time to time in my drummers.but i am one so i know what i mean anf am looking for @@svenjansen2134
It just goes to show how iconic Kurt's playing and compisition was. Heck, add that with his voice and it's no wonder why Nirvana's albums will live on through time.
As soon as he hit the back of the neck I thought, "Breed!" The first time I ever figured out tab it was for "Come as You Are," and I was so excited, felt like I'd finally made it.
kurt probably had a 1000 things in his head he couldnt figure out how to play. but its ok because he worked around it and made some of the greatest songs ever. he was moving away from heavy guitar and towards a more acoustic sound towards the end of his life
The worst thing about guitar is fellow guitarists. I'm referencing the comments section not the video which was cool 👍 I'd love to see all these "great" guitarists in the comments section electrify a 60,000 crowd at Reading Festival with their fuckin My Chemical Romance covers 😂😂😂
Kurt was a great guitarist for the simple reason that he was a fantastic composer, writer, and artist. Love it or hate it, his creativity speaks for itself. People boast “it’s easy to play!” but they never ask themselves “could I create such groundbreaking music that changed the whole music scene?” Of course, the answer is NO! He was a musical revolutionary and he killed 80’s glam rock hair metal garbage! Besides, us fans don’t give a single flying fuck what anyone thinks of him or his music!
Kurt is a criminally underrated guitarist. I think his "sloppy" style was intentional to a degree, and it added so much to his and Nirvana's sound. He wasn't an insanely good player from a technical standpoint, but that's nowhere near what he was trying to do or wanted to be. His sense of melody was unmatched, and his guitar writing highlights that, and his playing style gave the music so much unique character too. Nobody can play or write quite like Cobain, and if that, along with the amazing music he gave us, doesn't qualify him as a great guitarist, I don't know what would.
Well said. People that want to measure Kurt against guys like Vai or Yngwie just don't get it and likely never will. To Kurt playing guitar was a means to an end- and that end was creating absolutely beautifully brilliant original songs. Something none of the shred kings seem capable of delivering anyway.
100%. I've been to guitar clinics all over the world and have seen kids in Asia shred harder than just about anyone you can imagine. They're a dime a dozen these days but if had a chance to see Cobain play live again I'd take it over all the Shawn Lane wannabes in the entire world.
@@JethroBoDean You metal elitists completely miss the point that he actually knew how to write good songs,so what he didn't do 7 minute guitar solos? I can listen to And Justice For All or Symphony of Destruction, enjoy it and then go back to Nirvana and realize they were really something special.
Love this channel. I wanted to voice my appreciation for the respect given to Cobain's style and an attention to detail regarding his technique. Most Nirvana lessons on UA-cam get to the strange sections I really want to learn, then say "It's more about emotion than the actual notes" which is a total cop out. Thank you. You teach me a lot.
He was a true original and he didn’t give a fuck. His guitar playing sounds like a beautiful explosion to me. Only someone without traditional training could be so unique. It’s what he created that’s important.
Creativity is an underrated part of being a guitarist. He couldn't play plenty of stuff that other guitarist can, but so many of those same guitarist would never think to play guitar the way Kurt did. Great video.
This was a rad rad video man. I always search for insight into Kurt’s songwriting/guitar playing and this video is one of the best I’ve come across. In depth, and to the point.
Never really listened to nirvana too much but funny enough I've been doing a lot of these techniques because I'm the only guitar player in my band and I had to do something to spice up the sound and make it sound bigger and more entertaining.
I was in my mid teens in the mid 90's and Kurt got me into playing the guitar and singing. Nirvana basically were the 90's for me. My poor mom had to listen to their records *a lot* having the living room next to my room. Whenever I bring that up, she will tell me "Yeah, well I preferred that to when you were 12 and listening to rap, they're only talking!" 😂 I really enjoyed this video! Thanks! 👍 7:45 "Hot town, summer in the city..." 😉
Love this video so much. So great to see someone else pick up on the little things kurt did. His playing and songs inspired me to play and learn guitar and playing his songs were so fun to learn and it's so good to play and not be so clean with playing. Best style of playing kurt cobain was. You can just hear the passion of a talented man, who sadly got noticed for only 1 song.
I learned how to play guitar from bleach and in utero songs. Easy stuff now... but the fact the he inspired me to pick up the guitar more than anyone else should say a lot. I still play the Heart Shaped Box riff as soon as I drop D (yes I know it’s actually lower). Great video. It brought me back too my early days of inspiration.
It's weird, because I learned a lot of nirvana early on I kinda just assumed a lot of these were just cool tricks, not something Kurt was unique in doing. Like, I've been doing double bends for years, never realised it was a unique or rare technique. Cool!
I liked the playing of cobain anyways but you pointed me to some really great stuff. Thank you for this Video. You also gave me some really good answers for People saying cobain was a bad guitarist.
This is an excellent video! Videos on Dean DeLeo and Jerry Cantrell would be great too. You always do a fantastic job teaching the techniques others employ so players can add them to their arsenal.
I really liked your break down. I was 30 when I picked up the Nirvana CD when it came out, how could you not? Like you I put it down for many years. Rediscovered in 2022, when I got into in utero. It's so nice to find something new.
What fascinated me about Kurt is how his solos sounded so erratic and random, on songs like school and in bloom, yet if you watch his live performances, the solos sound IDENTICAL to the studio versions!! How the hell is he doing that? initially it sounds liek he's just improvising and winging it, but if you listen to a bunch of live shows, they sound exact and intentional. it's crazy... another solo example is on Serve the Servants. he really nails them perfect every time
As a guitar player I'd say his 'mistakes' and 'bum' notes were all intentional because it made the songs sound punkier and better for the intended vibe. Even technical guitarists will notice the visceral parts of a solo are when the notes are on the edge. It's what gives it the emotion and separates humans from robots.
I watched a lot of nirvana bootlegs and cobain does some different things with each on blew or sappy for instance but he is no doubt a pretty good guitar soloist. Did i say good? I meant pretty damn good!
A lot of people confuse skill and being techinical - this is not the same thing. Kurt knew the moves, he just performed them in a sloppy kind of way, which made a lot of people think he was not a skillful player. If fact, he was, which is shown in this video. He could do all the things an advanced player does - scratches, leaks, riffs, dropped D, sus chords, bends, slides, feedback - you name it! And above all, his playing was very experimental!
When I was first learning guitar I watched this video because I really liked the sound of nirvana and I use to get really frustrated trying to do his techniques but now for some reason I get everything you are saying and I’m very excited to try them out again
Kurts playing is purposefully stylistic to what he felt and wanted to convey. Adam Jones also uses the extended drop D chords adding the B/G strings. For example, if youre playing a barre chord on the 'dropped' D string at the 5th of course its 5-5-5, hop down onto the A string it becomes 5-7-7. But if you hop down again and play a power chord on the d string its 5-7-8. So they're simply combining the first and third chords in a way. Just to get a fuller chord and bigger sound. The intro for TOOL's 4° is played using d string power chords. The first part played at 2-4-5 and 3-5-6, but as he plays the second chord he pulls off the 3rd fret and slides back down hammering on the 2nd. He repeats that a few times then the second part of the riff is sliding thru these chords; 7-9-10, 5-7-8, 10-12-13 and ending on 3-5-6 from the first part. These d string 'power chords' are basically an open d chord shape 0-2-3 that you are able to move anywhere on the fretboard sometimes I myself implement the high e string as well using the various d chord shapes sus2, sus4 etc. So you could play a chord on the d string simply as 5-7-8 with NO high e. Or you could add that string at the 5th, 7th or 8th fret; 5-7-8-5/5-7-8-7/5-7-8-8 letting you get different sounds by applying the aforementioned d sus chord shapes. Try it out and see what you think. OH! Also Frusicante used a lot of open e and/or b strings to brighten up chords as well. The prechorus/chorus for "I could have lied" is a great example. And of my all time favorite songs. Also in Californication.. going into the chorus he plays an A-minor chord (x02210) into an F chord leaving the e open still (x33210). It really allows that high e string to tie them together. Keep rocking! 🎸🎶🎶🎶
I have always respected Kurt as a person. He wrote and played from his heart and didn't care what anyone thought of him. He was never ashamed or let pride/ego get to his head. After becoming famous, most people tend to buy expensive clothes and other material items, but he stuck to his roots and continued being who he was. He was even one of the first to acknowledge minorities, mental illness and bullying. I believe he helped bring those topics to light. He may not be the best guitarist, but he wasn't trying to be. Comparing guitar players is so silly to me. How can you say Kurt sucks at guitar because he's not Steve Vai or someone else? That makes no sense. Can't people just listen to different artists without making comparisons? Furthermore, as a guitarist myself, one of my entry level guitar players I could learn from was Kurt. His riffs are simple enough to mimic and satisfy a beginner player. A lot of potential guitarists can get easily discouraged if the only people they can learn from are so advanced that it would take years to play them correctly. For Nirvana (and a few others) though, being able to hear a familiar come out from your fingers sends a wave of reassurance down your spine. I've taught new players some riffs and as soon as they can play them, it is amazing seeing their face light up with joy knowing what they can do.
As a lifelong Nirvana fan and influenced guitarist, this video couldn't be more dead-on. Kurt was truly an artist more than a figure, an idol, or a man. But he was also a man.
Love it! People normally scandalize when I tell them that Kurt Cobain it's one of my favorite guitarist, because I also mention Brian May, Angus Young and Jimmy Page as some of my favorites. :b
@@thecloudyguy4207 Kurt probably knew he would never recover from his heroin addiction. He also probably thought he would be a bad influence and a bad parent for his daughter. That must have been hard for him to handle and he just couldn't take it.
Kurt is a poet and purist maker of melodies straight from his soul, did his own shit, the z boy of music. Never followed somebody else’s guidelines to playing, just made sound with style and emotion, never limited himself to chords or notes, I get it. Feelin of being boxed in and playing someone else’s script is very present when learning to read specific chords, he went off feeling and what he liked.
Kurt is the reason i picked up a guitar and have been playing for 8 years. everything about his style and technique is what made me and still makes me the player i am. i'm by no means a perfect player either and i fuck up constantly. he taught me that melody and emotion is more important with the guitar and lyrics than being a perfect player. i'm forever grateful to call Kurt my biggest musical inspiration.
Isnt it a misconception? I dont think the guitar was out of tune. The solos hit wrong notes (sometimes atonal music for the most part just sloppyness) but the guitar was in tune.
Just realised that the pixies did that Beatles, hard days night chord at the beginning of here comes your man. Kurt loved both bands, no wonder he ended up using it! Amazing.
I went on to become a more technically-oriented guitarist through the years, but Kurt’s playing, moods, and sound are what drew to start playing. You did a flawless job explaining the character and range of his sound, despite smug criticism of guitar snobs. Kurt was the Easter Bunny of guitar. There are so many intriguing and characteristically unique Easter Eggs of sound and soul in every song they did.
FINALLY THANK YOU MIKE!!! as you can probably tell by my 4 or 5 comments I'm a Nirvana nut, so I know technique bits here and there, and i love there music. Thank you so much for this video, its given me even more techniques, and more incentive to play more often!!
I have always loved Kurts guitar work more than anyone else except for Hendrix, it just sounds good to my ear and I dont know what it is other than It stands out and I like it. And thats why I learned to play the guitar because of Nirvana. They were and are such a big influence on me. Easily my favorite band of all time. Heart Shaped Box has my favorite riff I just love the opening to it.
pretty cool video i grew up in aberdeen washington and olympia he was actually the second person i ever played guitar with i actually bought this guitar just yesterday looking forward to playing it
1:16 Manic Vibrato
2:11 Double Bends
3:14 Parts for Leads
4:00 Neck Tap Noise
4:33 Single-Note Riff Bends
5:10 Tritone Solos
5:43 Open-String Pull Offs
6:27 Open Slide Riffs
6:55 Single-Line Riffs
7:32 Volume Swells
7:54 Noise Harmonics
9:06 Drop D Extended Chord
9:57 High Drone Tones
10:44 Metal Riffs!
11:06 The "Cobain" Chord
11:50 Muted String Scratches
12:21 Simplicity
12:58 Copying the Vocals
13:35 Ringing Notes
14:55 Bending Power Chords
15:25 Connecting Pedal Tone
15:57 Intro Noodling
16:33 Intro Chord
17:03 The Weezer Chord
17:39 F#7add11
18:15 Rhythms with Leads
19:08 Droning Pedal Tones
19:39 Arpeggiated Drop D Chords
Thanks m8! \m/
the man. the myth, the legend with timestamps!
the hero in our needs
MV
Nice
What song is the one he does for Volume Swells?
Kurts solo on smells like teen spirit is one of my favourites. Its simple but it fits the tune so well. Kurt played for the sentiment, he was a genius at that. Music was like making a collage of sound to him, he was like the van gogh of punk rock.
Agreed! It’s like there was no other noise that could perfectly fit that part of the song!!
Great to see someone giving a lot of love to Bleach. Such a great album.
mr mustache was the first song I learned on guitar
Bleach is a great album- my second fave after In Utero.
Five first songs are nice, and negative creep as well. The others are nice too, but in a different way, more experimental...
@@fovnwetovnwviqerv0qe8rj0er4 yes, very underrated album
Best albums are incesticide or with the lights out
Kurt’s genius lay in his gift for Melody. His lyrics often served no other purpose than to support the melody, same with his popularly supposed simplistic guitar technique. But the ability to take those simple things and arrange them in ways that create songs that reach into the stratosphere evince Kurt’s true artistry. He was one of a kind.
underrated guitar player, and I think Krist Novoselic is a really underrated bass player as well
Diogo Ferreira krist is one of my favourite bassists and he is why I started bass
when I hear him playing on a live video or improvising, he doesn't sound that great. but the bass lines on the records are really good. makes me think that maybe cobain with his talent for melody, told him a few things.
Agreed.
@@gbyla8185 same
Lounge act was always one of my favorites cause of him!
Kurt proved that songwriting is more important than playing.....
Kurt Cobain was one of the reasons why I picked up the guitar. Him, Mike McCready, and Billy Corgan. 🤘🏽
Me too, back in 99 when I heard nevermind for the first time I bought a guitar as soon as I could
That's sad.
Mike McCready is great. Love his stuff with Mad Season and Temple of the Dog.
Me too, that’s why I always gonna like Nirvana
For me Bob Dylan was the reason why picked it up, and Kurt Cobain the reason why music became everything to me
Bleach is such a great album. GIMME BACK MA ALCAHAAAAWL
My mom showed me bleach and it got me hooked to Nirvana and to play the guitar.
(Ps. I hated music before this.)
PP pressed against my lips....
Yes it is a great album
Samurai Dave 🤭
I was an 80s metal head, when Teen Spirit came out I liked it but when I heard Bleach and Incesticide I thought: "Oh great, this is the "authentic" Nirvana".
People don't get that the lack of technique is intentional. It's just the punk ethos to put expression over polish.
Spot on.
Hence all the haters. They’re so close-minded when it comes to rock music.
wow so punk
It all falls into place when you check out two of his main influences: Black Flag and Flipper.
Except when you actually lack technique or even skill
Cobain created his own style making the most of the skills he did have. His arrangements were brilliant.
And when you get down to it - the writing and arrangements are everything!
Kurdt was actually a great guitarist and shredder...did lots of shredding on a version of smells like teen spirit...albeit a parody of van halen's style...because eddie pissed him off...the fact remains...if Kurdt was trying he could have been playing regular scale rock/metal....but he wanted to middle finger the establishment of music...I feel he'd be very disappointed in the nickleback's(post grunge pop bands) that he inspired...but I feel he'd have loved the post hardcore bands he inspired(the chariot/dillenger escape plan/mewithoutyou/slothrust...ETC) anyway just defending....a reasonably sober kurt cobain could shredd with almost of the best of shredders...
How do I find this video or song of Kurt shredding
he was mid.
@@TheShepherdFilms This has to be a joke
I did the same thing with Nirvana. When I first heard Smells Like, I was walking by a TV that was playing it, and I stopped and couldn't leave it until the song is over. However, like you, it went to a fashion trend for asshole teenagers so fast I rebelled against it and went back to listening to the blues rock and metal I was listening to before. Lesson I learned: Don't let tools ruin a great thing for you.
and on the bright side, it killed hair metal....
Yeah, it took me a while to get into Nirvana. I avoided them for a long time. After Kurt killed himself, I was even less interested in Nirvana and thought it was rediculous how everyone was "overreacting" over his death.
Of course now, I think Nirvana is wicked.
@@johng2880 what killed hair metal was the media, not the grunge, a lot of people still loved Glam
There is some irony of it, rebelling against rebels
rebelled against something you truly like lol
Kurt was a musical genius, he changed the face of rock music forever and penned one of the all time greatest albums. Iconic voice, iconic melodies, just a great band. I'll never forget the moment when I first heard his death announced on the radio...tragedy.
I've never heard anyone call Cobain a bad guitarists...except when guitarists talk about it.
Kurt didnt have the skill but had a lot of cool sounds in his head. Which is so much better than having all the skills but zero musical ideas.
Miles Parker ты прав, товарищ. Однако, попробуй сыграть как он-не выйдет. Конечно техника у него хромала и до виртуозов ему, как до марса, но он самоучка и научился владеть инструментом порядочно.
Кстати, ни один сегодняшний виртуоз не может похвастаться более-менее приемлемыми мелодиями.,а Кобейн мог!
That's like saying Hendrix didn't have the skills... They were both masters of their instrument, in my opinion that takes a lot of skill... Just because someone isn't classically trained, doesn't mean they haven't mastered the instrument or music in general..
so true
I have that same too
@@evaderknives
Let's be honest. Kurt wasn't a good guitar player. He was even sloppy and you can see and hear that for yourself if you watch concerts. He just had talent for writing songs.
Don't forget that for the most part Nirvana was a 3 man band (give or take occasional appearances by part timer Pat Smear) Not many 4 or 5+ member bands ever matched the energy and ferociousness these guys delivered every performance. AND it was all new. Love it or hate it, they pioneered that sound from scratch and still own it.
Many of my favorite bands were three piece bands...Rush, ZZ Top, etc...
Everyone knows it’s just the 3
Nah he was an official member, he just joined too late
Your a fool they sucked...
You're a true OG for making this video, Mike. Take this, guitar elitists.
Haha. No fear brother!
The-Art-of-Guitar isn't it past your bedtime?
oh !?? More like beta boy ! Did you see how he limp wrist slapped the neck of the guitar ?
Kurt Cobain gave guys like me back in the day hope as a guitar player. Before Nirvana there was Metallica and Guns and Roses. Those guitar players were shredders and I was just starting out on a guitar and it felt like it was gonna take me forever to sound like my heros. Then came Cobain and he changed the playing field, suddenly making me feel like I could achieve a more attainable goal haha. Unfortunately I sorta learned a lot of Nirvana songs and decided i was good enough until the late 90s and then realized it was time to start stepping up my game again. Sorry about the sports puns haha, I'm actually not really into sports.
Kurt Cobain greatest technique: playing with his guts.
Plus, his incredible vocal chords.
guy was an idiot noisemaker
+Chris Choir that was the whole point
His only talent was pushing the needle in
@@chrischoir3594 can't wait to hear your album, im sure it will change music forever.
@@j.d.2230 Your only talents is typing on a keyboard
This lesson shows that kurt did way more than just power chords. He added so much and so little at the same time. It's hard to be so complex within simplicity. He also had a great voice and huge amounts of passion. Backed by an amazing complementary bassist with Krist Novoselic.
Grohl was the heartbeat of that band. It stands or falls with the drums.
He topped itnoff for sure. But everyone always fkrgets about chad channing. He had great parts and sounds. I love the early stuff. Maybe he wasnt so tight live, but sometimes dave was to robotic live, not allowing certain songs to pulsate and drop or go up a few bpm while feeling it in the moment. I know i like just a little slip from time to time in my drummers.but i am one so i know what i mean anf am looking for @@svenjansen2134
Recognising each song individually throughout the entire video has to be one of the most satisfying things ever
It just goes to show how iconic Kurt's playing and compisition was. Heck, add that with his voice and it's no wonder why Nirvana's albums will live on through time.
As soon as he hit the back of the neck I thought, "Breed!" The first time I ever figured out tab it was for "Come as You Are," and I was so excited, felt like I'd finally made it.
J R
Come as you are is my absolute fav Nirvana song. It was my driving thru the canyons to Malibu beach song. It was sooo summery!
What is the song at 5:50
@@namethatcorn2879 Love Buzz
kurt probably had a 1000 things in his head he couldnt figure out how to play. but its ok because he worked around it and made some of the greatest songs ever. he was moving away from heavy guitar and towards a more acoustic sound towards the end of his life
@Ron Kurt himself stated he barely had guitar lessons before he started to write music, i doubt he cared about the difficulty of his music
The worst thing about guitar is fellow guitarists. I'm referencing the comments section not the video which was cool 👍
I'd love to see all these "great" guitarists in the comments section electrify a 60,000 crowd at Reading Festival with their fuckin My Chemical Romance covers 😂😂😂
Kurt was a great guitarist for the simple reason that he was a fantastic composer, writer, and artist.
Love it or hate it, his creativity speaks for itself.
People boast “it’s easy to play!” but they never ask themselves “could I create such groundbreaking music that changed the whole music scene?”
Of course, the answer is NO!
He was a musical revolutionary and he killed 80’s glam rock hair metal garbage!
Besides, us fans don’t give a single flying fuck what anyone thinks of him or his music!
People always say "ANYONE COULD DO WHAT KURT DID"
Nearly 30 years later and I'm still waiting
It's not that easy to play if you're playing it like Kurt :)
@@dualtahunter4043 Me too, and still no one is coming till now, miss Cobain
Kurt was right handed that makes him even more talented, it is not easy to play with the less skillful hand
Fanboy
Kurt is a criminally underrated guitarist. I think his "sloppy" style was intentional to a degree, and it added so much to his and Nirvana's sound. He wasn't an insanely good player from a technical standpoint, but that's nowhere near what he was trying to do or wanted to be. His sense of melody was unmatched, and his guitar writing highlights that, and his playing style gave the music so much unique character too. Nobody can play or write quite like Cobain, and if that, along with the amazing music he gave us, doesn't qualify him as a great guitarist, I don't know what would.
Well said. People that want to measure Kurt against guys like Vai or Yngwie just don't get it and likely never will. To Kurt playing guitar was a means to an end- and that end was creating absolutely beautifully brilliant original songs. Something none of the shred kings seem capable of delivering anyway.
@@patrickfoster4586 kurt was right handed that makes him even more talented
100%. I've been to guitar clinics all over the world and have seen kids in Asia shred harder than just about anyone you can imagine. They're a dime a dozen these days but if had a chance to see Cobain play live again I'd take it over all the Shawn Lane wannabes in the entire world.
This was absolutely one of the best guitar lession videos I have ever seen!
I don't get why metalheads dislike nirvana lol
What don't u get they suck incoherent boring no talent hacks
@@JethroBoDean i do get why their hated on because they ruined hair metal LOL so no more puffy hair and lipstick for guitar players. Thank you kurt
@@JethroBoDean
"No talent hacks" *whilest commenting this from his mom's bedroom
@@JethroBoDean
You metal elitists completely miss the point that he actually knew how to write good songs,so what he didn't do 7 minute guitar solos? I can listen to And Justice For All or Symphony of Destruction, enjoy it and then go back to Nirvana and realize they were really something special.
Kurt loved metal and punk.
Kurt was a legend, Nirvana changed music forever
This video was so cool, it showed me things I would’ve never learnt about one of my favourite guitarists
Love this channel. I wanted to voice my appreciation for the respect given to Cobain's style and an attention to detail regarding his technique. Most Nirvana lessons on UA-cam get to the strange sections I really want to learn, then say "It's more about emotion than the actual notes" which is a total cop out. Thank you. You teach me a lot.
The album is bleach is pretty brutal. I would recommend a listen.
Simplicity is huge, so many guitarists overplay. As you state in your in 11 don't dos.
People who call Kurt a bad guitar player should first try and sound like him. It's not that easy.
Johnnythefirst it's not that hard either.
Its pretty easy
kurt's cited IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST as huge influences.how's that for irony?
I mean Kurt was called a anti guitarist
He was a true original and he didn’t give a fuck. His guitar playing sounds like a beautiful explosion to me. Only someone without traditional training could be so unique. It’s what he created that’s important.
Creativity is an underrated part of being a guitarist. He couldn't play plenty of stuff that other guitarist can, but so many of those same guitarist would never think to play guitar the way Kurt did. Great video.
As soon as I saw the Jaguar I knew you were making this video
Or you read the title
This was a rad rad video man. I always search for insight into Kurt’s songwriting/guitar playing and this video is one of the best I’ve come across. In depth, and to the point.
so,wait,your metal friends went all like "oh well,whatever,nevermind"?um,yeah.very slick,mike.very slick indeed.
hostile graveyard learn how to use a space bar
Jake Feldman hold the phone.
so yer sayin' they serve booze in SPACE now?
bitchin'!
let's go hoppin'!
tapas!
and sliders!
uh,better?
Jake Feldman ONE MORE THING:
ua-cam.com/video/9CDs067081E/v-deo.html
recommended for you.
Jake Feldman enjoy!
@@tg-sneaky-ninja478 fire up that starship,kemosabe!heh.
I could listen and watch U talk and play about Kurt all day anything about Kurt just puts a smile on my face ty
Kurt is the true inspiration to me playing my guitar.
One of my favorite videos on UA-cam I been watching it for about 3 years now. Most people don’t get it exact as you do. Much props 👌
Never really listened to nirvana too much but funny enough I've been doing a lot of these techniques because I'm the only guitar player in my band and I had to do something to spice up the sound and make it sound bigger and more entertaining.
Make a guitar lesson of love buzz you nailed that lick
I was in my mid teens in the mid 90's and Kurt got me into playing the guitar and singing. Nirvana basically were the 90's for me. My poor mom had to listen to their records *a lot* having the living room next to my room. Whenever I bring that up, she will tell me "Yeah, well I preferred that to when you were 12 and listening to rap, they're only talking!" 😂 I really enjoyed this video! Thanks! 👍 7:45 "Hot town, summer in the city..." 😉
Hot Town! I was trying to place that... Nice catch!!
Love this video so much. So great to see someone else pick up on the little things kurt did. His playing and songs inspired me to play and learn guitar and playing his songs were so fun to learn and it's so good to play and not be so clean with playing. Best style of playing kurt cobain was. You can just hear the passion of a talented man, who sadly got noticed for only 1 song.
I learned how to play guitar from bleach and in utero songs. Easy stuff now... but the fact the he inspired me to pick up the guitar more than anyone else should say a lot. I still play the Heart Shaped Box riff as soon as I drop D (yes I know it’s actually lower). Great video. It brought me back too my early days of inspiration.
That 20 mins flew by
it felt more like 27 minutes on this end.but,hey,whatever.
@@hostilegraveyard2849 nevermind😆
I've been playing for 12 years and I still love watching someone else do it. Great explanation of everything man.
It's weird, because I learned a lot of nirvana early on I kinda just assumed a lot of these were just cool tricks, not something Kurt was unique in doing. Like, I've been doing double bends for years, never realised it was a unique or rare technique. Cool!
Grunge is the absolute best man
I liked the playing of cobain anyways but you pointed me to some really great stuff. Thank you for this Video. You also gave me some really good answers for People saying cobain was a bad guitarist.
This is an excellent video! Videos on Dean DeLeo and Jerry Cantrell would be great too. You always do a fantastic job teaching the techniques others employ so players can add them to their arsenal.
Great video! I think the Edge is another guitarist who we can learn a lot more from than it may appear!!!!🙏🙏🙏
I really liked your break down. I was 30 when I picked up the Nirvana CD when it came out, how could you not? Like you I put it down for many years. Rediscovered in 2022, when I got into in utero. It's so nice to find something new.
What fascinated me about Kurt is how his solos sounded so erratic and random, on songs like school and in bloom, yet if you watch his live performances, the solos sound IDENTICAL to the studio versions!! How the hell is he doing that? initially it sounds liek he's just improvising and winging it, but if you listen to a bunch of live shows, they sound exact and intentional. it's crazy... another solo example is on Serve the Servants. he really nails them perfect every time
Neil Young does the same thing.
As a guitar player I'd say his 'mistakes' and 'bum' notes were all intentional because it made the songs sound punkier and better for the intended vibe. Even technical guitarists will notice the visceral parts of a solo are when the notes are on the edge. It's what gives it the emotion and separates humans from robots.
And animal robots
I watched a lot of nirvana bootlegs and cobain does some different things with each on blew or sappy for instance but he is no doubt a pretty good guitar soloist. Did i say good? I meant pretty damn good!
You are right..Same with Endless,Nameless they look spontaneous yet sounds the same..amazing right
Kurt worked really hard on guitar, he played every day for years and used to know a lot of things about music, so hard work pays!
Weezer chord... on a nirvana video
RiVirs Is Kart CoBaIN
A lot of people confuse skill and being techinical - this is not the same thing. Kurt knew the moves, he just performed them in a sloppy kind of way, which made a lot of people think he was not a skillful player. If fact, he was, which is shown in this video. He could do all the things an advanced player does - scratches, leaks, riffs, dropped D, sus chords, bends, slides, feedback - you name it! And above all, his playing was very experimental!
Great video👍
Tom Morello next
+ 1 !
First: buy an original DT whammy pedal.
Love all of the Bleach and Incesticide riffs on here. Great video man!!
I like how you play songs from bleach too
This was a very respectful, clear and pleasant vid. As grown up with grunge I thank you very much.
Hey man could you please do Opeth's guitar techniques? I love that band and have not seen many vieos analyzing their guitar techniques and stuff.
When I was first learning guitar I watched this video because I really liked the sound of nirvana and I use to get really frustrated trying to do his techniques but now for some reason I get everything you are saying and I’m very excited to try them out again
You don’t have to be a world class guitar player to write an awesome song that everyone loves. I absolutely love that about music.
Kurts playing is purposefully stylistic to what he felt and wanted to convey. Adam Jones also uses the extended drop D chords adding the B/G strings. For example, if youre playing a barre chord on the 'dropped' D string at the 5th of course its 5-5-5, hop down onto the A string it becomes 5-7-7. But if you hop down again and play a power chord on the d string its 5-7-8. So they're simply combining the first and third chords in a way. Just to get a fuller chord and bigger sound.
The intro for TOOL's 4° is played using d string power chords. The first part played at 2-4-5 and 3-5-6, but as he plays the second chord he pulls off the 3rd fret and slides back down hammering on the 2nd. He repeats that a few times then the second part of the riff is sliding thru these chords; 7-9-10, 5-7-8, 10-12-13 and ending on 3-5-6 from the first part.
These d string 'power chords' are basically an open d chord shape 0-2-3 that you are able to move anywhere on the fretboard sometimes I myself implement the high e string as well using the various d chord shapes sus2, sus4 etc. So you could play a chord on the d string simply as 5-7-8 with NO high e.
Or you could add that string at the 5th, 7th or 8th fret; 5-7-8-5/5-7-8-7/5-7-8-8 letting you get different sounds by applying the aforementioned d sus chord shapes. Try it out and see what you think.
OH!
Also Frusicante used a lot of open e and/or b strings to brighten up chords as well. The prechorus/chorus for "I could have lied" is a great example. And of my all time favorite songs.
Also in Californication.. going into the chorus he plays an A-minor chord (x02210) into an F chord leaving the e open still (x33210). It really allows that high e string to tie them together.
Keep rocking! 🎸🎶🎶🎶
The chords like f#7add11 were used by alice in chains a lot.
Rooster ;)
DickBurns
I heard rooster near the end of video
I have always respected Kurt as a person. He wrote and played from his heart and didn't care what anyone thought of him. He was never ashamed or let pride/ego get to his head. After becoming famous, most people tend to buy expensive clothes and other material items, but he stuck to his roots and continued being who he was. He was even one of the first to acknowledge minorities, mental illness and bullying. I believe he helped bring those topics to light.
He may not be the best guitarist, but he wasn't trying to be. Comparing guitar players is so silly to me. How can you say Kurt sucks at guitar because he's not Steve Vai or someone else? That makes no sense. Can't people just listen to different artists without making comparisons?
Furthermore, as a guitarist myself, one of my entry level guitar players I could learn from was Kurt. His riffs are simple enough to mimic and satisfy a beginner player. A lot of potential guitarists can get easily discouraged if the only people they can learn from are so advanced that it would take years to play them correctly. For Nirvana (and a few others) though, being able to hear a familiar come out from your fingers sends a wave of reassurance down your spine. I've taught new players some riffs and as soon as they can play them, it is amazing seeing their face light up with joy knowing what they can do.
Can you do Alice in Chains? If you dig them at all, obviously
He did, with the F#7add11 chord. Rooster.
sabbracadabra write something better then
@sabbracadabra your mom is boring
As a lifelong Nirvana fan and influenced guitarist, this video couldn't be more dead-on. Kurt was truly an artist more than a figure, an idol, or a man. But he was also a man.
9:40 Funnily enough, he actually hits the open E and B to get that sound. Great video! (as always ;))
What’s the name of that song he’s playing
Love the slide riff, slide up then back....so cool.
Anyone that claims Kurt was shit remember this:
He took guitar lessons long enough to learn the riff to Back in Black and then quit.
Really explains a lot about his playing style. He essentially just moves power chords around the fret board, very much like AC/DC.
@@deanrabbit8060 It's very punk rock. thats hows Misfits and Ramones were
JoeAdams96 thats how i am. If youre creative enough you can get away with it.
Dean Rabbit If you really believe that, you clearly didn’t watch this video.
@@deanrabbit8060 So like over most of James Hetfields playing as well then
Very cool breakdown, thanks!!
Please do one of these videos on Josh Homme. His playing style in Kyuss and early Qotsa is so weird and amazing!
This video was very epic. Thanks for taking the time to teach us! 🙂👏👏👏👏
Josh Homme's Greatest Guitar Techniques?
Yes
Techniqe #1 Do some weed.
#28 Sue your former band members
Incredible knowledge and skill! A true master of your instrument.
the main thing is: he could convey emotions through the guitar
Great examples! Really loved this one! You do a great job explaining and showing Cobain’s sound. 🙏💕
Love it! People normally scandalize when I tell them that Kurt Cobain it's one of my favorite guitarist, because I also mention Brian May, Angus Young and Jimmy Page as some of my favorites. :b
Maybe 'cos you got confused and put a songwriter on your list of guitar players, don't put EHV in your list of songwriters.
Yea
Very cool dissection of Kurts real musical genius.
You hated Kurt because he was very handsome
And in dire need of soap and water.
Efuh _ No I hate Kurt cuz he was a selfish junkie that blew his brains out instead of raising his daughter like a real man would’ve done.
@@thecloudyguy4207 no one cares if you hate him buddy,you dont have to be here
@@thecloudyguy4207 Kurt probably knew he would never recover from his heroin addiction. He also probably thought he would be a bad influence and a bad parent for his daughter. That must have been hard for him to handle and he just couldn't take it.
@@thecloudyguy4207 Also, bipolar people have a higher likelihood of abusing substances such as heroin.
this is the most helpful video i’ve found so far for songwriting purposes thank you
Do Billie Joe Armstrong pleasee
Kurt is a poet and purist maker of melodies straight from his soul, did his own shit, the z boy of music. Never followed somebody else’s guidelines to playing, just made sound with style and emotion, never limited himself to chords or notes, I get it. Feelin of being boxed in and playing someone else’s script is very present when learning to read specific chords, he went off feeling and what he liked.
Tom morello please :)
Btw you should really look into ian dsas guitar playing in Billy Talent. Hes a straight up riff master, really underrated
Kurt is the reason i picked up a guitar and have been playing for 8 years. everything about his style and technique is what made me and still makes me the player i am. i'm by no means a perfect player either and i fuck up constantly. he taught me that melody and emotion is more important with the guitar and lyrics than being a perfect player. i'm forever grateful to call Kurt my biggest musical inspiration.
First technique out tune your guitar
Albay König and still sound great....
Isnt it a misconception? I dont think the guitar was out of tune. The solos hit wrong notes (sometimes atonal music for the most part just sloppyness) but the guitar was in tune.
I've been listening to Nirvana all my life and I never could put all these bits and pieces together. A brilliant rundown.
Kurt was a genius, gone too early. RIP Kurt.
Just realised that the pixies did that Beatles, hard days night chord at the beginning of here comes your man. Kurt loved both bands, no wonder he ended up using it! Amazing.
You should still do a techniques video on Michael schenker, especially his new performances of rock bottom are incredible.
I went on to become a more technically-oriented guitarist through the years, but Kurt’s playing, moods, and sound are what drew to start playing. You did a flawless job explaining the character and range of his sound, despite smug criticism of guitar snobs. Kurt was the Easter Bunny of guitar. There are so many intriguing and characteristically unique Easter Eggs of sound and soul in every song they did.
I like your vids, man!. You're doing a great job.
Watching in remembrance of 25 years ago. RIP Kurt. You are missed
FINALLY THANK YOU MIKE!!! as you can probably tell by my 4 or 5 comments I'm a Nirvana nut, so I know technique bits here and there, and i love there music. Thank you so much for this video, its given me even more techniques, and more incentive to play more often!!
I have always loved Kurts guitar work more than anyone else except for Hendrix, it just sounds good to my ear and I dont know what it is other than It stands out and I like it. And thats why I learned to play the guitar because of Nirvana. They were and are such a big influence on me. Easily my favorite band of all time.
Heart Shaped Box has my favorite riff I just love the opening to it.
4:20 as soon as I heard that little noise I knew school was coming
Christopher Guth i was thinking about breed 😂
On a plain
Christopher Guth it’s actually breed
I went to Floyd the Barber
same
pretty cool video i grew up in aberdeen washington and olympia he was actually the second person i ever played guitar with i actually bought this guitar just yesterday looking forward to playing it
Still smell jealous metal heads in 2019...
Nice video!
This guy is great, been glued to these vids. Top tier stuff
#1- "Smash everything"