Learn how to play these Nirvana songs with Fret Zealot

Want to learn how to play Nirvana songs?

Nirvana, one of the best-selling bands of all time, was instrumental in bringing the grunge movement to mainstream music. They formed in 1987 in Aberdeen, Washington, by lead singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. With songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are”, they pioneered a genre that welded pop with noise, featuring lyrics that contained themes of nihilism and alienation. Nirvana disbanded after Cobain’s death in 1994. Drummer Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters and Novoselic devoted himself to activism. 

 

Here are some Nirvana songs you can learn with Fret Zealot. 

Smells Like Teen Spirit

The lead single from Nevermind, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is considered the “anthem for apathetic kids” from Generation X. 

 

Come As You Are

Cobain originally was reluctant to release “Come As You Are” as Nevermind’s second single due to its similarities to “Eighties” by Killing Joke, but when it was down to “Come As You Are” or “In Bloom”, they eventually went with “Come As You Are”.

 

About a Girl

Featured on Nirvana’s debut album Bleach, “About A Girl” was reportedly written after Cobain spent an afternoon listening to Meet the Beatles! on repeat. It debuted at an Evergreen State College dorm party in Feb. 1989. 

 

The Man Who Sold the World 

What did David Bowie think of Nirvana’s cover of his 1970 song? 

“I was simply blown away when I found that Kurt Cobain liked my work, and have always wanted to talk to him about his reasons for covering ‘The Man Who Sold the World'” and that “it was a good straight forward rendition and sounded somehow very honest,” Bowie said. “It would have been nice to have worked with him, but just talking with him would have been real cool.”


All Apologies

The Fab Four played a role in the composition of this Nirvana song. According to Cobain’s manager Danny Goldberg, Cobain played “Norwegian Wood” over and over again for hours while writing the song. 

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