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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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".
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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!
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 😂😂😂
@@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 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
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
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.
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!
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.
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 CZcams 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.
On that first technique he demonstrates, you can see Kurt doing it at it's finest in the song In Bloom. The entire solo is him doing that crazy long slow bend into a frantic vibrato the entire time and uses maybe 4 or 5 notes the entire solo and it's still one of the most difficult solos to replicate EDIT: Well, guess I should of waited until he demonstrated the next technique and mentioned In Bloom like I did... better to edit and not get called out and not delete my comment.. lol
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!
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 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..." 😉
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
I love the way you explain kurt's technique as a more studied/learned guitarist. it provides some insight into their musical intuition that you can't appreciate just by copying it or hearing it. i'm going to play some kurt riffs now! i've only played do re mi because it's very dear to my heart. talk about simple chord structure becoming incredibly creative!
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.
Great video, thank you for all your hard work. I am just getting the gear back out after around a ten year break. I uploaded a few songs from many years ago, on my channel, with some lead work in it. I enjoy your channel and have been working on my playing and new songs once again.
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!!
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
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.
The fact that you can remember exactly where you were when you heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time, but anything by the likes of Guns 'N Roses or Motley Crue is just a blur, is, as the saying goes, 'nuff said.
First song I heard by them was In Bloom when I was eight in 2007. It was a misheard lyrics video I found on youtube while browsing Roblox videos. That was 13 years after he died, and I wrote this comment 13 years after discovering them.
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?
Great to see someone giving a lot of love to Bleach. Such a great album.
Only he plays the riffs wrong... And the cool solo he starts and doesn't finish.
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
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.
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 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.
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!
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!!
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
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
Kurt proved that songwriting is more important than playing.....
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
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".
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 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
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...
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.
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 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.
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 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
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 😂😂😂
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 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
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
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.
Kurt was a legend, Nirvana changed music forever
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
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:
czcams.com/video/9CDs067081E/video.html
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Jake Feldman enjoy!
@@tg-sneaky-ninja478 fire up that starship,kemosabe!heh.
As soon as I saw the Jaguar I knew you were making this video
Or you read the title
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 CZcams 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.
This was absolutely one of the best guitar lession videos I have ever seen!
This video was so cool, it showed me things I would’ve never learnt about one of my favourite guitarists
The album is bleach is pretty brutal. I would recommend a listen.
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
On that first technique he demonstrates, you can see Kurt doing it at it's finest in the song In Bloom. The entire solo is him doing that crazy long slow bend into a frantic vibrato the entire time and uses maybe 4 or 5 notes the entire solo and it's still one of the most difficult solos to replicate
EDIT: Well, guess I should of waited until he demonstrated the next technique and mentioned In Bloom like I did... better to edit and not get called out and not delete my comment.. lol
Great video👍
Tom Morello next
+ 1 !
First: buy an original DT whammy pedal.
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!
Great examples! Really loved this one! You do a great job explaining and showing Cobain’s sound. 🙏💕
One of my favorite videos on CZcams I been watching it for about 3 years now. Most people don’t get it exact as you do. Much props 👌
Love all of the Bleach and Incesticide riffs on here. Great video man!!
I like your vids, man!. You're doing a great job.
Great analysis man. Always love watching your videos.
This video was very epic. Thanks for taking the time to teach us! 🙂👏👏👏👏
I used to be a fan.
Now I'm an air conditioner.
FNC Danium oh jesus what a joke😂
Very clever -_-
POWER CHORD not included.heh.
That’s pretty COOL
@@makkrohero59 it sure is a joke
Simplicity is huge, so many guitarists overplay. As you state in your in 11 don't dos.
Seen a lot of vids but this is the best yet. Really really well delivered and truly epic content. You're a fxxking hero mate.
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 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!!
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.
This guy is great, been glued to these vids. Top tier stuff
Very cool breakdown, thanks!!
That 20 mins flew by
it felt more like 27 minutes on this end.but,hey,whatever.
@@hostilegraveyard2849 nevermind😆
Kurt is the true inspiration to me playing my guitar.
I've been playing for 12 years and I still love watching someone else do it. Great explanation of everything man.
Loved it! Thanks for posting!
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.
Grunge is the absolute best man
The best video I ever seen in CZcams..thanks brother, kurt was genius and original..greetings from Greece😉
Beautiful playing!! Great explanation. Thanks so much.
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.
Great video! I think the Edge is another guitarist who we can learn a lot more from than it may appear!!!!🙏🙏🙏
Great video i love the how you broke down his playing. Has some cool ideas.
This was a very respectful, clear and pleasant vid. As grown up with grunge I thank you very much.
Make a guitar lesson of love buzz you nailed that lick
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.
I could listen and watch U talk and play about Kurt all day anything about Kurt just puts a smile on my face ty
I love your stuff man, thanks for your stuff and awesome perception
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.
This video was amazing
this is the most helpful video i’ve found so far for songwriting purposes thank you
Incredible knowledge and skill! A true master of your instrument.
Kurt had his own style and way of playing which made him really unique
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
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.
Great job on this video! Very informative!
Please do one of these videos on Josh Homme. His playing style in Kyuss and early Qotsa is so weird and amazing!
Weezer chord... on a nirvana video
RiVirs Is Kart CoBaIN
This video was very nostalgaic for me and I got some cool new tricks to try. Thanks, man
Thanks for making this video!
I love the way you explain kurt's technique as a more studied/learned guitarist. it provides some insight into their musical intuition that you can't appreciate just by copying it or hearing it. i'm going to play some kurt riffs now! i've only played do re mi because it's very dear to my heart. talk about simple chord structure becoming incredibly creative!
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.
Excellent video. Thank you
Neat to see these techniques. Thanks for the video. Kurt certainly had talent. And so do you for knowing the different techniques.
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
I like how you play songs from bleach too
Excellent video! Thanks
Great video, thank you for all your hard work. I am just getting the gear back out after around a ten year break. I uploaded a few songs from many years ago, on my channel, with some lead work in it. I enjoy your channel and have been working on my playing and new songs once again.
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.
Kurt was a genius, gone too early. RIP Kurt.
Weesome lesson thanks man, I have always loved Cobain’s guitar work.
Absolutely great video- thank you
yo love this video. Bleach is a perfect album!
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!!
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
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.
The chords like f#7add11 were used by alice in chains a lot.
Rooster ;)
DickBurns
I heard rooster near the end of video
The fact that you can remember exactly where you were when you heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time,
but anything by the likes of Guns 'N Roses or Motley Crue is just a blur, is, as the saying goes, 'nuff said.
patdthomas
So true. I also remember where I was for Evenflow too, but I wasn’t into that song initially like I was with SLTS.
First song I heard by them was In Bloom when I was eight in 2007. It was a misheard lyrics video I found on youtube while browsing Roblox videos. That was 13 years after he died, and I wrote this comment 13 years after discovering them.
awesome analysis!
Cheers for the insight!