Top 30 Nirvana Riffs on 10 Kurt Cobain Guitars

Top 30 Nirvana riffs played with 10 Kurt Cobain guitars and 11 different Nirvana tones
Each song is played with era accurate gear and settings
0:00 - Introduction
1:37 - Top 30 Riffs
GEAR USED
GUITARS:
Eastwood Hi Flier Phase 4 (Univox copy)
Epiphone ET270
Khristore Paramount Vandalism Stratocaster
Fender VMA Strat build
Fender Kurt Cobain Signature Roadworn Jaguar
Fender Competition Mustang
Fender Kurt Cobain Signature Mustang
Fender Jag-Stang (Prototype mods)
Fender Jag-Stang (Roseland mods)
Sigma D18e Unplugged build
PEDALS:
Boss DS-1
Boss DS-2
Tech21 Sansamp Classic
Electro-Harmonix Small Clone
Electro-Harmonix Polychorus
MXR Phase 100
AMPS:
Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb
Randall Commander II
Like what I do? Buy me a coffee so I can stay awake while I mix audio and edit videos 😴
www.buymeacoffee.com/nirvanag...
My amazon storefront where you can buy gear/parts Kurt used: www.amazon.com/shop/nirvanagu...
Vandalism Strat Stickers - use coupon code "nirvanaguitars" to get 2 for the price of 1:
khristore.com/product/kurt-co...
Lomic Guitars - Where I got my custom 2021 Jag-Stang Pickguard:
ebay.us/4Luq0j
Follow me on instagram at @nirvanaguitars
Check out my progressive punk band at ithomiid.com
Check out my acoustic project at atlasmn

[@NirvanaGuitars]

AMP & PEDAL SETTINGS FOR EVERY SONG IN THIS VIDEO: Dale demo songs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pavJm6yvbq2hf7M Bleach studio tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYS5Xnh-ptWMgK8 Bleach live tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzGaWuQmcSIbpY Smells Like Teen Spirit studio tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6HZkKqoZc6XobM Curmudgeon studio tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioHXZ3-bf9KIjNU Reading 92 (for tourette's): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTOmoeofKh9hpI All other Nevermind era tracks are my Late 91 Nevermind tour settings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2rTiHWFpbBnibc In Utero tracks are my In Utero tour settings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoWvfmufg9-oY80 Unplugged tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4LNpo1rpql4g6s

[@Amiwhammyguitars]

Thank you so much for making videos with settings, I actually use them

[@cawfeewastaken]

Kurt was such an incredible guitarist. He used a super simple amount of chords, mixed with pleasing melodies to create some of the most catchy rock songs ever.

[@-jank-willson]

I don't know, but some of those looked a tad complicated...

[@SacredYaksha]

One of the best guitarists. Imo the best of his generation, colliding with Jerry Cantrell

[@pizzapestopasta4980]

​@@SacredYakshaFinally someone mentionsJimmy Cantrell, he is imo one of the best guitarist that I've heard

[@SacredYaksha]

@@pizzapestopasta4980 don’t forget Billy Corgan, Daniel Johns and Kim Thayil. They were great too

[@donaldthescotishtwin]

He had a ghost writer post bleach.

[@deadroses19]

15:03 to me this is their best riff. So damn heavy and breathtaking. Its like if adrenaline was canalized to a riff

[@spennysatdennys8143]

Yea it's actually my favorite Nirvana song

[@gianna872]

yes oh my god it’s so good

[@xMTLKx]

Played with my band when we were 15 this was so cool

[@Georgeisjawa]

Yes Blew Is One Of The Most Popular Songs On Bleach

[@zaydeng8060]

I think in bloom is one of their best

[@Snayu-420]

Respect for changing shirts for each era

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I wore the same shirt in this whole video! But that would've been a good idea haha didn't think of that

[@grantlawler4872]

⁠@@NirvanaGuitarsCome as you are tshirt is different at 13:40. Nice vid bro!

[@FireReaper626]

He didn’t tho

[@puszen1780]

Now just wait for full recreation of Incesticide and outtake songs like Verse Chorus Verse

[@jackthatguitarist8742]

Don't forget the outtake old age

[@PalmettoStateSirens]

Nah we need that You know you’re right recreation

[@The_Real_Shrimp]

These are all great songs, I'd love to see VCV and YKYR covered

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I could be wrong, but I have always thought that VCV and Old Age were maybe Strat songs? I'm hoping my current strat build that's in the works will help get close to those but we'll see

[@NirvanaGuitars]

As for YKYR, I've been wanting to do that one for a long time but I am struggling with how I am going to replicate that insane feedback that happens after the first chorus. My goal has always been to not only replicate tones but also the playing style. Tone wise that one is no problem, but to replicate Kurt's mastery of feedback control is hard!

[@A_random_NPC]

I’m surprised drain you didn’t make the list. That song is ridiculously fun to play

[@Georgeisjawa]

Same With Lithium, Polly, Dumb, Something In The Way, And Very Ape.

[@najlis1784]

@@Georgeisjawa and About A Girl

[@Georgeisjawa]

@@najlis1784 yup. That’s another great one.

[@1that-one-weird-kid1]

@@Georgeisjawa or endless, nameless or Rape Me

[@willyum6397]

always amazes me how different each riff is

[@chucktouchton398]

I've been listening to Nirvana since 1993 and can play every song that's seen the light of day on drums... I would absolutely love to jam Nirvana all day with you man! You sound identical to Kurt...

[@andrewpappas9311]

Awesome as always, man, Kurt definitely wrote some timeless guitar parts

[@gagerobins9481]

Really happy you put radio friendly unit shifter 1st, that riff is beastly, also really fun to play

[@Artsy_Guitarist]

I love Nirvana and your channel was the whole reason I really started listening to them. Some of my favorite songs by Nirvana would probably be: Mr. Mustache, Aneurysm, Sappy, Marigold, School, Territorial Pissings, and Tourette’s. Your channel has also been a huge inspiration to get back into guitar, and to start trying to build Kurt guitars of my own. I hope you have a wonderful day and keep creating the amazing recreations of the gorgeous guitars that Kurt had throughout the years. R.I.P. Kurt ❤

[@MasterChiefHarrow]

the best top of Nirvana's riffs, everything here is amazing selection of riffs, guitars, everything

[@mirata7748]

The tones are incredible, I was surprised to hear the massive amount of change in tonal quality and characteristics between each guitar, all of them sounded very different from each other, this video puts to rest all the false beliefs that Kurt's tone was very easy to acquire.

[@jimmymac4016]

Perfectly played! So many of my favorite songs fall In your top 10

[@andrewcampbell204]

Mate, the TONE. You nailed it. Congrats 🙌

[@bigmuffmelvin7388]

Awesome choice of riffs buddy, that et-270 nails the big cheese sound so much.

[@sinnombre7961]

Amazing! A Nirvana fan that doesnt hate popular songs just because theyre popular

[@bozoben]

impossible!! teen spirit bad!

[@Lolet123The]

Ima just lay it out here, I'd you ever wanna cover any other band, I'm 100% down. Your videos are just so cozy, crazy informative and fun! Love all your stuff! :)

[@brandonbaker9302]

Perfect man perfect I love this so much I will be watching many times

[@Servetheservants89]

Everything was spot on I really enjoy your videos keep it up

[@carlitrocsmachote]

Paper cuts man! ❤ I loved it as well as Negative Creep 🤟😎

[@jackver2006]

Great riffs to play for sure!! I was hoping for Endless Nameless because I personally thought the song was genius in the way of how a song would usually need chords and a catchy riff but, Endless Nameless proved that you can write anything from a guitar tbh in my own personal opinion which is why I love it a lot. My favorite riff from this list was Big Cheese!! Keep it up ❤

[@freddum]

This is impressive. Congrats!

[@everydayguitarday1354]

Great video! You should do one were you create five original riffs in the style of each studio album nirvana has ever recorded.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

😮 That's a really cool idea!!

[@basilblair]

@@NirvanaGuitars yes! I’d definitely watch that (not that I don’t watch all of them already lmao)

[@Georgeisjawa]

Can You Do one with the tone from I Hate Myself And Want To Die?

[@garykramermusic]

Great playing and riff choices!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you!

[@xMTLKx]

Great work, I gotta say the Jagstand and the Mustang Signature really impressed me, love that dirty sound Surprising no to see Drain You in the list AND please you that pinky on your left hand ahah

[@ERRR-ph9dx]

perfect sound bro!!

[@Amiwhammyguitars]

12 hours can't wait to watch

[@ryanm4689]

Kurt wrote so many awesome riffs it’s hard to pick a favorite. Great video!

[@bebberoniz]

Got to listen to some new songs, also, great work!

[@RoadHouse-bp1mn]

NOOO, i wanted to see the premiere the second it got out but i was busy writing a song, love your stuff man keep going ill try to get to the next premiere

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thanks for the support, and I love that you were writing a song! Art always comes first 🎶 There will be more premieres in the future 😊

[@RoadHouse-bp1mn]

@@NirvanaGuitars thanks man i look up to your skill you're awesome man

[@cozycoves9764]

This is an epic channel!!!

[@shadowedge729]

Fantastic!

[@carsonrunyon6099]

Amazing video as always! All the tones are spot on. I'm curious about your Vandalism Strat, does it have the 59N in it?

[@Metal_Horror]

I'm very impressed, not only at how close you've come with replicating the various tones he used, but in how authentic the playing is on a lot of these. You really have a lot of those little Kurtisms down. A good example of this is your chord strumming on Come As You Are. That guitar combined with your technique sounds totally like Kurt. Then on Heart Shaped Box, the riff is very accurate and you also get that little moment -- Kurt liked to upstroke a couple strings of a chord without a whole lot of regard to which exact strings he was going to play. Generally in the D-G-B area. He did this in a bunch of songs, like Rape Me.

[@Myersmad316]

Brilliant, tone, playing style, very impressive, amazing to see smells like teen spirit not number one for a change Kurt was so much more than that riff. Serve the servants and dive - very under rated riffs in my opinion. My number one is radio friendly unit shifter along with come as you are, different ends of the spectrum but my two favourite nirvana songs ever.

[@IggyB-Music]

Lol Mr. mustache was so on point it’s crazy

[@Acidplots]

this is such an underrated channel!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Wow thank you! 🙏🏻

[@adamgilbert6216]

I like your videos thay are a lot of fun to watch

[@aydenwacker1440]

Number 1 is so true, great list

[@ohnoitsnotjoe]

Can wait for Incesticide, In Utero, Dale Demo, Fecal Matter, Nirvana 1988 and Bleach Tour Stuff! Good job man keep up the good work 😊

[@-jank-willson]

the radio shack music videos...

[@parkerb2914]

i love RFUS being number one. that song is amazing and the bridge has crack in it. def in the top 5 by kurt

[@fedoraguy7781]

good picks. especially unit shifter

[@LaranjoSupremocuscuz]

radio friendly first on the list, perfect

[@jenniferwong1765]

This is great ❤❤😊

[@SkinkUA]

glad to see here some of the hidden gems i love

[@joeymenees9644]

Your the first one I e seen play the intro to teen spirit correctly. Excellent job on the strumming.

[@NotFuzion]

Kurt Cobain would be proud of you if he saw this! You are impressive with Nirvana related stuff!

[@sergeylaletin113]

pure dope thanks

[@Beavisandbuttheadrule]

School sounded very accurate! Nice job!

[@kurt_cobain1987]

Paper Cuts is just such an amazing riff. It's haunting, yet so rock outable

[@douglasvaughn9349]

Another banger 💥 🤯 Surprised no pennyroyal tea?

[@Tracy11133]

You have a LOT OF KURT GUITAR! my god ! Great

[@aimeeperc2008]

Does anyone notice hes doing a similar playing sryle to kurt cobain, which i recommend because it makes it handier to move around the fret board and gives u time for placement while playing fast,its where u stretch ur hand away from the fret board between chords and melodies, its a very smart move

[@UZH983]

Top class!

[@GetShrekked]

This is amazing! I've been trying to get a similar distortion to the in utero tone, my main amp is a blackstar ht 20 and i'm using a ds1, is there other gear you would recommend?

[@TROJAN859]

i love nirvana!!! also can you do the pyramid club? its ok if you already did the pyramid club :)

[@jaredsomething4726]

I'm dying to hear him try the demo drain you with the competition Mustang, I wanna build one soo bad

[@ramiro6546]

Tocas muy bien bro te felicito seguí asi

[@cuh5018]

Love how u hold bleach so highly. Best album ever

[@manwithamustache1506]

Heart Shapped box is one of my favorites

[@NeroDoinSmthn]

I like how jazzmaster is all of my favourite nirvana songs.

[@luckypunkstar]

Always thought that Even in his youth...in an underrated great song‼️

[@mr.jackhead8772]

Whenever I’m sharing my AirPods with other person I always put on son of a gun and their reaction to the sudden fire alarm at the beginning is always priceless 😂

[@NirvanaGuitars]

that made me laugh out loud that is amazing 😂 😂

[@JWS_1]

All of my 5 favourite Nirvana songs (Tourette's, Paper Cuts, Serve The Servants, Heart-Shaped Box and In Bloom) are on this list, which is great.

[@ShawnFanin]

Such a amazing video! Well done for sure for sure.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much!

[@InGlo109]

Congrats you bring those guitar back to live again

[@HERETICSCAR]

Amazing covers dude this was awesome 🎉 and I wanted to ask what is the best guitar and pedal for stoner rock tones

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! From what I have used, I'd say probably a guitar with a JB or hot rails and a big muff. SUPER thick doomy distorted tones for days 😈

[@HERETICSCAR]

@@NirvanaGuitars thanks a lot!!!

[@michaelboyd856]

So, I'm not sure where the best place to post this question is, so I guess that I'll start here: In your covers, what would you say the ratio for power chords to barre chords is? Kurt's generally associated with power chords, but I think that internet forums have a habit of downplaying his willingness to use more complex chord shapes in his songs, which makes it that much harder to get an authentic Nirvana tone at home. This question is of personal importance to me, since your videos have inspired me to give guitar another try in my late 20s after not playing it for a few years, and I'd love to know how to get the *best* Nirvana tones. Thank you!

[@NikoFrederiko.]

I think that surnburst w the cream pick-ups is your best guitar, sound and looks-wise.

[@OneEyedB4stard]

Bro has all the Kurt Cobain guitars

[@Batman_Dc27]

Kinda part of his whole channel

[@Team-xl7pt]

Bickt!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@OneEyedB4stard]

@@Team-xl7pt what?

[@takumifujiwara1998]

If you haven’t looked at the channel name….

[@The_Real_Shrimp]

Eric, do you ever think you'll get a Harmony Stella 12 string model? That was the nevermind acoustic used for Polly. It'd be interesting to see in the future, also great recreations!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I actually just missed out on one a few weeks ago!! That one still hurts, I thought I was going to get it lol 🥲 I've been keeping an eye out for one for a long time, hoping to find a good deal eventually

[@The_Real_Shrimp]

@@NirvanaGuitars Ah man that's a real shame. I've been trying to hunt one down for some time too, they're real expensive for the correct ones

[@NirvanaGuitars]

They are!! The one I saw was a local listing for $400. I was freaking out when I found that. Tried making plans with the seller to get it, but then they said "it has been sold, I just forgot to take the listing down." I was heartbroken lol

[@The_Real_Shrimp]

@@NirvanaGuitars That would have been such a lucky grab! Unfortunate it was sold

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I know right?? Here's to both of us hopefully finding a reasonably priced Stella Harmony soon 🤞 🤞

[@Zomie115]

12:52 i love how you did the lil rif from mtv unplugged

[@raze4555]

beeswax goes so incredibly hard

[@cyolag]

J étais au zénith paris 94 et le son de Kurt en live est très claquant voir brillant et aigu en vrai. Bonne continuation

[@clip2eye]

Coool Maaannn!!!!!!

[@Remooverevans]

It hurts a little that drain you didn’t make it but hey it’s you opinion so I respect it. All of these are still really good picks

[@gianna872]

aaaaahhhhh!!! the mtv guitar is spot on!!!

[@nebbo334]

I don't know if this will be a long video but could you do a video on the.guitar that is supposedly kurts jazzmaster

[@deviduhansakananayakkara2030]

Super 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@NEVERMIND_JAG]

This is amazing I’ve been waiting for this. But can somebody tell me what type of hot rails are on Kurt cobain’s VMAs strat. And also can you do the cow palace show it’s my favourite show nirvana ever performed?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I don't think it's known exactly what type of hot rails they were. My guess would be a white 90's SHR-1B. Once I have hot rails and a TOM on my comp stang, I can try for cow palace!

[@NEVERMIND_JAG]

Thanks for letting me know that really helped me!!

[@teenexorcism]

Your great at replicating kurt one of the best.. you should consider doing a full tutorial on how to play Nirvana songs now be a teacher of sorts your great at explaining things!

[@yandola]

Eric, could you please tell what you use after the amp? What mic, audio interface, software…

[@gazonokosilkazhalyzi200metrov]

how do your strats sound so cool? very meaty sound! my strat even on the humbucker does not sound so cool

[@MarcoAxCx]

bro that's amazing!

[@joshtvs2771]

Good job, keep up the good work !

[@nirvanana9991]

Surprised drain you isn't there, but radio Friendly Unit Shifter Is a great choice at number 1 also dive at 2 is perfect two great songs

[@Georgeisjawa]

Hi Eric I love this video. The Best Riff On Here Was I Hate Myself And Want To Die. I think that song is very underrated. But you could have added Lithium, Drain You, Polly, Dumb, Something In The Way, and Endless Nameless.

[@user-tc6cy1bq9w]

Waoooio you may great job 😂 the sound is the same perfect I love nirvana from florida Rock to the end

[@andrewweeks448]

i wish i could hug you right now. jesus christ it's so good.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

It's the thought that counts! Thanks for the virtual hug 🤩

[@naorsultan4920]

We wanna see best of Kurt’s guitar solos

[@kannonstucky-uo9pf]

i love the tones and agree with your list and just wondering what tabs do you use to get such accurate notes and chords?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you! I'm sorry but I don't use tabs, I rely on live footage. If a song doesn't have clear footage where you can see Kurt's hands, I try to figure it out by ear as best as I can

[@kannonstucky-uo9pf]

@@NirvanaGuitars that's really impressive i'll try that thank you

[@101Volts]

@@kannonstucky-uo9pf It's the best way, really, even if it's a pains-taking process that takes hours of work just to get all subtle nuances in a song. Relying on tabs alone might help get you started, but it also can set you up for failure; many tabs just aren't detailed enough, and even "Official" tabs aren't always 100% on target. I say this after having written the 4th tab version of The B-52s "Rock Lobster" at Ultimate Guitar. Previous tabs that I didn't write included the wrong tuning, the right tuning but not all parts, and then a version that was for the Fender Bass VI instead of the weirdly downtuned guitar that Ricky Wilson used. Mine, version 4, was an attempt at nailing everything the song has to offer. When I was tabbing Rock Lobster, I had to use KZbin uploads to slow the song down so I could pay more attention to what was being played. But after a while, I probably should have taken a break instead of going on a marathon, because it was getting a bit stressful to listen to the same exact 2 to 8 second parts about 10 to 25 times in a row just to make sure I charted everything correctly. Sometimes you may just have to continue and be satisfied with inaccuracy, but then come back later another 2 or 3 times before you actually hear something.

[@jesdonut2223]

Lets goooo🎉🎉🎉

[@mattowen5384]

Some of the Bleach and Incesticide riffs remind me how underrated Kurt was. Hats off for Big Cheese 👌

[@Georgeisjawa]

Big Cheese Is My Favorite Song On Bleach.

[@sunrizegx1253]

Ngl I wish you added sappy but it doesn’t matter it was a good video 👍

[@Belguimofficial]

I love that Et270 epiphone it sucks you can’t find them that well no more😢

[@JujuMan563]

I know im a bit tardy to the party here but i think your Dale Demo tone is the best

[@jimfromdiscord.8904]

What about a recreation of the Dale Demo tone?

[@jacopoluelli4423]

can you do a tutorial on how to modify a mustang to make it a skystang 1?

[@nirweezer_]

You're a good guitarist