Kurt Cobain | The Underrated Guitar Genius

[@Tier_1_Golf_Academy]

Great guitar playing doesn’t have to be insane, technical virtuosity. If you can write parts as iconic as Kurt’s you’re a great guitarist. Period.

[@godzillasfailingliver2393]

needed to read this in order to pick my guitar back up

[@WinItReigns]

Exclamation point😊

[@bobward7489]

Well said!

[@HappyHermitt]

Which parts in particular????

[@dvrds]

Funny how all of those parts are stolen from several indie bands and Boston

[@controloz3310]

The confidence Kurt Cobains music gave to young kids who wanted to play guitar is immeasurable. It wasn’t that it was easy, it was that it was tasteful.

[@Guitargate]

I HIGHLY suggest we all take a deep dive into learning Kurt's melodies. Just magical, memorable, but simple stuff that connects seemingly un-connectable chords. So much to learn from him. Great video Rhett!!

[@andrewjonas5523]

Unplugged was a master class in this exact topic…melody. A band known for their stripped down, angry and loud antics, strips it down even further and adds a cello and even an accordion….and blows the minds of a generation….again. The moment on where did you sleep, when he opens his eyes really wide and moans out the lyrics gives me chills every single time. That’s gotta in the tens of thousands by now. You should dig into this Mikey p.

[@solidsender11]

I agree 100%. I'm an old 60's/70's rocker and feel that he was a force of nature. Unique and compelling. One of the greats!

[@redpractition]

@@PiedPooper-gh6cnthere are plenty of demos out there where you can listen as he wrote a song in real-time. look up the old age demo and the do re mi medley.

[@johnsilver8059]

He’s one of the few people who really absorbed the lessons of the Beatles and created his own distinct style of songwriting.

[@steveeckert8396]

Yup. He even had is own version of Yoko.

[@jonsdavis]

Really great way of putting it. I never took much notice of 'About A Girl' until the Unplugged version came out, and then I realized -- wow, Kurt *really* studied the Beatles, this almost sounds like Things We Said Today.

[@artistaccount]

​@@jonsdaviswhat makes you think it sounds like things we said today?

[@HAMMERHEAD-g3h]

Don't forget the pixies and D7. More similar to them than the Beatles.

[@Renav21]

​​@@jonsdavis he said that he was inspired from a Beatles song, I thought it was I should have known better, because of the two main chords

[@simonjenkin]

one thing that you didn't mention that's worth noting is he really understood how to use noise and dissonance in a way that never felt as inaccessible as the bands and players who influenced that aspect of his playing (namely the melvins and sonic youth, though there's definitely others). take the solo on in bloom, for example. it's dissonant and noisy and fits perfectly over the song. and i think it's *that* that made him such a great player. he understood how to blend his melodic influences like the beatles, the vaselines etc. with his noise-rock influnces like the melvins and sonic youth in a way that very few artists in the rock world have been able to

[@sebastienharrison]

perhaps the best comment i’ve seen here

[@ruanddu]

Spot on analysis!

[@soyburglar77]

@simonjenkin I realize that this sentiment tends to get overused when discussing Kurt’s use of the “loud, quiet, loud dynamic”, but it really is true that whilst listening to the first couple of Pixies records, Joey’s and Charles’s influence on Kurt’s playing and overall style is very obvious. And, of course, not in a bad way.

[@Abbaddonna]

spot on!

[@simonjenkin]

@@SurfingOnBrainwaves this is true, although i'd say hendrix was the only one who did it in a way that found mainstream success. but the history of the intersection between noise and melody in rock music is one that warrants its own ten part video series

[@frank_buzzymae]

finally being recognized as a great and underrated player. Krist is highly underrated as well. Massive bass hooks on that record. Kurt's singing, melodies, lyrics and screaming are second to none. Iconic. Always and still hold him as my #1 guitar anti-hero

[@littlefury]

True! Specifically, the bass line in Lounge Act is insane.

[@neonnvv]

@mind5403 ok why did u watch it then

[@clouds-rb9xt]

@mind5403dude kurt cobain is still generally seen as a bad guitar player

[@MichaelOdomwest16thAve]

Him and Axl in their prime had the screams from something almost mystical.

[@TisDansk]

@@clouds-rb9xt🤓

[@PNWGuitar]

He was a songwriter and as a guitar player did exactly what he needed to do. Wasn't a show off and knew EXACTLY the sounds he wanted. Honestly amazing tone, catchy songs, interesting progressions and SO MEMORABLE

[@RhettShull]

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[@jaytrentacosta369]

Kurt was genius

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

@Bloom Tik Bloom 👍 Damned's life goes on was also an influence. But, good artists borrow, great artists steal.

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

@Bloom Tik Bloom Don't get me wrong, I really like Nirvana and Cobain wrote some great songs (even if they were "inspired" or "influenced" by other songs) but to claim him as one of the greatest ever players is just a tad ridiculous. Writing/playing some great songs, influencing several generations and spearheading a scene is one (well, three) things, being the greatest ever guitarist is something else and judging by the comments most others agree he wasn't.

[@jacobeastham9505]

@Bloom Tik Bloom ehh I disagree. Most of the originals aren’t very good songs as a whole even if the riffs were good. Kurt’s songwriting is what made nirvana memorable.

[@robashton8606]

Kurt wrote _songs._ That's it. It wasn't a load of fret-wankery ego stuff, it was simple, heartfelt, sometimes brutal, sometimes touching music, and a lot of us had been waiting for half our lives for it. Kurt, Dave (&Chad) and Krist did all that was needed for the songs. And it worked beautifully.

[@charliekevers2751]

Def adding fret wankery to my musical vocabulary 😂

[@101Volts]

@@charliekevers2751 On that subject, there's someone over at The Gear Page who has a screen name like "Wank de Plank." The "Plank" in this case being any guitar, since most guitars are made of wood. And minimalist playing's not necessarily "bad," nor is it necessarily "good." The same thing can be said for technical playing, and also for playing uncommon chords. The point is to make it sound enjoyable in some way, or at least make it fit the song context. (Or make it sound grating, if you want to sound annoying.) I still think Ricky H. Wilson (The B-52s) was more minimalist than Kurt for the first 2 B-52s albums, but he had a *sound* that was all his own.

[@vosoryan]

No one said he's a bad writer. People are saying he's not a good guitarist.

[@MajesticHarmony]

Music is freedom, it’s expression! Kurt did exactly what he needed to for the song, he wasn’t trying to impress anybody, he was doing diligence to the song. He showed the world that you don’t have to be Eddie Van Halen to be a good guitar player. Kurt took us out of the 80s glam into grunge, now metal music is just like 80s glam! People get so mad with how simple his music is. Simplicity and dynamics at its finest

[@Stormchaser189]

Kurts voice was like a drug and his guitar parts are so addictive because he subconsciously understood the hook is usually what grabs peoples ears before the lyric. His Lennon like gift for writing a melody is consistently arresting when you hear the first few bars. Play to inspire not to be admired is what I learnt from him.

[@guitarwithryan8283]

Kurt's simplicity gave me the confidence to take what little talent I had out of my college bedroom and TRY. I started meeting other musicians and jamming in basements, and 3 years later I was standing on stages and signing a record contract. The technical proficiencies of genres like hair metal and thrash made me feel like I had nothing to contribute, but seeing Nirvana fronted by a guy who kept things fairly simple (and a lefty like me, no less) made me believe I might have a shot at actually doing something, and I did. I didn't get to retire to a private rock star island, but I got to see the world from a vantage point most people only ever dream of. If you can string 3 chords together, believe in yourself.

[@jamesjeager129]

I’m a left handed guitar player too. I really enjoy Nirvana a lot from a young age. I am a college student that play classical guitar and I do have electric guitar and I want to write songs like Kurt, but go with my own path like he did. I also love to do art drawing and he inspired me to do art besides music.

[@DufraneFit]

Great advice

[@capncooktwd3824]

What band are you in i’d like to check out some of your music

[@piotrtrypus]

Kurt and Jeff Buckley were the best songwriters of the 90's. So sad they're not with us anymore, but their songs will be forever remembered. Great video Rhett, love your work.

[@danosoprano5853]

Jeff Buckley was horrible!!! He couldn't hold a candle to kurt cobain

[@gsly6081]

@@danosoprano5853 ooof what? That take is horrible man. Wow.

[@Im_alex_h]

@@danosoprano5853dude, listen to the song So Real or Grace and try to say that guy wasn’t an amazing songwriter

[@mmninc.848]

@@danosoprano5853Smooth-brain perspective.

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

Seems you never heard of Edguy, King Diamond, and Dream Theater😂

[@prodteague]

In my eyes he is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. The way he wrote super catchy vocal melodies on top of simple, yet almost orchestral guitar parts. Truly a generational talent

[@robertakerman3570]

To the "nth degree"! Maybe not the greatest; but inspired a whole lot.

[@carlsvensson6970]

I perceive Kurts guitar and voice together, as ONE instrument. They fuse and create something entirely unique.

[@richclayton5785]

Thanks for recognizing a local hero! We here in Seattle are so proud of our local guitar heroes. May they all rest in peace and be remembered for generations.

[@ollierips]

Analyzing Nirvana chord progressions was one of the trippier experiences in music growing up. It just didn't make sense how he would connect certain chords, but it sounded amazing.

[@prosodio]

He played for the song and he did it great. He was a hell of a guitarist in his own context and a sound magician.

[@haitchkay]

Cobain also wrote some out there progressions that were almost Sabbath style using diminished 5ths eg Aneurysm. In Bloom is much stranger with a minor 2nd and major 7th at the end of the chorus. I also love how the main riff is in Dorian Bb minor but the verse has the b6th chord (Aeolian) which makes it sound heavier. He may not have known much about theory, but he had a great ear and created some amazing music.

[@artistaccount]

Minor 2nd and major 7th you mean the quick b and a chords or something different??

[@themashugana9440]

Anyone who says Kurt Cobain sucked at player guitar are naive and know nothing about music or songwriting. If you actually listen to his songs, how they're written, the cord progressions, and particularly some of his solos, this is a guy who knew the fretboard inside and out. His technical skills were limited, but none of that matters because his ear for music was superior.

[@willrobertsmith]

I always liked the way his solos were sometimes just the vocal melody. Super effective and simple and above all memorable.

[@ThunderGod8284]

100% spot on, Rhett. I was the kid you talk about at the end of the video. If there was no Kurt/Nirvana I may have never picked up a guitar. I’m still blown away by the talent and songwriting. Think of this… Nirvana basically put out two records over the course of 2&1/2 years and we’re still talking about how great they were 30 years later! If that’s not legendary, I don’t know what is.

[@Metalltool]

Come as you are is the first riff I played on guitar when I picked my fathers guitar up randomly. He and Nirvana were massively influental in me picking up the guitar.

[@johnnymelancholy5279]

Kurt Cobain is the reason I picked up a guitar 🎸 not only can I relate to him musically but also personally. He was truly the last great Rockstar!! Grunge just went to sleep...it never died with Kurt! I miss him so much but yet I'm thankful people are aware and influenced by such a unique and tortured soul! ❤️

[@joshuajkoplin]

I think his solo on Smells Like Teen Spirit is awesome. Making the guitar say- Hello hello hello hello with a chorus pedal. Sweet.

[@KB24toogood]

Wow this is one of my favorite videos on your channel Rhett. As a newer guitar player but big Nirvana fan, I get tired of people telling me that Kurt Cobain wasn’t a great guitar player. Keep up the good work man!

[@Texasbluesalley]

Man... I can still remember where I was and who I was with when Smells Like Teen Spirit came out. It hit like a truck. Ironically, I have no idea what was on the radio in the months leading up to that, but when that song came on, it demanded attention like nothing else before it.

[@benfowler2127]

I am in the group of people who started playing guitar because of Nirvana. Though for myself it wasn’t just Nirvana and Kurt, but their music was some of the first things I learned to play for sure.

[@greygardens81]

Nevermind came out when I was 10. Kurt is the reason I play guitar. The #1 criteria for "one of the greatest" should be whether or not they inspired millions of people to take up an instrument. Virtuosity has nothing to do with it. Cultural impact does, and by that measure he is one of the top 5 to ever do it.

[@hunterwright8459]

I agree, too many people get caught up in technical ability. At the end of the day, it's simply about the music. And Kurt blessed us with so much great music. RIP

[@dbfildes]

Kurt not only played the medley in his leads, he 'sang' with the notes on the guitar. The guitar became the voice, what a perfect sound. He was a genius. I wish we could have heard where he was going with his song writing. I always thought it would have been similar to the sound of Unplugged. Miss him dearly. Thanks for doing this Rhett!

[@sebastienharrison]

spot on rhett, you don’t have to be technically gifted to be one of the best guitar players, it’s about how you use the guitar to serve its purpose in the best possible way

[@ralvknights]

Agree on some degree. But virtousity is what we should strive for too. Some develop it some of us have to live with our own struggles. But I agree.. we can have great players that do not focus on technique.

[@CD-gk9ix]

@@ralvknights depends what ya wanna do. Yngwie is considered a virtuoso. And no one cares. The only who one cares is Yngwie.

[@Douglas_I]

No you don't have to be technically gifted but you do have to be able to play great guitar parts and with Kurt there's no evidence that he could do that. He wrote some catchy and really good songs and riffs but that's not what makes you knew if the greatest guitar PLAYERS, that makes you a great guitar/song writer.

[@snorkman2]

​@Douglas_I 99% of guitarist can't even play teen spirit right, if they can't get something real easy exactly right, is that any better then getting something very complicated 99% right?

[@TrondArneAusdal]

Agree 100 %. I had already started playing guitar before in a school music class, but it was after hearing Nirvana for the first time that I really took up seriously.

[@hbengineer]

Thank you for doing this video Rhett!!! It’s incredibly tragic that his life ended the way it did…ugh…what could have been…

[@gund2281]

I've felt this way a lot in my life as well. "What could have been," However, something kind of pulls me back from that because the way his life ended was at least partly a product of who he was. If he hadn't been as troubled as he was, his art may not have been as great. It' kind of a sad thought but I think there is at least SOME truth to it especially if we look at how many truly great musicians have died similarly young as Kurt.

[@hbengineer]

I do understand your feelings on this but I think there are enough other incredibly talented and incredibly tortured musicians out there that we don’t have to accept this kind of tragedy as any sort of normal part of music… It’s unfortunate that it seems to happen way too often…

[@gund2281]

@@hbengineer oh no I'm not saying we need to just "accept" anything. I'm just pointing out what I see in the situation. I don't KNOW that he wouldn't have been as creative without his personal issues, it's just a correlation one notices when we look at the history of popular music.

[@ianmargolycz]

I'm in the Kurt is underrated camp. There are riffs on all of the albums that are otherworldly. It's also amazing how iconic and well known those riffs are and people still don't play them correctly.

[@mftorino]

I was a teenager in the early 90’s and learned to play guitar playing on top of Nirvana records. I got the Nevermind tab book, would put on the CD and learn song by the whole album. Then I did the same with Bleach and In Utero. Definitely my first guitar hero.

[@daveinaz5254]

Kurt Cobain and Nirvana almost single-handedly changed rock music overnight when Nevermind was released. I remember hearing it for the first time as a 20 year-old and thinking that rock music would never be the same again after that. Love him or loathe him, he changed how a LOT of us would look at music from then on.

[@Joe_Andrus]

Great take Rhett. The exact reason I started playing was because of Nirvana, that led to exploring the guitar further. Art is art, to be a great artist doesn't mean everything needs to be complex to be appreciated. Recently I watched the halloween Seattle gig from end to end and also recognized that Kurt didn't play sloppy live either, yeah it was noisy, sometimes he'd go off on sonic tangents, but ultimately his playing was true to the music.

[@sebastienharrison]

live at the paramount is amazing

[@EliteNirvana]

Some songs he didnt play the same ever twice like heart shaped box. U watch him or listen to diffrent sessions he never plays it the same twice yet u never know it unless u pay suoer close attention

[@BradyHensley-u6y]

I’m 27 and Kurt was a major influence on me picking up guitar a year ago. His music is timeless and inspirational as they come

[@tiyanawilliams5070]

Your comment as I am the same age, and wanting to go into music production but learning electronic. Kim is my inspiration like Kurt. Keep going and practicing!! Never too late to learn, create and have fun

[@davidpggarrett]

Damn straight, he's an absolute guitar hero. Kurt had so much rhythmical feel. That Teen Spirit riff is incredibly funky for a heavy alt-rock song.

[@ashleymerritt9461]

I adore transcribing Kurt’s vocal melodies over his chords, he almost always picks the wildest, most beautiful notes that you’d never consider putting together!

[@edhornby4885]

Spot on Rhett! Also how many guitarists have written a song so popular it's been banned by guitar shops? It's Stairway, Teen Spirit, wonderwall

[@RhettShull]

Damn good point here.

[@sleboeu]

And Smoke on the Water

[@BrettThompsonPT]

And Sweet Child o’ Mine

[@Trentstone121]

Enter Sandman is on that list as well.

[@HappyHermitt]

Guitar stores just don't allow cheesy songs

[@nautje]

You are so right about how influential Kurt and Nirvana were. I knew lots of kids who started bands because of them. I had already started taking classical guitar lessons the year before Smells Like Teen Spirit was released at age 12/13, but they, and Kurt in particular, were the reason why I wanted an electric guitar.

[@banditsbikeco3439]

He was a brilliant singer/songwriter. I actually grew up bout 45 minutes north of where he did and where Nirvana formed. Met many people who knew Kurt, and every one said the same thing. He was a kind, sad, brilliant individual. So sad he isn’t still with us today

[@BattleDroid134]

Kurt was my inspiration to play guitar as he showed me i didn't have to be Eddie Van Halen or Warren D Martini to play in a band. i was born in 1976 so i saw the music world change overnight because of Kurt. Many have and will deny it but facts is facts.That's where I think the hate comes from the downfall of a burnt out era of guitar Gods. This is so cool of you Rhett to do this as NO ONE gives him the credit he deserves. Again THANK YOU!

[@dalenixon9715]

Absoloubtly. Kurt's playing is a huge influence. He is the reason I picked up guitar and started writing and playing in bands. The great thing is you could form a band and in no time at all you could play Nirvana songs together. Kurt also made noise and feedback like no one else. His voice and songwriting was awesome. His playing just delivered exactly what was needed, nothing more, nothing less.

[@emilytvmusic]

it’s funny the juxtaposition between hair metal tone and nevermind, because a ds-1 and a chorus is also the tone of hair metal or any commercial 80s rock record really, it’s in the songs, his beautiful voice, and the ideals that separate them

[@dannyholloway2007]

I am so glad that great guitar players like you and Ric Beato are giving Kurt so much love on KZbin. As so many young and future guitar players saw the Beatles on Ed Sulivan, I was born in nineteen Ninety, and one of my earliest memories was walking in the living room in my diaper and seeing Kurt thrashing on MTV. Other than my father and David Gilmore, Kurt was one of my biggest influences. I whole heartedly agree with your analysis of him, I love Eddie Van Halen and Hendrix, Kurt Cobain knew what sounded good for the type of music he played just as much as they did.

[@haydenmcginnis1432]

Back to the pedals, there is one more pedal that wasn’t mentioned that the in utero producer Steve Albinie made for Kurt. The “Pedal X” currently, there are two in the world. Kurt’s original and a sister pedal made for @Aaron Rash

[@Yannplaysguitar]

I think Kurt had the magic 4: beautiful and deep front man presence and look, great song writing skills, crazy great vocal capacities and great guitar skills at the service of the songs… and lucky for him a great band (who were also his friends) to support him and the songs getting to the next level.

[@freestylingwhistler]

kurt cobain:guitar :: meg white:drums 10:45 is literally word for word how meg white's genius can be explained

[@williamadamsmusic3025]

More than his awesome guitar playing... Which I would NEVER argue about, it was his "personal presence"... His charisma and personality that just SHOWED UP whether in recordings or videos, Kurt loomed large... He was able to just BE THERE, and THAT made him a rock star as much as his guitar playing, songwriting, lyricist... He was THERE, nobody could deny it, nobody could miss it! Thanks Kurt, and thanks Rhett Schull for bringing this amazing personality into the spotlight, and into the discussion that is being birthed from your episode!

[@jorgek92]

All Apologies might be my favorite song ever, it is so simple musically (I-IV-V) and lyrically but at the same time gives you a very deep insight of the human condition. Every time I play it I feel very emotional and released.

[@danmorrison8746]

This might be my favorite video of yours. The chorus of Smells Like Teen Spirit is a power move. The vocal melody is so expressive it only needs the simplest harmonic foundation. Kurt was a true master and Krist and Dave were as well. I also adore the live material available - Nirvana was even more wild and ferocious than in the studio.

[@Dzamora612]

Awesome video Rhett! Spot on that he was a great guitar player that appealed beyond other guitars players wanting to show his skills. He wanted to connect through his music to the world and in my opinion that influence is far more important than his “athletic skills”

[@mikesweeney1435]

I feel like there needs to be a part 2 of this centered on his unplugged performance, his guitar tone and playing in Man who saved the world is off the charts.

[@flippydippy6587]

I’m very inspired by simple guitar players, I’ve never really liked shredders at all, so Kurt Cobain is definitely one of my biggest inspirations

[@bananabourbonaenima]

What really showed his skill as a songwriter was the Unplugged show, and how well those songs stood up when played acoustic. Most 'heavy' music kinda falls apart when played acoustic. His stuff didnt.

[@moisie13]

True.

[@krisfrederick5001]

Kurt is the master...of downplaying himself. He knew exactly what he was doing and acted as if it was an accident. He was brilliantly modest and genius. That's part of his charm. He made every kid, including me, know they could pick up a guitar and play from the heart. He was "The Man Who Sold the World."

[@ChrisEck13]

I'm always saying that Kurt deserves more respect as a guitar player. I don't know why so many people think that something needs to be difficult to play or complicated in order to be impressive. Kurt accomplished more with his guitar, and for the guitar in general, than any of us ever will.

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

It's not just a music thing. Production and schooling in this society place a lot of emphasis on speed and quantity, which is often mistaken as quality.

[@MichelLamblin]

Come As You Are was probably the first guitar song an entire generation learned. Before you could even play an E or G chord, you learned 0 0 1 2, etc., and oh man, the satisfaction of being able to play A SONG - and not just any song, but a song from the biggest band in the world - unbeatable.

[@robashton8606]

Don't get me wrong here, I _love_ Nirvana, but that riff owed a HUGE debt to Killing Joke's "Eighties".

[@ericmills9839]

@@robashton8606 Which sounds as lot like The Damned's Life Goes On. There's a good video on this that notes while Killing Joke says they never heard it, they do admit to be influenced by another song that was also similar in the same era. The idea presented is that it's so basic it's easy to find similarities but it's all about the execution I suppose.

[@henrysantos5602]

Nirvana is definitely the reason why I jumped on the bandwagon and started to learn to play guitar. They had the distinguished tone that made me gravitate towards rock like never before. God bless Kurt for his talent and for always being humble. I'm am glad you made this video. He will always be on the list a talented guitarist and singer.

[@nvinceable17]

I think people often overlook the other side of Kurt as a guitar player in these conversations, that being his abilities as a live performer. Most people can play a Nirvana riff but try doing it live in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans while wildly thrashing around as if you were engulfed in flames with so much charisma that the audience is completely transfixed by what they are experiencing. Kurt did this as well as anyone ever has and ever will.

[@surfdigby]

Kurt had very confident hands. His fingers could play riffs that were at odds with what he was singing, which is something that many people cannot do.

[@andrewransom6489]

If you consider the number of people Cobain inspired to pick up a guitar, the number of garage bands that started because of him, and the impact of simple riffs, then he is absolutely one of the greats

[@MoonPix1985]

I saw Rick Beato's grunge interview recently and remember Jack Endino saying something that stuck with me. He said that in the early days of Nirvana Kurt found playing the guitar and singing at the same time really difficult and his way around this was to simplify his rhythm playing. It's interesting to think that the simplicity that you refer to as one of the things that makes his guitar playing great was actually an adaptation to one of his limitations and that if he had found it easier to play and sing at the same time he may have never written some of those famous riffs. For me thats it really. With Kurt the singing and guitar playing were a unity. Something that doesn't get mentioned enough about Kurt is his incredible ability to switch up the dynamics of his singing. In particular, I thnk Kurt was a great screamer. Listen to some of the heavier songs like Scentless Apprentice and Oh the Guilt for some really unsettling screaming.

[@vikingbluesbreaker729]

The bleach album is where i started. It was the first record I bought myself, I heard “school” and “blew” and thought, I can do that. “About a girl” taught me chords, it was the first song I could play all the way through and the first time I could go straight into a solo and back into the rhythm seamlessly. “Smells like teen spirit” was the first “real” guitar solo I learned that people turned heads when I played it. The unplugged album taught me to play acoustic, and to play it like a different instrument than an electric, and still make it have that feel.

[@werfolf]

Thats exactly my Story. I want my life back! 😅

[@vikingbluesbreaker729]

Haha i think a lot of us share the same story

[@joshuajkoplin]

Bleach is my favorite album.

[@bushleague3472]

Bleach was by far my favorite album. I felt like Nevermind got the commercial makeover, In Utero was more concerned with making a point than actually sounding good (which is still damn commendable), and Bleach was just the unfiltered sound of Nirvana doing what they did best.

[@austinbridge]

So cool to see you giving a big platform to folks like that lesser-known JHS guy. Hopefully his business picks up soon with this exposure.

[@leeinthesprings]

I remember hearing Nirvana first time as a kid. I started to listening to the radio when I would go to bed. One night I was just about to fall asleep and Smells Like Teen Spirit came on. I instantly got up and was amazed at the song. It was so powerful. I remember that night like yesterday lol. As for his guitar playing, less is more and quality over quantity. He did exactly what he needed to do and he did it legendary.

[@thomasmiller2986]

Man you really capture the tone of “all apologies” and “come as you are” I’m impressed

[@robbyrob1180]

Especially since that guitar recording was done through a bass amp on the record

[@beebala3]

Oversaturation killed hair metal. Grunge just took its place and in time was oversaturated as well.

[@humanbass]

The riff of All Apologies is so evocative of a warm, sweet melanchonly.

[@foresterblack]

Nirvana literally changed the course of my life in 1995. I went from listening to whatever was popular in the UK charts, and techno music, wearing tracksuits and too much hair gel to becoming a long haired, ripped jeans and flannel rocker overnight. That led me down the rabbitholes of punk, classic rock, blues, soul, and so on. I owe my time overseas, my previous relationships, my guitars, my motorbikes, my friends, my job and my amazing wife to this band and it all started with that bizarre chord at the start of Serve the Servants.

[@portsideguitar1981]

Kurt influenced a generation. Timeless. Unplugged album was a huge part of my early guitar playing and influence.

[@artemanan4540]

Thank you, Rhett, for paying your attention to Kurt and Nirvana music!

[@robertakerman3570]

I missed Rhett(no notifications)

[@luispereztasso]

Kurt's playing made me go deep into alternative music following that "less is better" mantra behind his way of making riffs. Since then I encountered noise rock, shoegaze, dream pop, post-punk, post-rock, and so on and never looked back.

[@SoulForty5Music]

Def he had a unique ability to create iconic melodies.. His chord progressions were damn good too... i really wasnt a fan of hair metal, so when Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains all came out of nowhere in 1990's.. I was very much ready for it

[@rossvanuatu2666]

Fantastic video Rhett! Loved how you said All Apologies sounds and feels like something written by The Beatles. Kurt has mentioned his love for The Beatles and their influence on him growing up in many interviews, which is refreshing to hear from a time where stating something like that could be considered un-cool.

[@KM_1983]

I don’t think he was one of the greatest guitarists but I do think he was one of THE most influential guitarist of all time.

[@beezersurf]

Great video Rhett, agree with you 100%. Kurt was such an incredible talent. I will never forget seeing Nirvana in Portland right before Nevermind was released. They opened for Dinosaur Jr.. Both Mascis and Cobain blew me away. Seriously, life changing kind of show. It was the beginning of Nirvana taking over the world, in a way.

[@hugoarend4743]

Great guitar playing is all about texture, tone and cool /memorable riffs. Kurt had it all in abundance… On top of that, one of the greatest poets/songwriters of the 20th century… So… I second it, Mr. Schull. 🤘🏼 🎸 🔥

[@ryansell]

Yes,Kurt was a music Genius and write some of the most memorable songs that are so amazing!🎸🎶🎤

[@somethingelsedoesmatter]

I find it hard to believe that there will ever be another band that does to music as a whole what Nirvana did. They weren't the first to change the face of music, by any means, so don't get me wrong, there. But they could be the last, and for me, personally, they did it the most (if that makes sense). As a young kid, Nevermind changed my life. They've been my favourite band ever since, and even though I don't listen to Nirvana as much as I used to, and this might be the year they finally slip from my #1 spot, I will always be grateful to have been alive at the same time as this band. It shaped my love of music and got me into guitar. I know this video is focusing on Kurt/guitar. But another thing that made Nirvana stand out is the drums. Not even just Dave, but beats from earlier material. It's just always instantly recognizable, for me. Not just "oh, that's Nirana" but specific songs, "oh, that's Floyd the Barber" or "oh, that's Big Long Now" - even with drums isolated, it's so easy to tell what band it is, what song it is. It's not just the same beat reused over and over again. There's a lot of nuance and musicality to the various beats. It's crazy. I haven't analyzed the bass as much, but what I have, I really respect. Man, I love this band.

[@BattleDroid134]

THANK YOU RHETT THIS IS SO DESERVED! FINALLY!

[@mrwizardalien]

I understand why iconicness/popularity/influence or even memorability is held as such a high part of the term "greatest X" by so many people, but I think there are times when that gets focused on too much. I think it's ok for someone to be one of the greatest songwriters and creatives ever, while playing guitar, without them needing to be the greatest guitarist of all time.

[@sebastienharrison]

makes a good title though😂

[@Telorchid]

Very well said!

[@PhatLvis]

The secret to the Come As You Are sound is that the bass is double tracked - one track an octave up - and the bass doesn't mirror the whole guitar part, as it omits the minor third plucks and the fifths, just playing the root notes and the walks. This accent-bass layered with Cobain's Small Clone lick creates the whole picture of the riff, most easily dissectible in the song's intro. Incidentally, as Shull alluded to, one trait that makes many Cobain compositions stand out is that he frequently eschewed writing in one key and utilized (probably inadvertently) chromaticism - which gives a somewhat odd/unique feeling to the tunes. For instance, In Bloom is composed of 11 different power chords, each with a different root note, meaning the song's basic structure uses All of the 12 notes.

[@thedude877]

Kurt wasn't a musician per se, but a pure artist and that's what makes him stand out. Sometimes the most important thing to learn as a musician isn't theory or technique, but letting music breathe, thinking out of the box and being creative.

[@BluesboyJagCigarBoxGuitar]

of course he was a musician - if you write or learn one song you're a musician.

[@13Maria.Cortez13]

Kurt Cobain was his own artist, muse, musician, lyricist, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, producer, editor, author, philosopher, painter, sculpture, father, husband, bandmate, etc.

[@nympholepticmonkey352]

Amen brother 👍

[@oliverjiggins8609]

Kurts guitar tone , Krists bass hooks and Dave’s intense drums are all meant to be. The music was perfect

[@TheMountainLynx]

Your breakdown of Smells Like Teen Spirit was only missing one thing: Kurt and the surviving members of Nirvana have made it no secret that the chorus was just More Than A Feeling by Boston, with the last two chords played in opposite order and in a minor key. Considering how big the song got, it was one hell of a power move.

[@Trentstone121]

Lol. Nope. It's the same chords, but only one note is in the right place, the first one. Also, Kurt said that was completely unintentional. The bigger mystery is in On a Plain. The bridge lyrics says he heard this chord change somewhere but couldnt remember where. He thought he'd find out after getting sued for using it, but nobody has ever come forward with what Kurt was remembering. So what had he heard before? Who inspired Kurt to write that? The world will never know.

[@paddyandhisguitar2831]

I thought he referred to the pixies. He was trying to 'emulate' them. More than a feeling is in a different key anyway

[@guillermodelnoche]

Great video and perspective Rhett!

[@schooldya.]

I'm a fan of Kurt, but the riff from "Come as You Are" is adapted from the song "Eighties" by Killing Joke, and Kurt has acknowledged it. I appreciate your videos and your channel Rhett, thanks and best wishes.

[@neilmeadowcroft7569]

The riff is similar to the Damned's life goes on as well.

[@schooldya.]

Thank you Neil, I had never heard "Life goes on" before and you are correct, it is the exact same riff and it precedes Killing Joke's by a couple years. Ironic that Killing Joke wanted to sue Nirvana when the riff was possibly boosted from the Damned. Also, I have to retract saying Kurt acknowledged the riff was from Killing Joke. The facts are that he was aware of the similarity and was worried of being accused but it is not clear if he formulated the riff from "Eighties" or if it is a coincidence. Also the dudes from Killing Joke have claimed not to be aware of Life Goes On.

[@danpearce4547]

Nirvana are somewhat similar to the Pixies and Husker Du as well, still brought something unique to the table though.

[@Trentstone121]

So what? Kurt's version was MUUUUUUCH better. It's like if we found out some random guy painted the village depicted in the mastepiece Starry Night first. No one would like Starry Night any less.

[@menda-city1573]

Yep that is absolutely correct✔️✔️

[@jadedlynx]

Great segment Rhett! Yes, Kurt is the one who inspired me to pick up the guitar. Both him and Sonic Youth. I bought my first guitar, which wasn't an electric, at a pawn shop for 25 dollars in Fremont, Seattle in 1993. It was a Mexican made nylon string acoustic. I figured I might as well learn the acoustic of the instrument before plugging in and using pedals and I'm glad I went that route. I do think however that his unorthodox chord progressions (e.g. Insecticide) subconsciously influenced my own playing. In essence, the tonality that he created made sense to a beginning guitar player where as before him such tonalities hadn't been so clearly defined.

[@jacobnacho]

Kurt knew how to play the guitar solo in “Heartbreaker” by Led Zeppelin

[@HappyHermitt]

😂

[@jeffjefferson8137]

i always thought it was so cool that the guitar solo in smells like teen spirit follows the vocal melody. it was probably actually the vocal melody following the guitar solo. but i just thought that was so cool and as much as i hate how so many people say they like nirvana because of teen spirit alone. that is one of the best guitar solos ever

[@johngammon963]

Nirvana are my favourite band, as a fully formed artist Kurt was top class. I'm addicted to watching them live, they're like Led Zeppelin in that respect. A completely awesome live band.

[@RhettShull]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Nightwinflyer]

Man, your video lit up The Gear Page! But, you are on point and your arguments are true. You specifically state that he wasn't a virtuoso player like EVH and others, but man people went off and running like you did.

[@nickforcillo]

Once again, you are absolutely correct sir… I lived in Hollywood and was in a band in the late 80s early 90s… My band played with Poison, Guns & Roses, Warrant…pretty much that whole scene.. what I remember is that there was a buzz about Nirvana months before that album came out… I remember a bunch of my buddies going to Tijuana because they were playing some bar down there… This goes back to when you could go to Tijuana and come back into the country with just a drivers licenseI😂 I didn’t go, but sure herd about it after… I remember when the album came out… Yes I said album😂.. I took a listen and thought… Well this is different, what a weird guitar sound… Kind of a garbled distortion… Of course I was used to all the guitar tones that everybody was using in those days… but I do remember that I thought the simplicity was refreshing… some of my buddies were saying “ Dude, this guy can’t even play guitar”…..they had no idea what was about to smack them square in the face🤣

[@FIGGY65]

I heard an interview with the very same tale, of the pending release of this Nirvana album. Some ICON rock star was overseas, backstage, between sets of his concert. He was warned by a band mate that once we get back to the states next week, this Nirvana album is being launched-It will be changing the face of music ! I just for my life can’t recall the artist/band I am referring to!

[@brywestwhit]

I believe there is technical ability and there is artistry and Cobain was very gifted in his guitar artistry. Great video! 🤘

[@JohnnyCashavetes]

He's on a very short list of people who changed the world with a guitar. And he was the last one to do it.

[@louie12ph]

This is a treat for me as a true Nirvana fan as I dedicated my channel for Nirvana. Absolute genius Kurt Cobain. Thanks Rhett.

[@JiminTennessee]

He is the Keith Richards of the 90's. You nailed it...a riff machine that everyone had to figure out! Such a shame we couldn't hear more from him.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

At least Keith Richards could put every single substance ever in his body and still be alive

[@creepymcpeepers]

Yea dude. I don’t admit to liking Kurt or nirvana… but there was a moment in my life I would say tenth grade… where I went down the rabbit hole on old Kurt and your right… he makes memorable stuff with very simple stuff… your right I like you perspective here