The Nirvana Hit Song Formula

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[@michaellawlor5625]

Kurt was the reason I picked up the guitar. To play his songs and to play his music in open mic nights was a honor.

[@nickhumphreys3160]

Same here.

[@DanielPestanaTranslations]

Same here!

[@sandorhartig3957]

My reason Is Dire Straits!....When i heard the riff "money for nothing" tomorow i by the guitar!!!.....ok, not exactly tomerow😂😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@colinshostak7851]

my greatest influences to grab up instruments was WITHOUT A DOUBT Kurt & Beethoven lol

[@PresencePioneer]

Nirvana is constantly being bashed for their "simple" music, but when you actually get into the theory of what they are doing it is beautifully complex and brilliant. Just with a loud grungy tone. Love it

[@millennialanimal]

A lot of people confused how fast or technical someone plays as complexity with tasteful or perfectly chosen harmony, modulation and note choice. Both are complex for different reasons, but simple people see someone play a lot of notes played fast and think it’s more sophisticated than someone choosing the “right” notes.

[@grapejuice2589]

Most people don't talk shit about nirvana's songs just Kurt's guitar playing which isnt great but works perfectly for the style. The songwriting isn't complex but it's brilliant

[@PresencePioneer]

@@millennialanimal totally!

[@MidniteSon]

There is more complexity to Kurt's music than meets the eye.

[@pitpride1220]

You can hear the Beatles and ABBA influence in Kurt's sophisticated melodies. He really learned a lot from them. I'd love to see you feature an episode on Alice In Chains, with their impeccable harmonies. Love to see one on Soundgarden too. All three of these bands were amazing songwriters. Masters of melody.

[@christiecruzxo2841]

Chris Cornell ❤❤❤ he’s still so damn missed

[@NickJardine]

When Nevermind dropped, it killed anything 80’s-like instantly. Colourful clothing and big hair was gone. Nirvana had Beatles-level impact on music and culture. Great video Mr. Palmisano!

[@toddpacker4683]

Thank god it killed hair metal lol

[@parabot2]

The players who run the record insustry understood and wanted a more easily accesable form of metal the masses could consume . Think about it you lived metal , grew your hair out had a metal uniform etc . Nirvana fans could put on a checkered shirt , mess their short hair up , consume the concerts etc . Then go off to work on Monday , like a good little consumer .

[@stiffybrian]

OK I'm 80, I was 50 in the 90's and I'm STILL moved to the core by Nirvana. Refusing the third (ie diads) somehow goes back to before equal temprament pussiness. They used to throw rocks in those days. Somehow thirds are OK modaly, E5 to G5 etc, but in chords they dictate too much and don't add much. Thankyou Kurt and youself for your uncluttered (by thirds) enthusiasm. Bam!

[@parabot2]

I bet you can still remember the tune ( How much is that doggy in the window ) It's not some brilliant tune , same as Nirvanas tunes . What is happening is the repetition takes over and is driven into your mind . Psychic driving was a psychiatric procedure of the 1950s and 1960s in which patients were subjected to a continuously repeated audio message on a looped tape to alter their behaviour. This is what happens , if you get exposed long enough .

[@joshuamartins9487]

Yup....I was 17 when Nevermimd came out . I picked up a guitar because of Nirvana . I'm now 49 ..and the music from 1990 to 1994 , still is what resonates with me the most .

[@DavidSmith-fz2xk]

Two main things that stick out for me in their formula were: 1. Krist's great catchy bass hooks...this is more important than the drums for their Formula imo. 2. Dave's utilization of a lot of disco drum beats...Smells Like Teen Spirit is a disco beat. Dave Grohl actually alludes to this in an interview. Lastly the simple verse/chorus/verse. Many people attribute Nirvana songs as beefed up nursery rhymes in the way they're catchy and easy to remember from the first listen.

[@Guitargate]

Totally agree!!!

[@badgasaurus4211]

I disagree because these components are in loads of other songs/bands, I don’t think that’s what makes Nirvana Nirvana. If you went up to someone and said ‘catchy bass hooks and disco drum beats in a rock song’ guaranteed no one would say ‘that’s Nirvana’

[@toddpacker4683]

@@badgasaurus4211 ya I would say it’s the catchy hooks and heavy sound mixed together, like Black Sabbath meets The Beatles

[@laaronml]

This was great.

[@Guitargate]

Glad you dug it!

[@zackpack8]

Excellent analysis Michael and true to the music also! Nirvana took the Pixies format and polished it to make it more palatable to their audience! Very well done! I had heard "Teen Spirit" a few months before it was actually released on a college radio station at 4 am getting ready for work and thought "Oh my good, sweet and sour at it's finest"!

[@cameronvillarrealLp]

Kurt’s the reason I wanted to play guitar

[@shane1472]

Such a guitar nerd and I absolutely love it

[@Guitargate]

Exactly!

[@NickJardine]

Nice to know there’s others like us out there 😂

[@LWTON]

What an amazing series idea! Would love to see you break down the chili peppers!

[@Guitargate]

Thx!!! That’s a great pick!

[@MidniteSon]

I agree, especially that song 'Californication' with the lyric: "Cobain can you hear the spheres singing songs off Station to Station?" @@Guitargate

[@tyler361t2]

@@Guitargatecan you add timestamps?

[@beansurg]

Michael. This is my favorite series that you do. This speaks to what I want. To understand how and why a song works. I'd love to see you extend this to other bands. What do you think of doing Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Doors or Bad Company? Maybe even The Eagles or Zeppelin?

[@badgasaurus4211]

Really it’s all to do with the way the melody ties together seemingly obtuse chords. That, and the quiet verse, loud chorus structure. Those two components together are the fundamentals that set their music apart from others.

[@nickywhitmore4350]

Kurt know what he was doing it's music art and the picture is painted perfect nirvana still love it still today

[@egocide9034]

I miss the 90s.. so much..

[@MrKatsdad2112]

Great Video. Nirvana is the sound of the 90s. I love how Kurt wore his influences as a badge. The way he took ideas from The Beatles and crossed them with the Pixies. Also I need you to some more Rush, maybe the live Xanadu from 1981 Exit...Stage Left.

[@badgasaurus4211]

Sound of the early 90s sure but then there was Oasis, maybe not so much in the US but certainly world wide

[@Ryan-tv6cy]

So excited for this episode!

[@thecpt4618]

Please do more of this style! Loved it!

[@Gabriel49718]

Great video. Takes me back.

[@straightshooter8662]

Love your break downs great stuff Mike

[@vaughnels]

Awesome video, I love these insights. Thank you.

[@Lanny-io9bi]

Michael, this was absolutely awesome!! Nirvana like you mentioned was a band at a time when people really needed it and it doesn't get better than that!! Maybe we can get a video like this on Alice in chains and the way Layne and Jerry grabbed ahold of your feels? I hope so

[@yukondeighton8075]

right on point! i love your explanation of how the vocal note creates the harmony with the power chord.

[@jakeah1175]

What an amazing video Michael. Would LOVE to one day see a Ryan Adams formula video… his songwriting and dynamics are a thing to behold

[@fp.chattanooga]

Love this breakdown of the patterns that make Nirvana’s hits so killer. Would love to see more of these 🔥

[@mtrainor999]

This was awesome, such an amazing breakdown of an iconic and important band’s big songs. What a great channel! You mentioned awhile ago that you needed to do an Alice In Chains hit breakdown, and I really hope that’s still on the agenda. Regardless though, thanks Michael for all your great videos.

[@AaronZuniga617]

I don’t play guitar yet just piano and making beats but this has been one of the most helpful videos with melodies ive ever watched thank you so much for These

[@Mike-rw2nh]

I love this channel. It reminds me of Rick Beato, sans troublesome haemorrhoids and death stares at interns. Bravo, good sir!

[@DelmarPeet]

this video bought my sub! Also, just for info, letting you know I found your channel because I’m about to give my son his first lesson. Found your first lesson video first.

[@willwetherington]

I had the Nevermind cassette in 91' maybe 92' and wore it out. I had to buy it three times!

[@Mr.Altavoz]

Great lessons 🎉thanks

[@ed4008]

I don’t think Kurt really knew anything about music “technically speaking anyways” just was a part of him. I don’t think he really thought about any of this, he just did it … which is what made it so great !!!

[@James-nv1wf]

Luckily he had a voice to accompany that, also there was a "movement" at the time of a similar style of music.

[@nickhumphreys3160]

Nirvana is my favorite band of all time and now ill never listen to them the same way.

[@zjebeusjsbbdj6310]

Subscribed great content sir

[@NoNameSpecific]

dont think iv ever clicked so quickly after an upload, cheers

[@luishurtado7552]

This is good!

[@dantedrago7648]

Saw you sit in with Umphrey's Mcgee last night in Baltimore for Bowie cover of "Let's Dance". Sounded like they had a problem with your amp for the first half of the song. We couldn't hear your solo. They fixed it for the second half of the song. Nice jamming out with Jake. You should do a critique of your own solo on a future vid. Keep up the good work.

[@EisensteinPrime]

I hope you do one of these videos for Tool because there are times they fit this formula and times they don't. That would really aid me in songwriting. I'm going to try and apply what I've learned here.

[@ryanburch7798]

I know this isn’t the place for this but I’m dying for this community to rally behind Michael to do a breakdown of Sultans of Swing - Live at Alchemy. If you have seen it then you already know. Absolutely murdered it from beginning to end . Mark isn’t the only standout on it, the drummer owned that shit. Whole band was on fire and we need Michael to dive into that performance!

[@wheelmanstan]

Ever heard their song Papercuts? Man that's a good one to dissect..they don't make them like that anymore. ahah

[@willwetherington]

Dave said he's so loud because he grew up playing drums on the pillows in his room

[@andrewwabik5125]

For come as you are I play it on the first and second fret. I guess that’s “lower”. Maybe half step down tuning

[@JarOfMoMack]

Travis Meeks - “Provider” live by Travis Miller (Days of the New) - number one guitarist for me from the 90’s - check him out Mike!!!!

[@birdzbeeztreez4248]

Phenomenal opening

[@blainethompson5245]

That guy who sang "The Rich Men North of Richmond" is everywhere just after he was on your show.

[@user-rm2fg5fv1t]

The Who has made a major impact on my life so I look forward to hearing your intake on them. But yes Nirvana, “Where Did you sleep last night” Amazing band.

[@donp11]

Im in, thanks

[@user-rm2fg5fv1t]

I was around 25 when Nirvana came out and I’ll keep looking through your videos but I have to know your intake on The Who

[@cbm64rules]

I absolutely love these videos,though it's like he's speaking a foreign language as regards minor,major chords,A flat etc etc etc.😳🤔🙂

[@Haussiecan]

After u explained pop my mind was blown

[@user-xy6uy9je2v]

Nice t shirt !!!!!

[@flynnwoosnam5030]

I love this guys passion for Kurts music hahaa!

[@frankiejerardenno2678]

PAT KEPT THE GROOVE CONSTANT RYTHM

[@frankiejerardenno2678]

Need that RYTHM

[@bazilbrushrocks]

The formula was simple. Get Kurt to make something up. Record it. Done.

[@IsmaelMulti]

"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art." - Frédéric Chopin

[@James-nv1wf]

Face it, we were musically spoiled during the 90s. When Nevermind dropped I was 15, thought it was ok, but a few months later...everyone had their T-shirt.

[@frankiejerardenno2678]

You forgot PAT Smears❤

[@nickywhitmore4350]

Nirvana is the main reason I play guitar Kurt cobain is one of my favorite guitarists

[@tyler361t2]

16:27 is a linear curve a thing? you mean quadratic curve right cause linear is just a line

[@jimcoombe6571]

Still waiting for that Pearl Jam breakdown!

[@nightwolf2666]

Could u please do a video comparing them to Stone Temple Pilots?

[@derickg1488]

Love the shirt #eastnashvilleguitarclub #guthrietrapp

[@normaleehi]

18:44 sounds like ry cooder

[@sebastianfavre]

Well, would you say the same on songs like Hairspray Queen, Tourette's or Endless Nameless? Please, Nevermind is a masterpiece but not the only Nirvana record.

[@snubbleoxo8706]

dave sings backing vocals

[@normaleehi]

this is what happens when ur a young punker but ur favorite band is still the beatles

[@areyoukind1955]

Loud Quiet Loud borrowing from the Pixies

[@robertjamesdriscoll_]

Nineties!!!!!!!!!!

[@babyrakes]

I don't trust a man who opens the video playing a Nirvana song in the wrong tuning

[@THE-CRT]

You’re playing heart shaped box wrong it’s actually in the tuning of C# G# C# F# A# D#

[@baxtronx5972]

It helps to copy others when crafting your own songs.

[@Marty_That_Dude]

Kurt's songs are technically so simple that nobody thought of em, and people somehow lambast him for it.

[@wandajames143]

Maybe for most people that’s the most impressionable time, but not for me.

[@jirikrajnak9047]

kurt & friends got stripped to the bone. also - 36:01 wowzers

[@agapologia]

Kurt Cobain is Grohlling in his grave.

[@parabot2]

I bet you can still remember the tune ( How much is that doggy in the window ) It's not some brilliant tune , same as Nirvanas tunes . What is happening is the repetition takes over and is driven into your mind . Psychic driving was a psychiatric procedure of the 1950s and 1960s in which patients were subjected to a continuously repeated audio message on a looped tape to alter their behaviour. This is what happens , if you get exposed long enough .The players who run the record insustry understood and wanted a more easily accesable form of metal the masses could consume ( More customers ) . Think about it , you lived metal , grew your hair out had a metal uniform it was less accessible to the masses etc . Nirvana fans could put on a checkered shirt , mess their short hair up , consume the concerts etc . Then go off to work on Monday , like a good little consumer .

[@josephbowles4995]

Your wrong Dave sang backing vocals son get it right lol

[@zakkjagneaux2600]

Idk . I was in junior high when Kurt died . Never really went hook line , loved Pearl Jam and STP , loved the Gin Blossoms New Miserable in that time frame . The thing with singing about angst for a career , it’s difficult . You are now worth tens of millions , world at your finger tips , hard to reproduce that angst . A band like Green Day have evolved from their young angst . Foo Fighters are a band we will be listening to new and old for decades , not sure Nirvana was that band .

[@uno1industries]

Well… of course we won’t be listening to new Nirvana, and they never had a chance to evolve like the other bands you mentioned, but they’re still listened to today regardless.

[@frankiejerardenno2678]

That's your oppinion,they were awesome to me 🤟🏾🤎✌🏾

[@vladimirperez4897]

First

[@DogAmongMen]

$Hit Songs

[@RevLowe]

Why is your nose redder than any other part of your face?

[@paulpellico3797]

i love you man, i love you show. BUT PLEASE...NIRVANA! the most over-rated band in history.

[@corey5858]

Cleary not overrated if still being listened and played all over the world... might not be for you but overrated come on.

[@landonbohinc8146]

Agree.I don’t disagree with anything he said about Nirvana and it’s not because it’s not my taste or I think it’s not musically deep enough but Kurt’s obsession with anything that relates to disturbance and makes people shocked regardless of how grotesque or obscene and it is was only carried by 90’s teen’s idolatry and rebellious nature. I think it’s objectively bad music bc of some of the things he writes about. I much prefer foo fighters. But that’s just me. Jesus loves you!✝

[@CD-gk9ix]

@@landonbohinc8146 the foo fighters have been making the same album for years and years… and I’m a Grohl fan

[@toddpacker4683]

Overplayed ya, but nirvana had great melodies and songwriting

[@MrKittles1123]

Incorrect. One of the most underrated bands in history. Most people are too stupid to realize how genius they actually were.