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Grunge Guitar

38 songs · 6 artists

Grunge stripped rock down to its raw essentials. Distorted guitars, dissonant chords, quiet-loud dynamics and emotional lyrics defined the early 90s sound that came out of Seattle. It was the antidote to 80s excess.

Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam are the pillars. Their songs are surprisingly accessible to learn, but playing them with the right feel takes work.

Songs to Start With

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen SpiritSoundgarden - Black Hole SunNirvana - Come As You AreAlice in Chains - Rooster
A
Alice in Chains 6
  1. 1 Angry Chair LESSON 1992
  2. 2 Down In A Hole (Unplugged) TAB 1996
  3. 3 Man in the Box TAB 1990
  4. 4 No Excuses LESSON 1994
  5. 5 Rooster LESSON 1992
  6. 6 Them Bones TAB 1992
View all Alice in Chains songs →
C
Candlebox 1
  1. 1 Far Behind LESSON 1993
View all Candlebox songs →
N
Nirvana 24
  1. 1 About a Girl TAB 1989
  2. 2 All Apologies LESSON 1993
  3. 3 Breed LESSON 1991
  4. 4 Come as You Are TAB 1991
  5. 5 Drain You LESSON 1991
  6. 6 Dumb TAB 1993
  7. 7 Heart-Shaped Box TAB 1993
  8. 8 In Bloom TAB 1991
  9. 9 Lake Of Fire TAB 1994
  10. 10 Lithium LESSON 1991
  11. 11 Lounge Act LESSON 1991
  12. 12 On a Plain LESSON 1991
  13. 13 Pennyroyal Tea LESSON 1993
  14. 14 Polly LESSON 1991
  15. 15 Rape Me LESSON 1993
  16. 16 Sappy LESSON 1993
  17. 17 Sliver LESSON 1990
  18. 18 Smells Like Teen Spirit TAB 1991
  19. 19 Something in the Way LESSON 1991
  20. 20 Stay Away LESSON 1991
  21. 21 Territorial Pissings LESSON 1991
  22. 22 The Man Who Sold The World TAB 1994
  23. 23 Where Did You Sleep Last Night TAB 1994
  24. 24 You Know You're Right TAB 2002
View all Nirvana songs →
P
Puddle of Mudd 1
  1. 1 Blurry LESSON 2001
View all Puddle of Mudd songs →
S
Soundgarden 5
  1. 1 Black Hole Sun LESSON 1994
  2. 2 Fell on Black Days LESSON 1994
  3. 3 Outshined LESSON 1991
  4. 4 Rusty Cage LESSON 1991
  5. 5 Spoonman TAB 1994
View all Soundgarden songs →
Staind 1
  1. 1 Outside LESSON 2001
View all Staind songs →

Grunge Guitar: Less Is More

Grunge guitar is deceptively simple. Power chords, drop D tuning, and heavy distortion form the foundation, but the genre's real trick is dynamics. Kurt Cobain's genius was in the contrast between whispered clean verses and explosive distorted choruses. That loud-quiet-loud structure became the blueprint for a decade of rock music.

Alice in Chains added a darker, more metallic edge with harmonized vocals and dissonant chord voicings. Soundgarden experimented with unusual tunings and time signatures. Pearl Jam kept one foot in classic rock with bluesy solos and melodic riffs.

Smells Like Teen Spirit is the most important guitar riff of the 90s. Come As You Are teaches clean-tone melody. Black Hole Sun explores unusual chord voicings and mood.

Related: Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal. These songs define the 90s.