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Nirvana - Rape Me - Guitar Lesson

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Nirvana - Rape Me - Guitar Lesson

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Nirvana - Rape Me guitar lesson video
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In Utero (Deluxe Edition) album cover
In Utero (Deluxe Edition)
1993 2:50
Listen on Spotify
Nirvana Grunge 1993 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Rape Me

"Rape Me" is a song by Nirvana, written by Kurt Cobain and featured as the fourth track on the band's third and final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993. The song follows a raw, stripped-back structure that reflects Cobain's deliberately lo-fi approach on that record. For electric guitar players, it is a rewarding study in minimalist grunge riffing, with a simple but effective chord progression that captures Nirvana's signature tension and release dynamic.

  • The main guitar riff is often noted for its structural similarity to Nirvana's own 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' making it a useful comparative study.
  • Kurt Cobain wrote the song, handling both vocal and guitar duties, which is typical of his central role in Nirvana's songwriting.
  • Appearing on In Utero, the track reflects the album's intentionally abrasive and lo-fi production style, influenced by producer Steve Albini.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Cobain used the Stratocaster on several Nevermind tracks, leveraging its bright single-coils to cut through dense arrangements. Though less iconic than his Mustang, the Strat provided tonal clarity for melodic passages within Nirvana's heavy sonic framework.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Cobain deployed the Twin Reverb's clean headroom and natural breakup for softer verses and intros, creating dynamic contrast against his saturated Mesa preamp tones. The amp's warm response complemented his sparse, dry-focused signal chain.

DiMarzio Super Distortion
Pickup

DiMarzio Super Distortion

Cobain swapped DiMarzio humbuckers into his Jaguars and Mustangs to fatten their typically bright single-coils, pushing harder into his Mesa preamp for compressed, fuzzy sustain. This high-output bridge pickup was essential to Nirvana's thick, aggressive midrange distortion.

Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal

Boss DS-1 Distortion

The DS-1 functioned as Cobain's heavy-hitting boost pedal, slamming the front end of his already-overdriven Mesa preamp to intensify saturation during explosive chorus sections. Its gritty character helped define Nirvana's raw, in-your-face distortion tone.

Electro-Harmonix Small Clone
Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Small Clone

Cobain's signature chorus voice, heard prominently on Come As You Are and clean passages of Smells Like Teen Spirit, added subtle wobble and width. The Small Clone's lush modulation provided dynamic relief against his otherwise aggressive, compressed overdriven tones.

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