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Nirvana - On A Plain - Guitar Lesson

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Key D major
Nirvana - On A Plain guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Nevermind (Remastered) album cover
Nevermind (Remastered)
1991 3:14
Listen on Spotify
Nirvana Grunge 1991 D major
Capo Advisor 0 D major · Original key

About On A Plain

"On A Plain" sits in D major and opens with one of those riffs that sounds deceptively simple until you try to match Kurt Cobain's timing and attack exactly. The core of the song is a crunchy, down-strummed chord progression driven by power chords, and getting the right degree of palm muting on the verses is where most players need to focus. The contrast between the quieter, slightly restrained verses and the full-open chorus strum is what gives the track its push-and-pull feel, and nailing that dynamic shift is the real skill here. If the chorus-to-verse transition keeps catching you out, set the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the muting hand becomes automatic. Nirvana recorded Nevermind with a layered guitar approach, so on guitar you are essentially distilling several tracks into one coherent part. Keep your rhythm tight and let the amp do the heaviness.

  • The song is built on power chords in D major, making it accessible for intermediate players who want to work on palm muting control and dynamic contrast.
  • Getting the verse tone right depends on consistent palm muting pressure, even a small change in hand position noticeably softens or hardens the attack.
  • Practise the verse-to-chorus dynamic shift in isolation, looping it slowed down, to build the muscle memory for lifting the muting hand cleanly on the hit.

How to Play On A Plain

Key: D major · Tempo: 142 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 142 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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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