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Nirvana - Territorial Pissings - Guitar Lesson

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Nirvana - Territorial Pissings - Guitar Lesson

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Nirvana - Territorial Pissings guitar lesson video
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Territorial Pissings

Territorial Pissings is a raw, high-energy punk track by Nirvana, featured on their landmark 1991 major-label debut album Nevermind, released through DGC Records. Produced by Butch Vig, the album marked a more polished direction for the band while still showcasing their abrasive edge. For electric guitar players, the song is an excellent study in aggressive rhythm playing, power chords, and the controlled chaos that defined Nirvana's sound.

  • The track appears on Nevermind, recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, and Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Nevermind was produced by Butch Vig, whose polished production style gave the album a broader, radio-friendly appeal despite its punk intensity.
  • Nevermind was the first Nirvana album to feature drummer Dave Grohl, whose driving rhythm became central to the band's live and studio energy.
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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