Nirvana - About a Girl - Guitar Tab

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Nirvana - About a Girl - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Bleach album cover
Bleach
1989 2:48
Nirvana Grunge 1989 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About a Girl


"About a Girl" is a song by Nirvana, written by Kurt Cobain and featured as the third track on the band's debut album, Bleach, released in June 1989. It stands out within Bleach for its melodic, pop-influenced structure compared to the album's heavier material. For electric guitar players, it offers a straightforward introduction to Cobain's clean, riff-driven style and is an accessible entry point into Nirvana's catalog.

  • Kurt Cobain wrote 'About a Girl', it showcases his ability to blend catchy melodies with a raw, minimalist guitar approach.
  • 'About a Girl' appears on Bleach, Nirvana's debut album, which was recorded on a notably small budget.
  • The song's simple chord structure makes it a practical study piece for guitarists exploring early alternative rock rhythm playing.
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.