Welcome to my new “Riff Of The Month Series” where I will be featuring the guitar riff from Come As You Are by Nirvana. Each month I will be breaking down and teaching you how to play an iconic riff to help you become a better guitar player.
These riffs are fun exercises that sound great and are the perfect way to get your fingers moving around the fretboard. They’re a guaranteed way to help you improve as a guitarist. So grab your guitar, turn up your amp and lets dive in!
Come As You Are By Nirvana Video Concepts
In this lesson you will learn:
1. How the guitar is tuned in the original recording.
2. How to play the riff with proper fingerings.
3. Opportunity to play along as practice.
Chapters
1:14 Tuning
1:26 How To Play The Riff
2:48 Play Along
Action Steps
Watch the video again to make sure you get a handle on all of the concepts.
Step 1. This song was recorded with all strings tuned down a full step so make sure you tune down if you want to play along with the original recording. I’m teaching the song in standard tuning so no need to change the pitch of any of the strings for this video. Kurt Cobain used an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus Pedal to get that watery chorus sound that you hear as well. It creates a super cool sound.
Step 2. The riff is played entirely on the 5th and 6th strings. You can start with simply doing down picks but after you feel comfortable, be sure to pick up and down. The riff is in two different parts so practice the first half first, then once you feel comfortable, move on to the second half.
Step 3. Practice playing along with me at 2:48 until you’re feeling confident and the riff feels solid under your fingers. Make sure you’re having fun with it!
Be sure to check out my Easy Guitar Song Series where I teach you how to play “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve.
Happy Playing!