Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Lesson

Hi - I’m struggling with the muting in the intro during the change between F# and b-flat. Is this all done with the palm, like in the backbeat hit lesson? I can mute with the palm on the downstroke, but can’t seem to make it work for the down/up/down/up bit, especially the upstrokes. Any advice on how to do this? Thanks

You mean F, not F#. :wink: I don’t use my palm at all. I just lift my fretting fingers slightly, but keep in contact with the strings. That mutes the strings I’m playing while my first finger continues muting the rest as normal. No idea if that’s the “official” way, but it works. (Learnt the song from tab ages ago, rather than Justin’s lesson.)

Thanks I’ll try that and yes I’m playing F not sure why I wrote F#!

No, this muting is done by lifting your fretting hand lightly enough that you’re still pressing the strings, you can also place your second finger lightly alongside the first and third (and pinky if you’re doing the power chord that way) to mute all the strings.

This might actually be the first song I could play from start to finish. It’s amazing how simple the song actually is, given it’s one of the most legendary songs ever made. Speaks a lot about guitar and music as a whole for me.

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I tried and failed with this years ago but I was on the road to quitting at the time anyway. It would be interesting to try again now that I’ve started fresh and making good progress

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Last spring. I got my first 2 effect pedals for my electric guitar for the sole purpose to play this song and other Nirvana songs. A DS-1 distortion clone and a chorus pedal.

Ahh the sound of Alternative Rock, 1992 just oozes from my amp.

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Richard! I finish the power chord lesson almost like 1 and a half years ago and never could play this song, for a reason I couldn’t get that rhythm! and today listen to the song I remember that I didn’t try again, do it just now and DID IT!!! I can’t believe it. I think BLIM course unlock more features in my playing. Lets see if I can record myself :smiley:

Never give up people! keep pushing.

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@vanessa_z Vanessa, thanks for sharing and well done on your progress!

If I may, I suggest also upload these recordings here: https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-sb-331#performances

I attempted to move your video into this area Community Recordings > Audio-Video Of You Playing but the search of areas is currently disabled.

Bravo @vanessa_z
Thanks for uploading these videos.

You are a great example of showing how concentrated study in one area (Blues Immersion in your case) has wider effects on the improvement and progress you can make in your ability to play songs across many genres.
:slight_smile:

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After playing all of those licks every month, that solo was easy, I learned like in 2 minutes haha. That would be imposible for me 6 months ago :open_mouth:

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