Chords, Rhythm and Backing Track
Introduction:
If you know about Nirvana, the band, you know them for this one song Come As You Are. It is their most iconic song of all time, and it’s a must-learn for beginners who want to make it big in the guitar and rock scene.
Strumming Pattern:
This particular song follows a plucking/ riff-based rhythm rather than using traditional strumming. The iconic riff can still be played using this pattern: D D U D D U.
- D = Down Strum
- U = Up Strum
Song Structure
Introduction: The introduction starts with explaining to you how to tune your guitar and how to turn your guitar down to a whole step to get the exact sound which you hear on record.
Chords and Rhythm: Over here you will be learning how to play the basic power chords that are part of this song along with the rhythm which you will be following. Keep in mind, if you are using standard tuning, you have to use a whole step lower chords.
Song Arrangement: Here you will be given a walkthrough of each section of the tune, most of the tunes for this song are somewhat related to the intro riff. So you have mastered the starting riff and the rest will be much easier.
Intro Riff and Solo: Here again you will be learning how to play the center riff which results in the different tunes that you get in the song.
Song Demo: In this part J.J Pattishall is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.
Sing and Play: This section is all about J.J giving you tips and tricks on how to play the song as well as sing it. He will show you the coordination tricks you can use to keep up with the song.
Why Learn Come As You Are (Complete) By Nirvana?
The opening riff of the song is simple and easy to learn making it great for impressive others. Also, it takes the benefit of minor scales with the addition of a slight bluesy feel, and in order to play it you will have to learn alternate picking technique and smooth transitions.
FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson
Q1. What is the meaning of the song Come As You Are by Nirvana?
Ans. The song is about how people are expected to act when struggle arrives in their life. Still, the song is filled with contradictory meanings and it is full of confusion, similar to how most people are in their lives.
Q2. What genre does Come As You Are fall in?
Ans. This particular song falls in the category of grunge alternative rock, the song writer is none-other than Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer of the band Nirvana.
Q3. Which one is the saddest song from Curt Cobain?
Ans. The most haunting and saddest song ever written and recorded by Curt Cobain was Something In The Way. The tragic tune of the song is entirely written by the lead singer himself.
Come As You Are (Beginners)
Chords, Rhythm and Backing Track
Introduction:
If you know about Nirvana, the band, you know them for this one song Come As You Are. It is their most iconic song of all time, and it’s a must-learn for beginners who want to make it big in the guitar and rock scene.
Strumming Pattern:
This particular song follows a plucking/ riff-based rhythm rather than using traditional strumming. The iconic riff can still be played using this pattern: D D U D D U.
- D = Down Strum
- U = Up Strum
Song Structure
Introduction: The introduction starts with explaining to you how to tune your guitar and how to turn your guitar down to a whole step to get the exact sound which you hear on record.
Chords and Rhythm: Over here you will be learning how to play the basic power chords that are part of this song along with the rhythm which you will be following. Keep in mind, if you are using standard tuning, you have to use a whole step lower chords.
Song Arrangement: Here you will be given a walkthrough of each section of the tune, most of the tunes for this song are somewhat related to the intro riff. So you have mastered the starting riff and the rest will be much easier.
Intro Riff and Solo: Here again you will be learning how to play the center riff which results in the different tunes that you get in the song.
Song Demo: In this part J.J Pattishall is going to show you how to play the entire song with the backing track.
Sing and Play: This section is all about J.J giving you tips and tricks on how to play the song as well as sing it. He will show you the coordination tricks you can use to keep up with the song.
Why Learn Come As You Are (Complete) By Nirvana?
The opening riff of the song is simple and easy to learn making it great for impressive others. Also, it takes the benefit of minor scales with the addition of a slight bluesy feel, and in order to play it you will have to learn alternate picking technique and smooth transitions.
FAQs-This Song Guitar Lesson
Q1. What is the meaning of the song Come As You Are by Nirvana?
Ans. The song is about how people are expected to act when struggle arrives in their life. Still, the song is filled with contradictory meanings and it is full of confusion, similar to how most people are in their lives.
Q2. What genre does Come As You Are fall in?
Ans. This particular song falls in the category of grunge alternative rock, the song writer is none-other than Kurt Cobain who was the lead singer of the band Nirvana.
Q3. Which one is the saddest song from Curt Cobain?
Ans. The most haunting and saddest song ever written and recorded by Curt Cobain was Something In The Way. The tragic tune of the song is entirely written by the lead singer himself.
Come As You Are (Beginners)
Chords, Rhythm and Backing Track
Explore More in English Songs
Introduction
Torrins brings you an exciting guitar lesson on Insomnia by Rob Marcello, taught by the artist himself. This means you are learning the song's intricacies directly from the creator, giving you a unique insight into the techniques and creative choices behind this guitar masterpiece.
Fun Fact: Rob Marcello was quite young when he composed this song and admitted that he wasn’t fully familiar with advanced music theory at the time. While Insomnia may not have achieved mainstream chart success, it remains a respected piece within the guitar community.
Chords Used in Insomnia Guitar Lesson
- Intro: Intro is played in the key of G harmonic minor and uses a C minor arpeggio and triad. It also includes an F# chord along with other chords.
- Verse: Chords used: Gm, F/G. It’s a simple verse structure with basic licks. Practising this verse is a good exercise for picking accuracy.
- Chorus: In chorus, the key changes to C minor. This section involves arpeggios, sliding, and tapping
- Break Section: The key of G harmonic minor returns. It has a metal-style lick. One of the chords is a D chord.
- Classical Section: Has a key of G major. Ensure you have a clean note separation in this section. Tip: Lift each finger as you play.
- Pre-Solo Section: Some of the chords used are D major and E♭ major. This section involves sliding up the neck and is still in the key of G harmonic minor.
- First Solo: Base stays on G and includes F major arpeggio.
- Main Solo: It uses harmonic picking, a guitar technique where you pick a note while lightly touching the string to create a bright, bell-like overtone. The solo starts with blues licks played through a wah-wah pedal and follows a pentatonic blues box shape.
There are other segments in this song that cover Dominant 7 tapping lick, string skipping & pentatonic licks, and lastly, he ends the lesson by playing along with a backing track.
Why Learn Insomnia?
Insomnia is an excellent song for players looking to improve their left-hand legato, harmonic picking, and tapping techniques. It blends metal, blues, and classical influences, making it a well-rounded piece for guitarists aiming to develop technical precision and creative expression. It is better suited for advanced players.
Tips for Playing Insomnia:
- Pay attention to the rhythmic phrasing in the break section.
- Master the sliding and tapping techniques in the solos for a polished sound.
FAQs – Insomnia Guitar Lesson
Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?
No, this lesson is suited for advanced players due to the complex techniques involved.
Q2. How can I master the classical section?
Ensure clean note separation by lifting each finger immediately after playing the note.
Introduction:
Get ready to learn You Send Me by Sam Cooke with instructor Mike Dugan on Torrins. This lesson covers everything from basic chords and strumming patterns to advanced solo techniques, making it suitable for both beginners and more experienced players. Mike breaks down the song step-by-step, helping you match your vocals with the chords and refine your rhythm for a polished performance.
Fun Fact: This was Sam Cooke’s debut single and it was a glorious debut– it peaked at number 1 position on both Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart and the Billboard Hot 100. It was also named as one of the 500 most important rock and roll recordings by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Chords and Techniques Used in You Send Me
- Key: The original song is in the key of F for vocals, but Mike moves it to the key of G since it’s easier to follow on the guitar.
- Chords Used:
- G, D or D7, Am, and others
- He explains easy chord transitions and provides alternatives for beginners struggling with barre chords.
- Strumming Pattern:
- For Beginners:
- Use downstrokes, with two strums per chord for the verse.
- The verse uses open chords, with downstrokes on the numbers and upstrokes on the "and" counts.
- Tip: Don’t force the upstrokes—keep them light and natural.
- For Advanced Players:
- Mike demonstrates an advanced rhythm pattern using downstrokes with a triplet feel.
- He explains how to create a smoother, more dynamic strumming effect.
- For Beginners:
Song Structure
- Verse 1 and Verse 2: The two verses follow the same chord pattern and strumming technique. He also teaches how to match your vocals with the chords for a cohesive sound.
- Bridge: The bridge includes barre chords, but Mike teaches open chord alternatives for beginners. He explains the correct positioning for barre chords in detail to help you improve your grip and clarity.
- Solo Section: The solo is in the key of G major. The lead follows the relative minor of G (E minor), using the E minor pentatonic scale. For advanced players, he demonstrates a creative technique that makes the solo sound very close to the original recording.
Why Learn You Send Me?
This lesson not only teaches you how to play the song but also helps you develop better rhythm, improve chord transitions, and explore creative soloing techniques. The mix of beginner-friendly guidance and advanced options makes it a well-rounded learning experience.
Tips to Improve Your Playing
- Start slow with the strumming pattern to build muscle memory.
- Focus on smooth transitions between chords.
- For the solo, practice the E minor pentatonic scale separately before combining it with the backing track.
- Follow along with the tabs provided for a comprehensive learning experience.
FAQs – You Send Me Guitar Lesson
Q1. Is this song suitable for beginners?
Ans: Yes! The lesson includes beginner-friendly chords and strumming patterns, along with alternatives for challenging barre chords.
Q2. What’s the best way to improve my chord transitions?
Ans: Start slowly and focus on switching between two chords at a time before increasing your speed.
Q3. Do I need a capo for this song?
Ans: No capo is required, but you can experiment with different chord voicings to match your vocal range.
