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
Similar Rock Songs
Introduction
Tune in to a detailed guitar song lesson on What It’s Like, a single by the American musician, Everlast. This 1998’s release was the lead single from his second studio album called Whitey Ford Sings the Blues.
This guitar song lesson is taught by Mike Walker, an experienced musician and instructor at Torrins. He breaks the lesson down into sections: Introduction, Intro Chord Progression, Verse & Chorus, Arrangement, Interlude, and Outro.
Mike Walker teaches the What It’s Like Song guitar lesson using just 3 chords, two of which are Dm and C. No capo is needed!
Chords Used in What It's Like Guitar Lesson
- This song primarily revolves around three simple chords, making it accessible for players of all levels.
- The strumming pattern follows a DDU rhythm, adding a steady groove.
Strumming & Picking Techniques
The song subtly blends strumming and arpeggiation, giving it a dynamic and textured feel. The intro is centered around a D minor chord, with the occasional addition of Dsus4 to introduce subtle variation. Arpeggiated picking is used here to create a melodic and flowing texture, setting the tone for the rest of the song.
In the verse, the D minor chord continues to anchor the progression, while an arpeggiated riff adds depth and makes it more rhythmic.
Moving into the chorus, the strumming follows a consistent DDU (Down-Down-Up) pattern, repeated four times. On the fourth repetition, however, there’s a variation introduced at the end which is a distinctive 8-note strum pattern that adds energy and creates a pumping, driving effect.
Song Structure & Arrangement
The song builds gradually, with familiar sections repeating and subtle changes keeping things interesting. Here's a simple breakdown of how the song flows:
- Intro: A catchy opening riff sets the mood and is played four times.
- Verse 1: The main melody kicks in and repeats six times, helping you settle into the groove.
- Chorus: This part brings in energy. It’s played four times, with a twist added on the fourth round to keep things fresh.
- Interlude: A gentle picking section gives you a short breather before heading back into the main theme.
- Verse 2: Similar to the first verse, but extended — this time it's played eight times.
- Chorus: Returns with the same pattern, repeated four times.
- Bridge: Feels like a throwback to the intro, but with a longer run — played six times.
- Verse 3: Back again for eight repetitions.
- Final Chorus: Played three times as the song winds down.
- Outro: The song gradually fades out, giving it a smooth ending.
Mike shares a tip for those struggling with Fmaj7? Try leading with your third finger—this helps you get the note covered first, giving you an extra split second to position the rest of your fingers.
Why Learn What It’s Like?
- This lesson covers both strumming and fingerpicking, making it great for building dexterity.
- The song’s structure teaches you how to transition smoothly between sections and add dynamics to your playing.
- This song is a fantastic example of storytelling through music, giving you a chance to add emotion to your performance.
FAQs – What It’s Like Guitar Lesson
- Q1: Is this song beginner-friendly?
- Yes! While the Fmaj7 chord can be tricky, the slow tempo and repetitive structure make it easier to master.
- Q2: How can I improve my arpeggiation?
- Start slow, focus on even picking, and gradually increase speed.
- Q3: Do I need a capo?
- No capo is required for this version.
Fun Fact: The song became Everlast’s biggest solo hit after he left the trio House of Pain and transitioned from rap to a bluesy, acoustic hip-hop style, which was a bold and unexpected move at the time!
































