The easiest grunge songs on guitar are mostly Nirvana songs built on four power chords: “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come as You Are”, “Polly” and “Lithium”, plus Pearl Jam’s cover of “Last Kiss”, which uses four open chords. Grunge rewards a heavy right hand more than fancy fretting, so it is a good style for beginners who want to sound like a band quickly.
Below are five easy grunge songs with the chords for each, followed by tips on tone and tuning.
1. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana (1991)
Chords: F5, Bb5, Ab5 and Db5 (power chords).
The song was recorded in F minor and follows an F5–Bb5–Ab5–Db5 progression, with the main riff made of four power chords strummed in a syncopated sixteenth-note pattern. The left hand only needs one shape. The hard part is the strum: mute the strings between chords with your fretting hand to get the scratchy sound, and play the verse quietly with just two notes before the loud chorus.
2. “Come as You Are” – Nirvana (1992)
Chords: E5 and D5 in the verse, Esus4 and G in the pre-chorus, A and C5 in the chorus.
The song is in E minor and opens with Kurt Cobain playing the riff alone. That riff is single notes on the low strings, so it is often the first riff guitarists learn. Once you have it, the chord parts are short two-chord patterns that repeat.
3. “Polly” – Nirvana (1991)
Chords: G5, D5, Bb5 and C5.
“Polly” is the acoustic song on Nevermind, so it is ideal if you only have an acoustic guitar. The same four power chords repeat for almost the whole song at a slow tempo, which leaves plenty of time for each change. Strum gently and keep the chords short.
4. “Lithium” – Nirvana (1992)
Chords: D5, F#5, B5, G5, Bb5, C5, A5 and C5 in the verse and chorus; G5 and Bb5 in the bridge.
“Lithium” has more chords than the songs above, but they are all the same power chord shape moving around the neck. On the record the guitars are tuned down a whole tone, so the song sounds in D major while the shapes follow E major. In standard tuning, play the shapes and you will simply be a tone higher. It is the next step after “Teen Spirit”.
5. “Last Kiss” – Pearl Jam (1999)
Chords: G, Em, C and D.
Pearl Jam’s cover of the Wayne Cochran song was released as a single in 1999 after it appeared on the charity album No Boundaries. It uses the classic G–Em–C–D pattern with open chords, so it is the easiest song here if you are still learning power chords.
Grunge Tone and Tuning Tips
- Use power chords. Two-finger shapes stay clear under distortion and make every song above easy to fret.
- Quiet verse, loud chorus. Grunge songs often switch from a clean or palm-muted verse to a distorted chorus; practise the change in volume as much as the chords.
- Standard tuning is fine. Some records were tuned down, but the shapes are identical; tune down only if you want to play along with the recording.
- Learn the riffs slowly. “Come as You Are” and “Teen Spirit” both sound wrong at full speed if the timing is loose.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the easiest grunge song to play on guitar? “Polly” or “Last Kiss”. “Polly” repeats four power chords slowly; “Last Kiss” uses four open chords.
- Is “Smells Like Teen Spirit” easy on guitar? The chords are easy (four power chords); the syncopated strum takes practice.
- Do I need distortion? It helps for the Nirvana songs, but “Polly” and “Last Kiss” sound right on an acoustic.
- Where can I find more? See our list of easy Nirvana songs to play on guitar, the best grunge songs, and our explainer on what grunge music is.
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