Nirvana Members, Gear & Sound

1980s–1990s US grunge band

Genre

Rock Alternative rock Hardcore punk Punk rock Grunge Noise rock Acoustic rock Experimental Punk permanent wave

Members

Select a Nirvana band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.

Kurt Cobain

Roles:

Singer Guitarist

Groups:

Fecal Matter Pen Cap Chew Bliss Stiff Woodies Electrifiedshitfuck The Sellouts TedEdFred Brown Towel Throat Oyster

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Dave Grohl

Roles:

Guitarist Drummer

Groups:

Foo Fighters Queens of the Stone Age Killing Joke Them Crooked Vultures Tenacious D Sound City Players Probot Dee Gees Crisis of Conformity The Backbeat Band Scream Melvana Harlingtox A.D. Dain Bramage Live Lounge Allstars G.B.I Kids for Cash Dream Widow Churn

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Krist Novoselic

Roles:

Bassist Keyboardist

Groups:

Fecal Matter Sound City Players Flipper Pen Cap Chew Stiff Woodies The Sellouts 3rd Secret Melvana Anywhere The Bona Fide Band Butterfly Launches From Spar Pole The Stinky Puffs Filthy Friends Sweet 75 The No W.T.O. Combo Throat Oyster Giants in the Trees Eyes Adrift

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Pat Smear

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

Foo Fighters Germs Sound City Players Adolescents 45 Grave The Holez Dee Gees The Tater Totz

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Jason Everman

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Groups:

Soundgarden Mind Funk O.L.D.

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Dale Crover

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Melvins Fecal Matter Pen Cap Chew The Obsessed Stiff Woodies Shrinebuilder Fantômas Anywhere Brown Towel Peeping Tom Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends Dale Crover Band Broken Bat Plainfield Fantômas Melvins Big Band Crystal Fairy

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Chad Channing

Roles:

Guitarist Drummer

Groups:

The Fire Ants The Methodists

Needs more gear

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Lori Goldston

Roles:

Composer

Groups:

Earth

Needs more gear

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Aaron Burckhard

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

The Sellouts Throat Oyster

No gear added

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Dan Peters

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Mudhoney Love Battery The New Original Sonic Sound Dan Peters Combo

No gear added

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Dave Foster

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Bliss Helltrout Mico de Noche

No gear added

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About

Nirvana was an American band that emerged as a pivotal force in the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Originating from Aberdeen, Washington, the group was composed of Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), and Dave Grohl (drums), with Pat Smear (guitar) joining later for live performances. Nirvana's music is a potent blend of alternative rock, punk rock, and grunge, characterized by its raw energy and emotive sound. They gained massive international attention with their seminal album "Nevermind," which brought the gritty, angst-filled sounds of the underground to mainstream audiences.

How to Sound Like Nirvana

To emulate Nirvana's visceral sound, one should focus on achieving a raw, aggressive yet melodic tone. Cobain's guitar work often juxtaposed heavy distortion with catchy, pop-influenced melodies, creating a dynamic that defined the band's sound. This was often achieved through the use of Fender Mustang and Fender Jaguar guitars, which provided a slightly off-kilter, jangly timbre. Distortion was a key element, with pedals like the Boss DS-1 and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi helping to shape the band's aggressive, grunge-infused sound. The rhythm section, driven by Grohl's powerful drumming, provided a solid and energetic backbone, while Novoselic's bass lines added a melodic counterpoint to Cobain's guitar fury. Together, these elements created a sound that was both chaotic and beautifully cohesive, capturing the essence of a generation's disillusionment and rebellion.

Discography

Bleach

1989

Nevermind

1991

Incesticide

1992

In Utero

1993

MTV Unplugged In New York

1994

From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah (Live)

1996

Live at Reading

2009

Live At The Paramount

2019

Live And Loud

2019

Get the Nirvana Sound

Want to sound like Nirvana? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.

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