10 Nirvana Bass Lines that PROVE their GENIUS
Today, we’re looking back at the 10 Nirvana bass lines that prove his genius! The 1991 hit Smells Like Teen Spirit skyrocketed …
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"Harmony in Every Heartbeat
November 5, 2024
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I don't think he uses a pick. See the inside cover of Bleach. His nails (and fingers sometimes) hit the strings while gain/volume is high so strings can be hit softly most of the time, also great position for palming, with good dynamics and crazy tone. Krist Novoselic suddenly jumps out of the bass if you can get it right… Pretty sure he wrote the bass lines. Absolute legend.
First time I heard Smells Like Teen Spirit I was at a rather dumb guy's place who only listened to the pop music of the time. Snap, Milli Vanilli, Mc Hammer, Dr. Alban etc… he said "guys listen to this… this is my new favourite band!!"
He was the one who liked all their pretty songs lol.
Still it was so raw and fresh and in your face, even if you were more into rock at the time. It blew everyone away.
Defined a generation. Yes. I was at a friends place at the age of 13. The dad said what’s this junk. I was like, dude this is not junk this is something the world ain’t seen before. Then, that was it. I loved NIRVANA forever!
Lithium is just a whole step down on the record , there’s no drop tunning , 😊. He’s such an awesome bass line writter and player
Love buzz bassline is a cover
Unless he explains and I missed it, what effects/plugins is Ian using to get that tone for the lead part on smells like teen spirit in the video intro?
Yes I think it surely defined a grunge generation and "grunge" was the perfect word given to this genre of music:)
I'm sorry but a lot of their questions have been gone over again and again for years now. Also their playing to the lines lack feeling, lack the pain, the despair. Even if Kurt gave the lines to Kris to play on some songs, Kris had to deliver them and he injected his own emotions into it. Not a dig on your own paths personally but the playing doesn't share the edge and loss and sorrow that the Seattle sound helped to bring to the forefront, something that was either ignored or hidden in hard rock at that time.
You know, love buzz was actually a cover of a late 60's song. Absolutely great taste in music even as teens, despite the non-pop nature of it.
kurt wrote the bass lines when he wrote the song.
Probably been asked a million times why the glove?
Krist was my number 1 influence in bass when I learned almost 30 years ago. Glad he's getting respect from some modern greats.
Every time listening the both of you playing bass simultaniouisly, I think 2 basses sound better than 1.
Never thought Id ever say that, but I mean it. Where is the band with two bassists ?
I first heard it on 120 minutes on MTV
I heard Teen spirit at my cousins house on a mix tape when I was in high school
Krist does a slide up from the B flat and a slide down from the D flat that they kept not doing on Smells Like Teen Spirit. If you have an ear you can hear it.
I used to play guitar in 90's, mostly "2nd guitar" and did lead vocals. I was a huge Nirvana fan back in the days. Little story here: I got call from my brother in 1999, "we are in studio and we need bass tracks asap. You should come over and do these for us". I grabbed my own band's bassist's old italian made EKO -bass and went to the studio. "So, what's up, what do i play?" They had no lines ready for me, "just go with the flow. Because you can play guitar, these songs are no brainer…" Yea, right. At the time Krist was the only bass player i knew, so it was obvious i tried to find lines he'd do… Anyways, i did 5 tracks from the scratch in 5 hours and straight to final mix. Since that i've played bass as a main instrument, 25 years and counting. I've sticked to these 80-90's big alt rock bands what comes to my approach: Ben Shepherd, Billy Gould, and Krist. I took my Fender CS presicion bass (-57 duo tone) and played through this video with you guys, thank you. Made my day!
Subscribed and even taking your bass classes. My favorite bass guys
Seems likely Kurt wrote the bass lines. He was also involved into drum parts and notoriously was getting 100% song writting credits on all records but in Utero.
But yeah, Nirvana was just the perfect band as in all of the musicians were perfect and played perfectly together. Kris did have its own unique approach to bass regardless of who wrote the riff. One of the greatest bass players of rock to me.
Superb bassist! In terms of how fundamental his playing is to the sound of the band, Krist is up there with guys like Lemmy, The Ox, Macca and Flea!
Great tone on Heart Shaped Box, Ian ! What gear are you going through ? I am always struggling to get tis tone in the mids. There's a scoop or a boost in the 800hz, right ?
11:41 You are missing notes or the tabs are written wrong. That A# doesn't exist in the song.