this song
How to play About a girl by Nirvana?
Originally featured on the album Bleach from 1989 and composed by Kurt Cobain, About a Girl was revisited in an acoustic version by Nirvana for their MTV Unplugged in New York in 1993.
About a Girl explores themes of relationships and introspection with 60s pop influences and a catchy melody.
When Kurt Cobain brought About a Girl into the studio for the album Bleach, it didn't yet have a title, and it was drummer Chad Channing who suggested calling it that after asking Cobain what the song was about. song.
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Wondering how to play the intro to Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged version of “About a Girl”?
Follow the steps to capture the unique sound of this acoustic performance.
Tune your guitar a semitone below standard tuning to get the smooth tone of the Unplugged version.
Play the two main chords: E minor (Em) and G major (G). The guide shows you where to place your fingers and offers you two versions for each chord.
The rhythm consists of quarter notes and eighth notes. Practice E minor (Em) with a quarter note followed by eighth notes, and G major (G) only in eighth notes. Follow the tips to keep a consistent pace.
With our guide, you will be able to play the introduction to About a Girl as in the Unplugged recording and capture the emotion of the performance.
How to play About a girl: The genesisThe song About a Girl occupies a special place in the history of Nirvana. It was written by Kurt Cobain for his girlfriend at the time, Tracy Marander. At that time, Cobain and Marander were living together in a small apartment in Olympia, Washington. Their relationship was marked by simplicity and sincerity, characteristics also reflected in Nirvana's music.
Tracy Marander played an important role in Cobain's life not only as a partner but also as a witness to the group's humble beginnings. She took the photo on the album cover Bleach, a detail that adds a personal touch to the story of the song. The image, taken at a Nirvana concert at the Reko/Muse Gallery in Olympia on April 1, 1989, has become iconic, but at the time it was just a photograph to Marander.
Despite the song's personal depth, Marander only discovered many years later, through the book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, that “About a Girl” was dedicated to her. This late revelation added an extra dimension to the song, transforming an already significant work into a powerful symbol of the intimacy between Cobain and Marander.
Kurt Cobain wrote "About a Girl" after spending an entire night listening to the Beatles' first American album on repeat, Meet the Beatles. This record, released in 1964, is known for its catchy melodies and its lasting influence on pop and rock music. The impact of this late-night listening is evident in the song: the simple, catchy melody of "About a Girl" recalls the style of the Beatles, particularly their early pop period.
Cobain, who was a great admirer of the Beatles, often cited their music as a major influence. However, at that time, he found himself in a musical environment that valued raw sounds and punk attitudes more. The attempt to integrate elements of pop into a grunge context represented a challenge, but also a way for Cobain to assert his artistic diversity.
This Beatles influence is also visible in the structure of the song. "About a Girl" is built around a repetitive, catchy chorus, a typical feature of '60s pop songs. This contrast between the melodic sweetness and the seriousness of the lyrics adds a unique dimension to the song, making it memorable throughout. while remaining faithful to the spirit of grunge.
The recording of “About a Girl” took place during a crucial time for Nirvana. The group was preparing their first album, Bleach, which was produced on a very modest budget of $600. This limited budget necessitated a creative approach, and the album became an iconic product of the burgeoning grunge scene.
When Kurt Cobain brought the song into the studio, it didn't yet have a title. Chad Channing, Nirvana's drummer at the time, remembers the moment vividly. In an interview with Songfacts, Channing recounted how he suggested the title "About a Girl" after asking Cobain what the song was about. This interaction not only gave the song a name, but also showed the importance of each band member's contributions in the creative process.
The choice of title “About a Girl” has become iconic, capturing the essence of the song in a simple but effective way. This title reflects Cobain's ability to express complex emotions through direct and accessible lyrics.
The originality of “About a Girl” lies largely in the way it was presented in Bleach, Nirvana's debut studio album, released in 1989. This version, marked by its raw energy and grunge integrity, captures the essence of the band in its early days.
The recording of Bleach was done in a context of limited budget and modest conditions. The record was produced for around $600, a relatively paltry amount for an album at the time. The members of Nirvana, with Kurt Cobain at the helm, worked in an independent studio, reflecting the DIY (Do It Yourself) spirit of the Seattle grunge scene.
“About a Girl” was one of the first songs Cobain wrote for the group. The song was recorded with a stripped-down approach that accentuates the simplicity of its melodies and the intensity of the guitar riffs. The raw sound and minimalist production are characteristic of Bleach, an album that helped define the grunge sound before Nirvana became a global phenomenon with Nevermind.
The version of “About a Girl” on Bleach stands out for its direct musical construction. The song begins with a simple but catchy guitar riff, which serves as the basis for the whole thing. The rhythm is supported by powerful drums and an ever-present bass, which gives the song a raw and authentic energy. Kurt Cobain's voice, both melancholic and intense, is in harmony with the instrumental arrangements, creating a poignant and raw atmosphere.
The lyrics of the song, although relatively simple, are full of emotion. They evoke themes of relationships and introspection, offering insight into Cobain's personal feelings. The combination of pop melody and grunge elements gives "About a Girl" a unique quality that caught the attention of listeners of the time.
The version of Bleach from "About a Girl" is representative of Nirvana's style at the time: a fusion of catchy melodies and raw grunge sounds. This approach allowed the song to stand out in the musical landscape, attracting the attention of alternative music fans and establishing Nirvana as a band to watch.
Years after the release of Bleach, Nirvana revisited "About a Girl" during their performance on MTV Unplugged In New York, broadcast in November 1993. This acoustic version of the song offers a radically different perspective from the original.
Nirvana's performance at MTV Unplugged was one of the most memorable of their career. Recorded on November 18, 1993, this session was marked by a more intimate and vulnerable approach, different from the electric and aggressive dynamics of grunge. The band chose to play a series of songs in an acoustic format, featuring more delicate musical arrangements and more nuanced interpretations.
For this performance, Nirvana rearranged several of their songs, including "About a Girl". The band chose to play the song in an acoustic style, highlighting the melody and lyrics in a more stripped down and thoughtful manner. This approach allowed us to discover another aspect of Nirvana's music, far from the raw energy of their electric performances.
The acoustic version of "About a Girl" on MTV Unplugged features softer instrumentation and more subtle arrangements. The acoustic guitar, instead of the grunge electric guitar, takes center stage, accompanied by light drums and a discreet bass. This approach gives the song a warmer and more intimate texture.
Kurt Cobain's voice, in this version, is more nuanced and expressive. Without the electric elements and distortion, Cobain's voice reveals a raw vulnerability and emotion that was perhaps less noticeable in the version of Bleach. The lyrics of the song, when performed in this acoustic setting, take on an added dimension, highlighting the depth and complexity of the feelings expressed.
MTV Unplugged's acoustic performance of "About a Girl" was praised for its sincerity and ability to reinterpret a beloved song in a fresh format. This version allowed fans to discover another side of Nirvana, far from the group's typical energetic performances. The Unplugged session is often considered one of the most iconic moments of Nirvana's career, offering insight into their ability to evolve and reinvent themselves.
The acoustic version also introduced the song to a new audience and contributed to Nirvana's increase in popularity following the album's release. MTV Unplugged in New York. The song reached number 22 on the US charts in October 1994, a significant success which was partly attributed to the increased visibility afforded by the Unplugged performance.
"About a Girl" is often seen as an introspective and personal song, tackling themes of relationships and emotion. The lyrics, although simple in appearance, reveal an underlying depth. The song begins as a declaration of love and gratitude towards a person, but evolves to explore more complex and ambivalent feelings.
The chorus, repetitive and catchy, expresses a feeling of nostalgia and regret. The lines "I don't care what they say about us anyway / I don't care about that" suggest a form of rebellion against external judgments and a desire to focus on personal feelings rather than the opinions of others.
The verses describe moments in the relationship with brutal honesty, which is characteristic of Cobain's songwriting style. He uses simple images to evoke complex emotions, creating an immediate connection with the listener. This direct yet poetic approach is one of the reasons “About a Girl” resonated with so many people.
The song stands out for its unique blend of pop and grunge, a contrast that may seem surprising but is fundamental to understanding Nirvana's appeal. “About a Girl” features a clear, accessible melodic structure typical of '60s pop songs, but it's performed with the raw energy of grunge.
This mixture was a source of debate at the time. Cobain was aware that the inclusion of songs with pop melodies could be seen as a compromise in an environment that valued the raw, authentic sound of grunge. However, he continued to explore this juxtaposition in other songs, thus affirming his commitment to a personal artistic vision rather than conforming to genre expectations.
The song “About a Girl” is therefore a perfect illustration of Cobain's ability to fuse different musical influences while remaining faithful to his own style. This fusion is also what allowed Nirvana to stand out and captivate a wider audience.
Although "About a Girl" was one of the first songs Nirvana wrote, it played a crucial role in launching their career. The song was widely played on college radio even before the release of Bleach, helping to establish the group as an important player in the grunge scene.
The song's growing popularity also paved the way for Nirvana signing with a major label, DGC Records, which marked the beginning of their international success. Nirvana's increased visibility was boosted by the release of "About a Girl" across music platforms and media, helping to propel the group onto the global stage.
The song's success also highlighted Cobain's ability to write tracks that resonate with a wide range of listeners, despite stylistic differences. This ability to create songs that blend melody and raw emotion is one of the reasons Nirvana has continued to be a major influence in the music world.
One of the most memorable performances of "About a Girl" took place on MTV Unplugged In New York, recorded in 1993. This concert was recorded after the album's release Bleach and marked an important turning point for Nirvana. The acoustic performance of "About a Girl" at this event revealed another side of the group and was widely praised for its emotional depth.
This performance not only showcased Nirvana's musical skills in an acoustic context, but it also showcased their ability to reinterpret their own tracks in innovative ways. The acoustic version of "About a Girl" was well received by audiences and helped increase the visibility of the song, which reached number 22 on the US charts in October 1994, six months after Kurt Cobain's death.
In January 2020, the band Puddle of Mudd did an acoustic cover of "About a Girl" for a session at SiriusXM. This performance quickly gained notoriety on YouTube, but it also attracted criticism due to the quality of the performance. Singer Wes Scantlin was particularly criticized for his performance, which many spectators considered disastrous.
Scantlin admitted in an interview that the performance suffered from his fatigue after a long day of concerts. He acknowledged that the song had been a bad choice for him at the time, but he also stressed that the performance was the result of exceptional circumstances. This experience highlighted the difficulty of paying homage to iconic pieces, especially when faced with personal challenges.
The album cover Bleach, which features the photo taken by Tracy Marander, is also an important part of Nirvana's story. The image was modified for the album by designer Lisa Orth, who inverted the colors to create a negative effect. The Nirvana logo, as we know it today, was created quite improvised. Orth asked typographer Grant Alden to use the font available on the machine, resulting in Nirvana's distinctive logo using the Onyx font.
This cover, combined with the album's music, helped establish Nirvana's visual and musical identity. The album Bleach became a grunge classic, and although its initial sales were modest, it gained popularity after Cobain's death. The album sold over a million copies, a testament to Nirvana's lasting impact and the importance of "About a Girl" in their discography.
Kurt Cobain was aware of the tensions between pop and grunge, and he often expressed his concerns about it. In a 1993 interview, he explained how he had always loved pop music, particularly REM tracks and '60s classics. However, he knew that including pop songs in a grunge album could be perceived as a betrayal by some fans of the genre.
This tension between musical influences and audience expectations is a recurring theme in Cobain's career. He often struggled to balance his own musical tastes with the expectations of the grunge scene. “About a Girl” is a great example of this struggle, showing how Cobain managed to incorporate elements of pop into a grunge context while remaining true to his own style.
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