“Something In The Way” by Nirvana stands as a hauntingly beautiful acoustic masterpiece, deceptively simple yet deeply impactful. This lesson will guide you through playing this iconic song on guitar, focusing on its essence and Kurt Cobain’s unique approach. While seemingly straightforward with just two chords, mastering the tuning and feel is key to truly capturing the spirit of “Something In The Way”.
Before diving into the chords and strumming, tuning is paramount for “Something In The Way”. To achieve the song’s signature somber and full sound on a single acoustic guitar, Kurt Cobain employed dropped “C” tuning. This tuning lowers your strings significantly from standard tuning (E A D G B e) to C G C F A D. Starting from your thickest string (the 6th), tune each string accordingly: C, G, C, F, A, D. Be patient as this drastic tuning change might require adjustments to your guitar’s setup. If you’re new to dropped tunings, take extra care to avoid over-tightening strings.
The verse of “Something In The Way” relies on a sparse and laid-back rhythm driven by two power chords. These chords are C power chord and E power chord. The progression moves between these two chords throughout the verse sections. To play a C power chord in dropped C tuning, barre across the 5th fret with your index finger (covering the 5th fret of the A and D strings). For the E power chord, move this same shape up to the 7th fret (covering the 7th fret of the A and D strings). The strumming pattern in the verse is deliberately relaxed and minimal, mirroring the song’s introspective mood. Focus on a gentle down-strum for each chord, allowing space and silence to breathe within the music.
As the song progresses into the chorus, the strumming intensity subtly increases to an eighth-note feel. While the chord progression remains the same – alternating between E and C power chords – Cobain adds depth to the C power chord in the chorus. He achieves a fuller sound by incorporating more strings into the C power chord shape, creating a richer, more resonant tone. When listening to the chorus, you might perceive an additional chord change between the E and C. However, this is an auditory illusion created by the bassline moving beneath the fundamental E to C power chord progression. Cobain masterfully maintains the simplicity of the two-chord structure while implying harmonic movement through the bass.
“Something In The Way” is a testament to the power of simplicity in songwriting. With just two chords and a unique tuning, Nirvana crafted an enduring and emotionally resonant song. By mastering the dropped C tuning and embracing the song’s laid-back strumming style, you can unlock the beauty of this acoustic classic and add a significant piece of Nirvana’s legacy to your guitar repertoire. Take some time to explore this song and appreciate the understated genius of Kurt Cobain’s songwriting.
