Welcome to your guide on mastering Nirvana’s iconic rendition of “The Man Who Sold The World”, as featured on their legendary MTV Unplugged album. This guitar lesson will break down how to play this David Bowie classic, Nirvana-style. You’ll be learning directly from a guitar instructor how to recreate Kurt Cobain and Pat Smear’s guitar parts, ensuring you capture the nuances of this unplugged masterpiece. Before we dive into the guitar tabs and techniques, make sure your guitar is tuned down a half step to Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb. This tuning is crucial to match the original recording and this lesson.
To fully understand the arrangement, it’s important to note that there are two distinct guitar parts interwoven throughout the song. Kurt Cobain takes the lead with the main melody lines and the memorable guitar solo, while Pat Smear lays down the rhythmic foundation, notably the moving bass line you hear during the chorus sections.
During the verses, both guitarists play the same underlying chord progression, but each adds their own subtle variations to these chords. This lesson will guide you through these nuances, teaching you what both Kurt and Pat are playing. Having a friend to jam with on this song can really bring it to life, as the interplay between the two guitar parts is what makes Nirvana’s version of “The Man Who Sold The World” so compelling. So grab your guitar, tune down, and let’s explore the guitar tabs and techniques to play this incredible song!
Image alt text: Nirvana performing “The Man Who Sold The World” on MTV Unplugged, showcasing Kurt Cobain on vocals and guitar.
