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Riff Tone
Territorial Pissings (Remastered)
Nirvana
Guitarpunk1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Japanese Stratocaster (likely 1989-1991, black, with single-coil pickups, possibly swapped bridge humbucker, but for this song likely stock single-coil)
AmpDirect to mixing console (no amp used on studio recording, distortion from pedal and console overdrive)
Amp Settings
gain9
bass5
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Notes
Studio recording for 'Nevermind' (1991); for 'Territorial Pissings' riff, Kurt Cobain plugged his Japanese Stratocaster directly into the mixing board using a ProCo RAT distortion pedal. No amp or amp-based effects were used. This is confirmed by multiple sources and interviews with Butch Vig.
Tone Character(10)
extremely aggressive and rawabrasive fuzz/distortionbright and cuttingpiercing upper midslo-fi and punk-inspiredintentionally harsh and blown-outno ambience or reverbcompressed and saturateddirect and in-your-facechaotic and energetic
Difficulty
The riff is fast and requires aggressive, consistent strumming and energy, but uses basic power chords and straightforward rhythm, making it accessible to intermediate players.
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Create Free AccountGuitarpunk1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Japanese Stratocaster (likely 1989-1991, black, with single-coil pickups, possibly swapped bridge humbucker, but for this song likely stock single-coil)
AmpDirect to mixing console (no amp used on studio recording, distortion from pedal and console overdrive)
Amp Settings
gain9
bass5
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording for 'Nevermind' (1991); for 'Territorial Pissings' riff, Kurt Cobain plugged his Japanese Stratocaster directly into the mixing board using a ProCo RAT distortion pedal. No amp or amp-based effects were used. This is confirmed by multiple sources and interviews with Butch Vig.
Tone Character(10)
extremely aggressive and rawabrasive fuzz/distortionbright and cuttingpiercing upper midslo-fi and punk-inspiredintentionally harsh and blown-outno ambience or reverbcompressed and saturateddirect and in-your-facechaotic and energetic
Difficulty
The riff is fast and requires aggressive, consistent strumming and energy, but uses basic power chords and straightforward rhythm, making it accessible to intermediate players.