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How to Play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on Banjo

bluegrass banjo learning banjo pop songs Jul 20, 2026
 

Nirvana's 1991 anthem might be the last song you'd expect to hear on a five-string, and that's exactly why it's so much fun to play. Those four grungy power chords translate shockingly well to a bluegrass roll, and the payoff when you drop that iconic riff at a jam is worth the practice.

The trick is translating a distorted electric guitar part into rolls and drives that keep the song's angst intact. Once you hear it "bluegrassified," you won't be able to un-hear it.

At Banjo Mountain we walk you through the full arrangement note by note, at a pace you can actually follow, inside our Bluegrass Pop Songs course.

Learn the full "Smells Like Teen Spirit" banjo lesson here →

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Tablature is available for all songs to Banjo Mountain members.

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