The 5 Levels of Smells Like Teen Spirit (For Bass)
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- 👉 My full beginner bass course: yeah.bassbuzz....
Fix your flubs on this Nirvana bass rocker + take it from n00b level to Krist Novoselic beast mode. What level can you make it to?
Get this full Nirvana bass tab + sheet music: www.noteflight...
Yes! We’re tackling “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from Nirvana’s legendary 1991 “Nevermind” record, which features Krist Novoselic’s creative melodic bass playing.
In Level 1, the n00b level, I’ll you started with a super simple version of this bass line that you can play with your friends in a garage of your choice. I’ll also break down the “Caveman Method” you can use to come up with n00b level bass lines on your own.
Then, we’ll get a little spicier in Level 2 and add some of the cool slides Krist does between notes to give this bass line more character. I’ll show you the basic technique for nailing these slides so you can spice up your bass lines too.
In Level 3, we’ll get legit and start playing the rhythm Krist actually plays - which probably isn’t what you think it is. (hint: it doesn’t match the guitar) I’ll show you a breakdown of how all the rhythms interact in the song, so you have some fresh ideas on how to approach bass rhythms on your own.
Alright, time to get controversial - in Level 4 we’re gonna try to match Krist’s bass tone a little better by using a… let’s call it an “interactive tone modification device.” We’ll also add some cool little ghost notes to glue the rhythm together.
Finally, we’ll wrap up this Nirvana bass lesson and add the final quirks that bring it to Level 5: Krist Level, including the big nasty bass slide at the very beginning.
And wait… is there a secret Level 6 hiding at the end?
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#NirvanaBassLesson #KristNovoselicRocks
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
What level did you make it to?
Timestamps for this lesson:
0:00 - It Smells Like Teen Spirit In Here
0:34 - Level 1: n00b
2:19 - Level 2: Spicy n00b
4:11 - Level 3: Legit
6:32 - Level 4: Tone Snob
9:02 - Level 5: Krist Novoselic
Just got to Tone Snob with this video! So close to Krist- thanks man !
I didn't even make it to 1 but your insightful review helps me understand Nirvana more thanks 🚬
1 MONTH AGO?
John myung next please
Could you make a video about walking bass?
Level 6: throw bass into air and catch it with your skull
not sure why but the whole skull catching thing made me chuckle
Pure Novoselic
Bandmate: unaware
KNOCKS HIMSELF OUT WITH THE BASS
Followed by a kick in the back side from the guitar player!
Fun facts about Krist:
- He is about 201cm tall;
- He holds the pick in a bit of an unusual way, with his middle finger and thumb;
- He also plays the accordeon.
Cool
Yoo i used to hold my pick like that
@@mathieuveldhuis6945 I've done it since the start, about 4 years ago
He's also an advocate for sustainable farming practices. He spoke about it at a symposium in my home town a couple summers ago. And 201 cm ~ 6'7". He's TALLLL.
I used to hold a pick that way. I finally converted to index finger once I saw other people play. I feel like I have better control now, but I don't know that it's inherently better or worse...
Krist is one hell of a bassist. Lounge Act is one of my favorite bass lines.
Along with Love Buzz
Yeah Vicky for sure, loved that bass line since the first time I heard it.
Your profile pic is the best thing ever.
Yeah forreal, Lounge Act is wild, it's a workout for a bassist to play that song haha
Try listen to endless nameless demo or here she comes now, that bass soloes is amazing
Krist is one of the most underrated bassists of all time. Considering how huge Nirvana was and still is Krist doesn't get enough recognition.
He sadly never was the head of a big band like the other 2 were
R.E.M. Fan you clearly never heard real bass players like Anthony Jackson, Nathan East, even Mike Rutherford ofGenesis blows away this hack.
@@nasticanasta i wish I gave a fuck
No hes rated exactly where he should be. Hes that dude in nirvana who wasn't Cobain or Ghrol.
@@nasticanasta quite the superior taste u got huh?
Levels 1-4: Making it as perfect as possible
Level 5: Make it a little sloppier
Level 5: just add booze
The sloppiness makes it fun
I’ve said this before. You are an exceptionally excellent teacher. It’s a joy to watch your videos and listen to your instructions. I wish we had you many, many winters ago when I started playing bass.
Thank you Russell!
I can't believe there's people still arguing about using a pick or not.
I myself am a finger player, but I honestly don't care what anyone uses, as long as it fits the music.
Exactly it's whatever fits your style. For punk you really want the bass to cut like he says here. You don't have to use a pick to do that as Mike Dirnt well knows(edit: he def uses a pick idk where I got that from) but it doesn't hurt. Same with guitar. You don't wanna play James Hetfield riffs with your fingers cuz you won't have any left but you can't really play Flaminco with a pick unless you wanna learn your own style of intermittent picking
Dont pick shame.
I used to clown on people playing with a pick too, but that's just because I had been told by so many people that "pick bad, fingerstyle good". Then I started getting into some heavier music like TOOL, System of a Down and Gojira. Now I barely ever play fingerstyle anymore lol. I just absolutely love that extra punch that playing with a pick adds to your sound and it makes hitting ghost notes a lot easier in my experience.
It's not even a thing. Learn to play with either, and play what serves the song best.
other iconic Novoselić lines:
-Lounge Act
-Love Buzz
-Sliver
Love buzz is a cover, not his bassline. Its catchy tho
Downer has a good bass line
Correct me if im wrong but doesn't Lounge Act have the same sort of rythme as the breakdown bit in I Want You Back by the Jackson 5?
@@AWEqddqeqeds never noticed
@@joshhawkins8394 its one of those things where when you notice it you are like "Oh wow thats weird"
Love to see Krist getting some love here! Definitely my biggest influence when I started playing bass
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Krist was the reason I got into bass
Is it hard to get average at it ? I can practice about an hour daily.
Planning to begin and a guitar is an investment I don’t want lying around gettin dust later on…
@@philipcyriac5938 you will get pretty good at it even if you just practice 10 minutes a day. Consistency really pays off
I'd recommend getting a beginner bass from a good brand like Squier, Harley Benton or Ibanez. The videos in this channel made for beginners are really awesome too!
@@philipcyriac5938 If you practice regularly, you will get pretty good at bass even if you just play a few minutes a day.
I'd recommend getting a beginner bass from a good brand like Squier, Harley Benton or Ibanez. The videos in this channel made for beginners are really awesome too.
Hope you enjoy your first steps as a bass player!
I have been playing bass most of my life. Over 35 years now. I recently joined a 90s cover band that is playing this song. I assumed I knew the bass part after growing up listening to this tape over and over again. But I started looking up tabs just to make sure I was playing it right. I had no idea how intricate the parts were. Now that I can hear it the way he’s actually playing it, it adds a whole other level of complexity to the song I never knew existed. Thank you for so clearly pointing this out.
Bass not low enough, not Novoselic’s approved.
I remember when that album came out in 1991. I was 12 years old. Your bass tone was absolutely amazing and totally stood out among all the others of the era.
@@Metalbass1979 he’s not the real krist
@@fantawi7999 Yeah.... I kinda figured but decided to play along just in case. 😉
No thumb?! No pick?!
Yo
Awesome to see some Krist recognition, I think many of his bass lines are under rated, like stay away, and also that this video shows how live recording brings this organic sound, that basically doesn´t make the song sound artificial, and on Nirvana records you can hear this in all instruments, as well as in Kurts voice recordings, hopefully kids learning this will help music not to become robotic, and Josh you have such a talent for teaching! I always enjoy watching your videos
Thanks Alejandro!
I love that you took the 5 levels trend and made it into a music lesson rather than just a showcase video. Thanks!
Man, you are the best bass utuber in terms of teaching songs and bass techniques. Congrats!
Thank you!
Krist novoselic was a very underrated bass player man,he did very interesting bass lines while jumping like a crazy ass burning monkey in stage,very interesting player
Hey man I commented on your videos sometime ago when I first got my base and yesterday I played my bass at my local church and everyone loved it and congratulated me after! Thank you
That's great Cole!
now as a beginner, taking these small steps makes me learn a bassline in under 10 minutes, thank you for that
The whole pick/no controversy is kinda silly and ego based. It's all about tone and style of what you play. Punk rock and grunge, anything that has a 'raw' sound, is better with a picked attack.
I used to be like this but after a couple years I grew to love the aggressive pick sound on bass. I personally think Tool really helped me see it for what it was
@@xaza5625 same! Justin Chancellor changed it all for me.
@@xaza5625 Same exact thing for me but it was Mike Starr. He had so many aggressive lines that sound a lot better when you pick.
i absolutely love the tone of bass played with a pick and a bit of overdrive, but i'm not patient enough to learn how to play effectively with a pick, so i just use the Geezer Butler technique of "hit the strings really fucking hard"
@@alexeypolevoybass true. Their approach is very different indeed. Especially Justin, he literally fills in the space for a rhythm guitar. And Nolly's style basically just compliments and outlines the riffs.
PICK + BASS = G R O O V E N I C E
Illegal tho
@@sumedhhhh I mean illegal shit is often the most fun
@@kennethcoval4970 haha right
Also, fingers are great too, as is slap. A good bassist can play all 3 well, even if they are better at one
The point of the pick is because it creates a much sharper tone compared to using fingers. Duff is an example of this
none of them are "wrong". Whatever the level you may be at, you can still enjoy jamming to the song, and that's the beauty of music!!
damn the metal "I want you back" kinda rocked
Guitarist here - I don't play bass but was asked if I would play bass for a band that was doing a gig without a bassist. I learned all the songs, including this one, in noob mode, played with a pick and haven't picked up a bass since (it was around 12 years ago).. Funny enough, someone uploaded the full gig to RUclips so my full noob skills are on display to the world.
Link to the vid plz
@@guyfauks2576 I second this
Video link
Waiting for that link man
I've learned the entire song thanks to this video, along with how to slide. Not even a month into playing bass and I feel like a badass. Thank you so much for the seriously amazing tutorials!
Nice work!
@@BassBuzz thanks man! Tbh think you might have the best tutorials on all of RUclips
I thought that the last level would have been lower the bass over the knees
🤣 Good one
Same XD
In addition, having to connect two straps together to make it all work.
Josh - you're the best. I finished BASSBUZZ training almost a year ago, and now I can play practically everything on the bass! Love this instrument and I love the way you teach. This has been very instructive on playing this Nirvana song properly - I'm just now starting to learn the song,, so this is perfect timing that I found this video. I also like Nirvana "Come as You Are" - another really great bass line.
Novoselic is one of the most underrated bass players out there
So proud of noob Josh, the boi is killin it!
Actually laughed out loud at NoobJosh's "Yesssss!" fistpump. Well played, indeed.
Love your work. Bought BtBA a week ago, and my bass won't be here for another week, but I'm still bombing through your vids learning even without something to pluck on. Thanks!
Hope you enjoy the course once you transition from air bass! :)
I’m currently about halfway through Josh’s “Beginner to badass” course. It is the first and only thing I’ve done since I bought my bass, and I fully recommend it. It only cost me the same price as 4-6 lessons would cost in England. I can’t believe the value for money compared to what I have learnt so far. I didn’t anticipate learning so many different aspects of playing bass from the bottom. Get this course while you can. It is worth 3 times its current price. Josh is the perfect teacher.
I love how you play a squire in your vids. That means a lot to many viewers.
Chris would be proud to discover that he is playing it in such complicated way
Newb Josh is my favorite bass player, ever. But seriously, your lessons are awesome. I’ve played guitar for decades and only recently gotten a bass. I enjoy learning from you. Great job.
omg i love josh i mean how he gets all dressed up for noob josh and stuff, this kind of things are what make this one of the best channels ever, not just bass or music channels, i really mean of all youtube channels this must be my favorite or in my top 3
I just found this channel. Josh, you're an excellent teacher ! I really like that you show the actual musical notation instead of just tablature. That's really important for beginners because they may learn to use alternate fingerboard positions for some notes.
I could honestly watch these videos all day without even giving a shit about bass (which I do). Josh has the balance of instruction and humour absolutely to a T!
Great lesson Josh. I love how you progressed from Noob to expert. I also love how you pointed out the rhythmic anomalies when bass is played by a human and not a computer. I think todays generation needs to know that when recording, imperfections are ok. Also, nice job with the pick. Thanks for posting this.
I’ve been watching videos of members of The Warning on working with producer David Bendeth, and how he’s coaching them to not cling exactly to the click track. I’m guessing this is actually more demanding in recording, because if everything is “quantized” to the click, you can just cut and paste parts wherever you want to fix errors or just do the same thing 10 times, etc. But clearly there is a reaction against robot rhythms.
@@markjames8664 Luke from Become A Bassist just did a lesson about the Groove and a way to test yourself is to record yourself in Garageband and then look at the sound wave of the bass and compare it to the drum to see if its on the beat. Thats great to see if your timing is good, but also realizing we are not robots and many time will just be a hair off and that's ok.
@@thomasfioriglio Yes, Bendeth was teaching Ale on bass to play to the drums (which were already recorded with the more flexible rhythm). I guess once people get used to the click track it can be harder to break from it. In a different video someone talked about a specific Foo Fighters track recorded without a click track and how the tempo was more varied.
I actually cracked up when you did the "I want you back" bit
I’m watching this at 2 am and I don’t even own a bass
Saaaame.
I believe I’ve been leaving comments on how to convince my mum to get me a bass. Finally got my bass :)
You have a way of simplifying your lessons for us “learning impaired”.Thank you and keep cranking out the awesome content
This vid could’ve been over in under 10 seconds but this guy is something else
"I want you back!" Love it!!!!!
But back on track, this is a great video explaining the nuances needed to break out of clichéd playing. Say hi to Noob Josh for me!
Thanks Judi!
I saw another video with bass tabs and a guy was playing the part. But I heard that that is some mistake. I found a lot of tabs - original and another - but could not agree with the part. Seem there is some secret! And you opened my eyes for 16nth notes with their "magic". You are the best! thank you!
He's not the most technically bassist, but he's my bass heroes
I think it was a gibson rd that he took the head
I like your profile pic
Well for a grunge bassist he was good
Is that a reference to my hero from dave Grohl?
He have passion that beyond any fancy-shmancy techniques
I love the slide in the intro. It’s just so aggressive, it sounds like a snarl. So cool
Bro. hehe
Hi
Bro. hehe
Hey Mike! I liked your video so much I had to do a bass version. 😋 Everyone check out Mike's classic 7 Levels of Teen Spirit for Guitar vid - ruclips.net/video/Xambk1JkWrE/видео.html
Omg hi I love your channel!!
hi mike
This really Helped me! I always wanted to learn nirvana and now can thank you!
“Spicy noob” is how I like to describe my guitar/bass skills
Thanks Josh. Just finished your whole course and you really got me off to a great start as a new old guy learning the bass! I also love that you play a lot on "beginner" bass guitars. It really shows that the tone is in your hands!
Congrats on finishing the course Robert! :)
Level 5: Júnior Bass Groovador
Isso é nível 30!!
Kkkkkkkk
isso! hahaha , ia falar ! esse nirvana ai chega nem na unha do Groovador !
O grande e único kdskdskds
The use of graphics to illustrate what your describing is 👌🏼
I was toiling away on this line for a whole day and after I watched this video everything clicked! Thanks for the help! You rock!
Glad it helped! :)
My kid taught himself how to play guitar, and talked me into buying a bass because he was lonely. I've been playing for about a month, and I've learned a lot, including this song. The finger slides are murdering my fingers.
good luck on your band!
Why am i watching this i am a guitarist and dont even own a bass
Get one!
And I play drums 😂
Me too!
same
I just bough my self a 5 string Yamaha just to slap and I own a 1973 sg 1972 strat and a 1999 Bert hatch limited edition stelecaster (number 16 out of 50)...just get a bass dude
Thanky you so much for this lesson - the level of technical and rhythmical detail you go into in order to clarify the different levels of this bass line is superb and quite an eye (and ear) opener!
Wow!! I just learned a whole new perspective on a song I've been listening to since the album came out... Jeez!
This is SUCH a great video!!! It contains so much information and great break downs of everything!
Thanks Nicki! BTW as I read this comment, you're at 6.66K subscribers, that is extremely metal. 🤘
I love this guy!
Wait? Why am i watching this? I can play this backwards behind my back while i am sleeping.
It has to be this guys wonderful personality
Haha, thank you!
wait, why am i watching this? i'm a teenager, cant play bass and don't own a bass XD
@@taylormomsenssidehoe Never blame yourself for wanting to watch a handsome man like Josh. xD
in my honest opinion krist has to be one of the bassists of all time
god dammit i love noob josh,hes adorable
Shut the pug up you're adorable
@@rudlum7250 pug danks u,pug now boops ur nose,*cold nose boop*
Finally someone will teach people how to play this bassline right so many play it wrong
You should make a series like this! Where its like "noob to ____"
Next: "Noob to John" (john deacon) :D
Imagine my tremendous surprise when you suggested John Deacon. :P
@@GrungeGarden john paul jones
Wow I dont usually comment often on videos but your video is soooo thorough and insightful! Especially with the bits where you compare “what would something sound like with X and without X” is amazing! Thank you so much for doing what you are doing 🦋💗
You're welcome! :)
The level one was the first song I “Learned,” after that, I thought I could play anything. So immediately jumped into terribly playing Guns n Roses. Then I found this channel and learned some basic theory and other smarter bass stuff.
great tutorial!! I love that you shared all the reasoning behind you advice and I can now play Smells like Teen Spirit on bass!! thank you!
Idk why but i think alot of krists playing mostly has to do with how low he had his bass, like I've never seen many people play a bass like that
Peter Hook plays his bass quite low too, I wonder if krist was inspired by him
Steve Harris has a low bass.
Great video, I've been afraid to start my own channel for a while and watching these videos gives me more confidence to do it! I hope this channel and your website is how you make your living
KRIST NOVOSELIC GÊNIO DO BAIXO !!!
I'm a guitarist watching this to help my bass player friend play with me lol. We just learned this song. also I just think it's interesting. Thanks for taking the time to teach people to play, man!
Can you make a video about Duff Mckagan from GnR I think he is a great rock bassist and deserve a bit of your attention
Btw i have exactly the same red P Bass you have there
oh man! I've been waiting for a video on Krist and it's finally here. thanks Josh!
Thank you! I was copying the guitar part and it just wasn't gelling.
Glad it helped Russell!
Thanks to this video I went from not being able to swap between 2 notes to playing th full sing in just over a week!
You should make a lesson on a very detailed ‘how to setup your bass’
I love this guy so much. He’s educational and extremely humorous!
It would be great if you did a video about Les Claypool!
Hell yeah, or geezer butler 👀
Yep or fliedy from Korn
Primus uses 6 string bass guitars
No noob level with him 😅
I really enjoyed watching this video. You're funny as hell, but you're also one of the best bass teachers on RUclips. One thing about Krist. Love him or hate him, he was HEAVY!!! And that bass tone. The fact that he is a pick man automatically makes me a fan, even though I'm not a Nirvana fan. Cobain had a killer rhythm section behind him. Krist and Dave were both very HEAVY.
Thanks Jimmy!
That little Robert Glasper piece at the end was nice!!
Derick Hodge!
Very nice job of the pick/fingers comparison section. It was easy to hear how the pick really also adds a percussive hit to each note that fingers don't quite do. Comparing that with your earlier tip about how the bass ties with the drums under the ghost notes of the guitar made the whole thing come together.
@8:51 Sounds like the Smiths bassist, who literally made a career doing what you said not to do. Soul and funk style with a pick most of the time
Awesome
Sick lesson, respect for uploading it
Awesome video dude, you should make a on reasons why Cliff Williams of AC/DC is awesome
having to go find my pick half way through and then restart this from the beginning was HUMBLING
Lol i literally just bought the red bass, without knowing he had it haha
It made me soooo happy when i saw this bc i recommended it on the burtron video. He was one of my motivations for starting bass. thank you soooo much
No one :...
Me : *YUKIS GUITERRRRR 😭😭😭*
You're playing skills and ear for sound are amazing- Thank-you BASSBUZZ
Watching all the way through aghast at how wrong I've always played it. Get to the end and realise 'oh that's exactly how I play it'
good video... your video effects and tabs are awesome. Good to see Noob Josh again. I was looking forward to Spicy Noob Josh!!
Thanks Duane!
final step - screw all the other steps, just play it
not related to this video and i don't even know if you'll read this but i just wanna say: thank you so so so much for your work, your advices are insanely helpful and your channel motivates me af. thank you !
I read every comment! Thank you back Maria, glad I can help!
NGL i think noov Josh might be bassbuzz in descize
No way
they were in the same room together!
@@cactustactics or were they(*vsauce music starts playing*)
Look, I'm off my chops, and a bit buzzed (note pun) but oh my god, the Caveman method! AH! It's made so many songs more accessible! Thank you, Josh!
This is probly overly dissecting a simple bass line, feels kinda weird
Those are fun facts to know
I guess this video is not for me tho
But it’s still very epic for beginners, I wish I saw this when I just started learning this song!
Thanks for posting this, you break it down super easy and simple you, were the first bass player I got lessons from and thanks to you I've been playing for 5 months and now I can play Red hot chili Peppers and RATM
Creating rhythmic instability? The shit was just shot out of a cannon ...I just don’t think kris n curt really were worried about precise playing (thankfully)
I really enjoy watching all of your videos. I learn a lot and your way with words (and teaching of course) is awesome
nah it smells like hardwood and smelly men
(edit) I dont remember leaving this comment tbh
Didn't expect myself to be doing level 5 unconsciously just by vibing to his playing, wow