Is Come As You Are hard for beginners?
Not really.
It’s actually one of the most beginner-friendly famous rock riffs because of its repetitive movement and slower pace.
How to Play Come As You Are on Guitar
Some beginners think: “Because it’s Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, it must be way too advanced for me.”
But honestly, that’s not true at all.
Come As You Are is actually one of the BEST songs to start practicing as a complete beginner because the riff is slower, repetitive, and surprisingly easy to memorize once you start playing it a few times.
It’s also one of my favorite songs I learned in the beginning because the moment you start recognizing the song while you are playing it, it feels much more exciting instead of practicing some random exercises.
And I personally think that feeling is really important in the beginning because it helps keep people motivated to continue practicing.
Quick Bonus: You Can Tune Your Guitar Down
To play the song closer to the original version, you first need to tune your guitar a whole step down.
But I suggest practicing with regular tuning first, then trying this later if you want a more realistic version.
Remember, keep it simple. This is only a bonus once you feel comfortable with the basic riff and chords.
“Tune a whole step down” means: lower every string by 2 frets (2 semitones).
Normal guitar tuning:
E
A
D
G
B
E
Whole step down becomes:
D
G
C
F
A
D
So:
- E → D
- A → G
- D → C
- G → F
- B → A
- E → D
Why people do this:
- easier singing range
- slightly softer feel
- looser strings
- deeper sound
If you’re still learning how tuning works, check out this beginner guide first: What’s the Fastest Way to Make Your Guitar Sound Good?
Before learning riffs and chords, make sure your guitar is properly tuned first. A badly tuned guitar can make even simple beginner songs sound wrong and frustrating to play.
Optional: Add a Chorus Effect
One reason the riff sounds so smooth and watery in the original song is because of a chorus effect.
If your amp or headphone amp has:
- an FX button
- modulation
- chorus effect
try turning on chorus while practicing the riff.
Even a small amount can make the guitar sound much closer to the original vibe.
But don’t worry if you don’t have effects yet. The riff still sounds great clean.
The Iconic Come As You Are Riff
Don’t worry about speed yet.
Focus on:
- clean notes
- staying relaxed
- consistent rhythm
- smooth movement between notes
Even playing this riff slowly can already sound great.
And honestly, beginners improve much faster when they stop trying to rush immediately.
This is the original Come As You Are riff. Start reading and playing the tab from left to right.
If You Don’t Know How to Read Tabs Yet
If guitar tabs still confuse you, don’t worry.
Tabs are actually much easier than traditional sheet music.
They simply show:
- which string to play
- which fret to press
- from left to right
If you need help understanding tabs first, check out this beginner guide:
Want To Play More of the Song?
Once you feel comfortable playing the main riff, you can start learning a few simple chords used in the song.
This is a great next step because it helps beginners:
- feel more musical
- practice rhythm guitar with actual chords
- play larger sections of the song
- build confidence naturally
And honestly, hearing the riff AND chords together makes the song feel much more complete.
But take your time. If this is your very first song, don’t panic if chord transitions feel difficult at first. That’s completely normal.
e|--0-- B|--0-- G|--x-- D|--4-- A|--3-- E|--1--
Meaning:
- Index finger (1) → low E string fret 2
- Middle finger → Mute G string fret 3
- Ring finger (3) → A string fret 4
- Pinky finger (4) → D string fret 4
Mute the G string.
The “x” means: do NOT let that string ring out.
Strum from the low E string down to the high e string.
Lightly mute the G string.
e|--0-- B|--0-- G|--2-- D|--1-- A|--0-- E|-----
Finger placement:
- Index finger (1) → D string fret 2
- Middle finger (2) → G string fret 2
Strum from the A string down to the high e string.
Avoid playing the thick low E string.
🌴 Simple Beginner Strumming Pattern
Try this relaxed beginner-friendly rhythm:
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬆️ ⬆️ ⬇️ ⬆️
Down · Down · Up · Up · Down · Up
Down · Down · Up · Up · Down · Up
🎵 Start slowly first.
Focus on:
- 🌊 staying relaxed
- ⏱️ keeping rhythm steady
- 🎸 making the song feel smooth
💡 Don’t rush.
Sometimes listening to the original song helps the rhythm feel natural.
B Power Chord and D Chord
Later in the song when Kurt starts singing: “I don’t have a gun…”
you can also add:
- B power chord
- D chord
Let’s start with the B power chord (B5), a great beginner-friendly chord.
e|------- B|------- G|--4---- D|--4---- A|--2---- E|-------
Finger placement:
- Index finger (2) → A string fret 2
- Ring finger (4) → D string fret 4
- Pinky finger (4) → G string fret 4
Strum from the A string down to the G string.
Skip both E strings and avoid playing the B and high e strings.
Now let’s move to the D chord; a bright, uplifting chord that sounds great and is beginner-friendly.
e|--x---- B|--3---- G|--2---- D|--0---- A|------- E|-------
D chord with the high e string muted.
Finger placement:
- Index finger (2) → G string fret 2
- Middle finger → Mute e string fret 2
- Ring finger (3) → B string fret 3
- D string → play open
Strum from the D string down to the B string.
Mute the high e string and avoid playing the A and low E strings.
🎵 Strumming for This Part of the Song
For this section, keep it simple and follow the rhythm you hear in the original song:
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Down · Down · Down · Down
Down · Down · Down · Down
🎧 Try listening to the song while practicing.
The goal is not speed —> it’s matching the feel and rhythm.
🌴 Keep it relaxed and let the groove happen naturally.
Common Beginner Mistakes With This Riff
1. Playing Too Fast Too Early
This is probably the biggest mistake, but rhythm is something that improves naturally with more practice and time.
A lot of beginners immediately try to match the original song speed and then:
- miss notes
- lose rhythm
- feel frustrated
Start slower. Seriously.
Clean slow playing is MUCH better than messy fast playing.
2. Pressing Too Hard
Many beginners squeeze the strings way too aggressively.
Try staying relaxed.
You only need enough pressure for the note to sound clean.
Over time your fingers naturally become more comfortable.
3. Ignoring Rhythm
Even if you play the correct notes, the riff won’t sound right if the rhythm feels rushed.
Try tapping your foot while practicing.
That helps a LOT with consistency.
Why Recognizable Riffs Help Beginners So Much
One of the biggest reasons beginners quit guitar early is because practice starts feeling disconnected from real music.
A lot of people spend weeks:
- practicing exercises
- memorizing drills
- struggling with technique
without ever feeling like they’re actually playing songs.
But recognizable riffs completely change that feeling.
Suddenly:
- practice feels exciting
- progress feels real
- guitar sounds musical
- motivation becomes easier
And honestly, Come As You Are is one of the best examples of that.
It sounds amazing surprisingly quickly.
How to Practice This Riff Without Getting Frustrated
Keep your practice simple.
You do NOT need:
- perfect speed
- expensive gear
- advanced music theory
Focus instead on:
- small improvements
- cleaner notes
- relaxed movement
- consistency
Even:
- 10–15 minutes a day
- while having fun
can already create huge progress over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need distortion to play the riff?
No.
Distortion helps capture the original vibe, but beginners can still practice it clean perfectly fine.
How long does it take to learn?
A lot of beginners can start recognizing the riff within their first few practice sessions.
The biggest improvement usually comes from rhythm consistency over time.
Should beginners learn riffs before chords?
Honestly, both are useful.
But recognizable riffs often help beginners stay motivated because they immediately sound musical and rewarding.
The Most Important Thing
Learning guitar should feel:
- exciting
- motivating
- relaxing
- rewarding
Not stressful or overwhelming.
That’s why riffs like Come As You Are are so powerful for beginners.
Even simple progress on recognizable songs can completely change how motivated you feel about practicing.
And honestly, having fun is one of the biggest reasons people continue learning guitar long term.
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