How to Play the Grunge Guitar

Grunge music is an alternative rock closely related to hardcore punk and heavy metal. The best "grunge" music period was from the late 1980's until the mid 1990's during the teen years of Generation X. There is more to the genre than just playing grunge guitar. Grunge music incorporates several factors to create the whole affect, and one part is incomplete without the other.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Create the "dirty" guitar sound known as grunge by using distortion and feedback with a heavy metal sound at a slower tempo. This harsh sound with the slower beat distinguishes the grunge music you play on your guitar from punk rock.

2. Incorporate the grunge sound with relevant lyrics. The message of grunge expresses discontent with poverty, prejudice and other social injustices.

3. Play grunge guitar music to release your emotions of anger, frustration, sadness, fear and depression.

4. Interject humorous commentary into your lyrics when you play grunge music on your guitar. Dark and light humor reverberates from some grunge music such as the Mudhoney's song "Touch Me, I'm Sick!"

5. Give a straightforward performance with no pretense. Leave out the special lighting, special affects and pyrotechnics.

6. Use your grunge guitar, heavy drumming, lyrics and high energy to draw the interest of your audience. The bands encourage audience members to interact with them.

7. Wear simple clothing such as flannel shirts, jeans and boots or sneakers to display a lack of pretense that correlates to the message in the music. Band members often look unkempt or "grungy."