What Guitars Did Kurt Cobain Use?

Wondering what guitars Kurt Cobain used most regularly?

When it comes to artists that defined a generational sound, there’s little arguing to be had that Kurt Cobain doesn’t make the list. With such a defining sound also comes a search for the exact types of guitars that crafted the unique Nirvana aesthetic, so let’s take a look at the guitars most commonly favoured and used by Kurt himself.

Fender Mustang

The Mustang is one of, if not the most recognisable guitar that you’ll see Kurt playing both in terms of live performances and studio recordings. The custom Mustang is most commonly seen as the guitar that Kurt opted for on the In Utero tour.

Fender Jaguar

Another very Kurt-esque guitar, the Jaguar was a go-to for Kurt throughout Nirvana’s touring roster. Fender Jaguars are iconic for their seemingly complex builds and unique look… Basically, the perfect type of guitar for the Nirvana frontman.

Martin D-18E

Arguably the album that got a lot of grunge and rock fans into acoustic music (or to at least see that rockers were capable of playing ‘softly’ too. It’s also a notably modified guitar, leaving the body to resemble something similar to the Jaguar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Kurt Cobain’s favourite guitar brand?

Obviously we can’t ask him, but based on the guitar brand commonly opted for by Kurt then you’re looking at the standard popular guitar brands of the day; Fender, Martin and Gibson.

Did Kurt Cobain play a left-handed guitar?

Yes. Kurt’s custom guitars were also heavily modified, often utilising outdated or incorrect parts (usually because the guitars were given to Kurt initially).

Was Kurt Cobain technically a good guitar player?

Of course. ‘Good’ is a very objective term as it all depends on what each individual guitarist or listener deems to be good. If you mean was he good at playing quickly? Probably not. But what Kurt did was create beautiful melodies and considered solos that introduced a generation to a whole new era of music. If that doesn’t make a guitarist ‘good’, then I don’t know what does.

Are Nirvana songs hard to play on the guitar?

Again this is another very objective question based on each individual guitarists skillset. Songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit are often a go-to for beginner guitarists, as you’re welcome to get to grips with power chords and a melodic solo that still proves challenging.

if you compared Nirvana songs to something like a Steve Vai track then no, comparatively they’re not hard to play. But, if you’re a beginner, they will offer a challenge and are highly recommended to check out (and also great to listen to when learning them).

Conclusion

This post has been kept quite short as we don’t want to detract from the primary information. You came to see what guitars Kurt Cobain used to play, and we’ve summed it up!

If you’d like to see any other analysis of guitarists in relation to their equipment and guitars (like our Bradley Cooper guide), leave a comment below and we’ll get it sorted. Until next time, stay safe and happy shredding!