Song Rig
Lithium
Kurt Cobain · Nevermind · 1991
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Lithium uses the same fundamental Nevermind guitar rig as Smells Like Teen Spirit but the distorted guitar parts are less prominent in the mix — the track is more about the interplay between clean verses and distorted choruses. The clean guitar in the verses is the actual Fender Twin clean channel, not a bypassed pedal, giving it the precise, crystalline Fender clean tone before the DS-2 kicks in for the chorus.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Mustang
- 2Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
- 3Fender Twin Reverb
Amp Settings
Clean verse setting — pure Fender Twin clean. Switch to DS-2 for chorus. The contrast between the two is more dramatic than Smells Like Teen Spirit because the verses are quieter.
Technique
How to Play It
The clean verse strumming is deceptively simple — D-A-G-C-E arpeggiated slowly. The emotional power comes from restraint in the verse making the chorus impact feel overwhelming.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Any guitar with a Fender Twin clean channel and a Boss DS-2 (or DS-1) in the effects loop for the chorus. The volume knob for switching is an alternative if you have no footswitch.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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