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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsE, A, G, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

EAGCEAGCEAGCEAGC
ELoadAuponGgunsandCbringyourEfriends
It’s AfuntoGloseandCtoEpretend
She’sAoverGboredandCself Eassured
OhAno,IGknowaCdirtyEword
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
Hello,Ahello,Ghello…C
WiththeElightsout,Ait’slessGdangerous
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CIfeelEstupidAandGcontagious
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CAEmulatto,AanGalbino
CAEmosquito,myGlibido
CYay!EGCEAGC
EAGCEAGC
EI’mAworseatGwhatCIdoEbest
AndAforthisGgiftICfeelEblessed
OurAlittleGgrouphasCalwaysEbeen
AndAalwaysGwillCuntiltheEend
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
Hello,Ahello,Ghello…C
WiththeElightsout,Ait’slessGdangerous
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CIfeelEstupidAandGcontagious
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CAEmulatto,AanGalbino
CAEmosquito,myGlibido
CYay!EGCEAGC
EAGCEAGCEAGCEAGC
EAGCEAGCEAGCEAGC
EAGCEAGC
EAndAI Gforgetjust CwhyI Etaste
OhAyeah,IGguessitCmakesmeEsmile
IAfounditGhard,it’sChardtoEfind
OhAwell, Gwhatever,Cnevermind
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
AHello,Ghello,Chello,howElow?
Hello,Ahello,Ghello…C
WiththeElightsout,Ait’slessGdangerous
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CIfeelEstupidAandGcontagious
CHereweEareAnow,Gentertainus
CAEmulatto,AanGalbino
CAEmosquito,AmyGlibido
CAEdenial,AaGdenial
CAEdenial,AaGdenial
CAEdenial,AaGdenial
CAEdenial,AaGdenial
CDenial…
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistNirvana
AlbumNevermind
GenresAlternative, Indie, Rock, Classic Rock
Year1991
KeyE
DifficultyEasy

How to play Smells Like Teen Spirit on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Smells Like Teen Spirit uses these transitions most often: E → A (67), A → G (66), and C → E (66). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with E - A chord transition.

1. E → A chord transition

Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram

To move from E to A:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 67 times.

E to A

2. A → G chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from A to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 66 times.

A to G

3. G → C chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Switching from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 66 times.

G to C

4. C → E chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to E:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 66 times.

C to E

Smells Like Teen Spirit chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Smells Like Teen Spirit.

  • Smells Like Teen Spirit includes 265 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.07% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Smells Like Teen Spirit contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Smells Like Teen Spirit connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (25%), D (14%), and B (11%).
    • E → A: 25%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → G: 13%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.