"Come as You Are" by Nirvana appeared on Nevermind in 1991. Kurt Cobain's riff has a murky, underwater wobble: low single notes that seem to swim slightly in and out of tune. Then the louder sections hit with a thick, raw distortion. The contrast between the two is a big part of the song's mood.
What was used
- Chorus: the watery sound on the riff is widely cited as an Electro-Harmonix Small Clone, a simple analog chorus with one Rate knob and a depth switch.
- Distortion: Boss distortion pedals, the DS-1 and the DS-2, are commonly cited for Cobain's louder parts. Which one is on this particular recording is less certain.
- Tuning: the recording is usually described as roughly a whole step down, though not exactly in tune with standard pitch. That low tuning darkens the riff. Tune down a whole step, then fine-tune against the record.
The rig below is an approximation: a common way to get close to this sound, not the exact original gear or settings.
Playing it
- Dig into the low notes with a firm pick; the chorus sounds best on single notes with some attack.
- Let the notes ring into each other a little. The chorus works on sustain, and the murkiness is part of the charm.
- Keep the riff slightly behind the beat and relaxed. Rushing it kills the lazy, hazy feel.
- Practice the switch: stomp the distortion exactly on the downbeat of the loud section, without a gap in the rhythm.