Songwriting Analysis: Nirvana “About a Girl”

Nirvana: Bleach

This early stand-out track from Nirvana’s debut album Bleach already has ample showcases of the songwriting genius that was Kurt Cobain.

  • Experiment with wild key changes that may sound odd at first but may sound distinct when listened to a few times.
  • Explore triadic melodies — put the chord tones on strong beats, as they are great at making the melody fit the harmony without employing predictable and tame step-wise moves.
  • Emphasize the sense of final resolution by repeating the last line of the chorus and adding in a build-up.