“Come as You Are,” the third track on Nirvana’s Nevermind, remains a staple of ’90s alternative rock. An iconoclastic group, Nirvana blended social alienation and moral agitation with indelible hooks. “Come as You Are” exemplifies how the powerhouse drums of Dave Grohl and Krist Novaselic’s hypnotic bass merged with Kurt Cobain’s writing to create a once-in-a-generation chemistry. Explore how the song’s rhythms and themes intertwine, then download a V-Drums kit to capture the Nevermind drum sound.
Lyrical Contradiction
The cover of Nevermind features a baby floating underwater behind a floating dollar bill. This image may be a metaphor, symbolizing a world of individuals chasing money, fame, and happiness, all trying to stay afloat. To that end, “Come as You Are” contains a treasure trove of Cobain’s rebellious, conflicted lyrics, likely mirroring his inner psyche. “Take your time, hurry up,” Cobain intones in one example of the track’s contradictory messages.
Drum Sound
Super-producer Butch Vig gave Grohl’s drums a raw, muscular sound and a genuine live feel that hinted at the group’s garage past. Nirvana drum techs Barrett Jones and Mike Dalke confirm Grohl used various 8 x 14-inch snares and a punchy 24-inch bass drum with a heavy-duty batter head. The bass drum has a dry, clear resonance, reflecting its huge diameter but uncharacteristically shallow depth.
Dave Grohl’s Basic Nirvana Setup
- 8 x 14-inch snare drum
- 14 x 15-inch rack tom
- 16 x 18-inch floor tom
- 16 x 24-inch bass drum
"Super-producer Butch Vig gave Grohl’s drums a raw, muscular sound and a genuine live feel that hinted at the group’s garage past."
Musical Drumming Approach
On Nevermind, Grohl approached his drum parts like melodic statements, possibly foreshadowing his songwriting future as the Foo Fighters leader. This intentional style serves the song rather than filling space with flashy playing. While the drummer earned renown for forceful playing and immense sound, his ability to control the softer sections is equally important.
Breaking it Down
The verse pattern is straightforward. It’s an easy beat, with the bass drum part emphasizing the iconic bass groove. The verses are two-bar patterns, and drummers can perform the song by accenting the same beats as the bass. In the first measure, the bass drum hits the downbeat, the three, and the “and” of beat three. The resulting pocket evokes the sound of a beating heart.
"A crisp, steady ride cymbal brightens the edgy vocals and follows the lead bass line, its repeating motif the true essence of the entire tune."
The second measure features numerous upbeats, with bass drum hits on the downbeat and hits on the “and” of beats two, three, and four. The unbalanced feel that emerges provides a counterpoint to the first measure’s heartbeat, creating an upside-down groove that mirrors Cobain’s inconsistent mindset. A crisp, steady ride cymbal brightens the edgy vocals and follows the bassline, its repeating motif the true essence of the entire tune.
Fills and Ghost Notes
One interesting drum moment in “Come as You Are” is the first tom fill. The bass guitar begins the tune, and Grohl chooses a simple but effective fill to introduce the drumbeat. Another intriguing detail appears in the choruses. Here, he plays snare hits on the “uh” of beat two (the fourth sixteenth note in the second beat). Sometimes Grohl performs it as a ghost note; other times, he accents it louder than the snare hits on beats two and four. By adjusting that note’s force, the drummer adds another layer of dynamics to the song.
"Inventive drumming brings another feel to the bridge section: a march-like cadence. Cobain chants the haunting lyric, 'Memoria,' atop the steady sixteenth notes of Grohl’s snare."
Tug of War
Musically, the verses and choruses engage in a tug of war throughout the song. The verses are driving, with the bassline propelling the track. By contrast, the choruses explode with an echoing guitar lead. Open hi-hats and steady crashes add to the metallic flavor of these refrains. Inventive drumming brings another feel to the bridge section: a march-like cadence. Cobain chants the haunting lyric, “Memoria,” atop the steady sixteenth notes of Grohl’s snare. The word is a fitting end to a timeless piece of music.
How to Play "Come as You Are"
Verse
Pre-chorus
CHORUS
DOWNLOAD
"Entertain Us" Kit for TD-17 and TD-27
Modeled on Dave Grohl’s drums from the Nirvana album Nevermind, produced by Butch Vig. This kit is designed for playing along with tracks like “Come as You Are” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
