Led by guitarists Mark Arm and Steve Turner, the band’s 1990 EP SuperFuzz BigMuff created a ripping, growling distorted guitar sound that would later become the signature of grunge.

Many musicians credit Seattle band Mudhoney with kicking off the grunge genre. Most famous grunge guitarists arose out of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s and early 1990s. If there’s one adjective nobody has ever used to describe grunge music, it’s “sterile.” That’s not to suggest that grunge musicians are simply worse players than guitarists in other genres it’s simply an artistic choice to convey more raw spirit and emotion in the finished musical product rather than polishing out the mistakes. Like in original punk rock, grunge guitarists tolerate a greater measure of sloppiness or lack of professionalism than other musicians might in order to add to the lo-fi, unadulterated vibe. Grunge borrows heavily from the punk movement in playing style as well as attitude and lyrics. Most grunge guitarists use multiple effects pedals to achieve this distinctive sound oftentimes they also roll much of the treble off their guitars and boost the midrange frequencies on their amps. Unlike distortion in rock and metal, which is often used to cut through a mix and create a more in-your-face sound, grunge uses distortion to create a wall of heavy fuzz. One of grunge’s signatures is the foggy, thick distorted guitar sound. However, without a strong vocal melody to lock into for many grunge songs, it’s absolutely essential to maintain an even tempo and a traditional grunge groove without faltering. Because much of traditional grunge de-emphasizes melody in favor of sturdier lyrical content, the ability to add solo lines on guitar isn’t as important. Learning to play grunge guitar requires a strong grasp of power chords and rhythm structures. Yet as the genre developed, grunge players embraced the arena scene in a way punk rockers never did. The general distaste for guitar solos found in grunge is another reflection of those punk rock sensibilities. Grunge also shares punk rock’s expressive, intense songwriting and lyrical fascination with current culture and events - in many ways, grunge songs serve as a vehicle for the message contained in the lyrics. And while many metal guitarists generate distortion from both their amps and additional pedals, grunge guitarists prefer to leave their amps clean and generate their signature distortion solely from an array of pedals. Yet where 1980s metal emphasized uptempo beats and songs centered around blistering solos, grunge shifted the focus to a darker, slower interpretation. The power chord structures and bombed-out fuzz levels are all influences from heavy metal. Most observers describe the grunge genre as a fusion of punk rock sensibilities and lyrics with heavy metal style and distortion. The genre initially evolved out of slow, dirgelike tunes but quickly grew to encompass more uptempo, passionate songs as well.

Though many of these acts have put their own spin on the central style, grunge is typically characterized by the use of extreme distortion and fuzz effects, simple, dirty power chords, and straightforward, driving rhythm that propels the song forward. But other Seattle groups like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Alice in Chains, and The Melvins are all traditionally categorized under the “grunge” label as well. As mentioned above, the music of Nirvana is many people’s first and only concept of the grunge genre.

Guitar with grunge overlay