The 5 Best Acoustic Songs By Grunge Bands

Listening to somebody strumming an acoustic guitar is one of the most boring things in life.

Thankfully, Grunge bands were known for producing a wall of angst driven sound. But here are bands that faced near-impossible odds to produced brilliance.

#5. Nirvana – Dumb

Written by vocalist/guitarist Kurt Cobain with the cello part composed and played by Kera Schaley. “”I remember I heard ‘Dumb’ and then when Kurt came in, I looked at him and I said, ‘This is a really beautiful song'” remembered Schaley. “And I think he might’ve thought that was funny, but he was like, ‘Thank you.'” According to Schaley, the final cello line for the song was recorded in about three takes.

Bbassist Krist Novoselic called “Dumb” “a beautiful song. A sweet pop song.”

#4. Pearl Jam – Daughter

This was the second single from the band’s second studio album, “Vs.” (1993). The lyrics were written by vocalist Eddie Vedder with the music written by band’s members.

Guitarist Stone Gossard used a wide-body acoustic guitar to write the music. Jeff Ament played an upright bass on the song.

#3. Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World

Most of the MTV Unplugged series yielded competent but hardly exceptional performances. Here’s the exception. Kurt Cobain said he was going to make a mistake playing this song – and even knew where. Not to worry. He nailed it.

The song was written and originally recorded by David Bowie.

#2 (Tie) Alice In Chains – Your Decision

Yes, this addition puts four songs in the Best 3. But this is our website so we can do what we want. That said, this song from the band’s fourth studio album, “Black Gives Way To Blue” (2009) was written and sung by guitarist Jerry Cantrell. It can be seen as an ode to the band’s original vocalist, Lane Staley, who couldn’t kick his addiction to drugs and died in ’02.

But it can also be a “song is all about choices and their consequences.”

#1 Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm

It was the third single from the Pumpkins second album, “Siamese Dream” (1993), and became a top-20 hit in the United Kingdom despite being banned due to the song’s lyrical content.

Frontman Billy Corgan stated the song reflects the shaky relationship he had with his parents while growing up.