Play “Smells Like Teen Spirit” On The Drums | 5 Levels
Even a complete beginner drummer can learn how to play one of the biggest songs of the ’90s: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. In this video, Dave Atkinson will take you through the basic skeleton of the song, then level it up until you’re eventually able to play it just like Grohl!
Rather than struggling to make it through the song before you’re ready, you can still do it solidly and confidently by stripping it down to the basics. All you need to know is how to play a simple beat. Whatever skill level you’re at, here are five versions of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”:
0:00 Intro
1:06 Beginner
2:55 Weekend Warrior
4:54 “I’ve Taken Lessons”
6:33 The Cover Band Drummer
8:27 Play Like Dave Grohl
What level are you at? Where do you hope to take it?
Get note-for-note sheet music + handy playback tools for 40 of drumming’s biggest songs FREE- including Smells Like Teen Spirit!
► https://www.drumeo.com/40-songs/
Go from a total beginner to playing your first drum beats in this FREE series!
► https://www.drumeo.com/getting-started/
Ready to take your drumming to the next level? Enjoy your free 7-day trial to Drumeo!
► https://www.drumeo.com/trial-yt
Follow us!
►Facebook: http://Facebook.com/drumeo/
►Instagram: http://Instagram.com/drumeoofficial/
► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drumeoofficial
►The Drumeo Beat: https://www.drumeo.com/beat/
►Check out Jared’s Favorite Products: https://www.drumeo.com/jared-recommends/
#nirvana #davegrohl #smellsliketeenspirit
@DrumeoOfficial
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Get note-for-note sheet music + handy playback tools for 40 of drumming’s biggest songs FREE- including Smells Like Teen Spirit!
► https://www.drumeo.com/40-songs/
@brickjola
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
What’s your personal favorite moment?
@foofooman80
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Damn you’re cute!! ❤
@williambartholomew5680
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Intermediate player here, started playing casually 12 years back but stopped for literally 5 years and now back at it fairly seriously. Was happy to see that I'm deep into stage 4 😃 For me to advance I need to keep consistent dynamics across the kit throughout the song, I swapped out my SUPER cheap hi-hat stand for something closer to pro-teir and that's made maintaining consistent hi-hat sound WORLDS easier so now it's just maintaining the proper balance of cymbals vs snare vs kick.
A similar song I've struggled with my whole life is "My Hero", keeping my right hand nailed to quarter notes on the hi-hat while my right foot does sixteenths on the kick is my Achilles Heel. I can play all the drums/cymbals individually but combine them in that song's intro & verses I'm screwed lol
@marcobreiten
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done
@MMrich1603
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Didn’t help for me
@gregshuffield1976
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
I get a little annoyed by drummers spinning the sticks, just a little.
@DadReadsAndCooksMeat
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
3.5
@Ps4Cody
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
I've literally been playing less than 24 hours and your lessons helped
@Liquid_Economy
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
"smells like Nirvana '
From Weird al Yankovic ♥️
@mando2875
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
im a bassist who came here after bassbuzzs video
@urlocalarsoncommitter
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Im a pianist and a guitarist. Ive barely played drums but I have them cause of my dad. I dont know why im here, just got motivated enough to learn stuff
@HelenMcGlasson
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Being a drummer, and knowing of by heart how to play teens spirit, I don't know why I'm here…
@markmayer8863
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
This video made me go from a 3 to a 5 on this song! Thanks so much!
@JockeLonnovik
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Really great teaching man, hope to see more of you in the future 😁
@markusszelbracikowski
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Oh that snarky double kick on level 4, Grohl, you bastard 😅
@sfkim44
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
doesn't Dave play 8th on the hihat?
@tr3vk4m
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
You forgot to play the level where you beat them like they just murdered your family.
@PearlsAmongSwine
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Why did you guys stop this series?
@meatbeater2928
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
6:50
@jXslauter00
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Currently at level 4, that last double for level 5 is killing me, guess i know what i need to get better at!
@alexsurh1472
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
For the groove, I can play the bass drum fine by itself, I can play the snare fine by itself, Something about combining the bass and the snare alternating really fucks me up. I just can't alternate the bass and the snare correctly.
@InversoresAG
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
NIRVANA 😍
@drench1405
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
I like this a lot, I need to learn new songs for my band and I’m not very good at hearing the song and them playing it. Also, you’re a very good teacher.
@carlo1309
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
What am I doing here, I'm just a bassist
@JoshCorsi
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
i went from i'm learning to oh repeat that previous part, learnt a lot just on the first-time watch appreciate it
@OlaoluwaEbenezer-f6k
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
i dont get the difference between the crash on the 1s you played,it all the same
@seanmiller8756
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Great beginner song for guitar too
@ASIANDOLL270
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
my dad just got a new drum set. I got into music with drums n
guitar shi not that long ago. Hopefully this takes me somewhere that music just idk feels like freedom !
@gregdennis6094
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
PLEASE STOP SAYING "GRAWL"! IT'S PRONOUNCED "GROLE". GROHL = "GROLE"
@arixlivia-roadto2005
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
wanna play drums but to broke i’ll stick to piano and guitar 💔
@subseventeen9068
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Aaaannnnddd this shot me to the next level!! Thank you! Ill be getting my membership back soon after this amazing teaching!
@jables3377
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
I never knew he was hitting the HH with the crashes on the intro….
@raymondk125
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Next step: buying drums
@gibigibiyim
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Thanks
@reuhka
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
I know it's the wrong vid, but what sre you gonna throw at Ray or Archie?
@IMAComedy
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Having practiced the shit out of this song, I was very worried that the cold open was level one lol
@JadenSanderson-su8hm
August 16, 2025 at 10:25 am
Thx man this helped a lot
Comments are closed.