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The 90’s. Oh dear, they were really good times for young guitar players like myself who adored rock music.
There were so many alternative rock bands back then you got lost in the woods, but that didn’t bother most of us.
Not that everything was great, but at least it was guitar music playing on the radio.
Nowadays I even like some of the songs that I didn’t really dig back then. It has all become nostalgia.
They make me think of the good times or maybe I just listen to those songs differently now. Has my alternative taste expanded? It doesn’t matter. The bands and their songs that were so awesome then have just become more awesome after all these years. Those cranked up guitars just got better.
Favorites? Of course: REM, Radiohead, Alanis Morissette, Oasis, Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it was great putting the entire list together.
Yes, there were many more songs that i wanted to add, but fifty seemed like a nice round number. So here you are.
Notes:
The list below is to inspire, to motivate, to plug your guitar into that full stack to wake up some neighbors or just to bring back some good memories. The songs are in no particular order and the list is definitely incomplete.
I want you to know I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through an amazon link to support the Guitarhabits website.
Enjoy listening!
01 – Smells like teen spirit – Nirvana – Tabs
04 – No rain – Blind Melon – Tabs
05 – Black hole sun – Soundgarden – Tabs
06 – Wonderwall – Oasis – Tabs
07 – Under the bridge – RHCP – Tabs
08 – Interstate lovesong – Stone temple pilots – Tabs
09 – What’s up – For non blondes – Tabs
10 – Cannonball – The Breeders – Tabs
11 – Everlong – Foo Fighters – Tabs
12 – Losing my religion – REM – Tabs
14 – Song 2 – Blur
15 – Jeremy – Pearl Jam – Tabs
16 – Bittersweet symphonie – The Verve – Tabs
17 – Plush – Stone temple pilots – Tabs
18 – You oughta know – Alanis Morissette – Tabs
19 – Sabotage – Beastie Boys
20 – Breakfast at tiffanys – Deep Blue Something
21 – Epic – Faith No More
22 – Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie & The Blowfish
23 – Paranoid android – Radiohead – Tabs
24 – Mysterious ways – U2 – Tabs
25 – The way – Fastball
26 – Shine – Collective Soul – Tabs
27 – Closing time – Semisonic – Tabs
28 – Champagne supernova – Oasis – Tabs
29 – I’m only happy when it rains – Garbage
30 – Iris – Goo Goo Dolls – Tabs
31 – Lightning crashes – Live – Tabs
32 – Californication – Red hot chili peppers – Tabs
34 – Hurt – Nine Inch Nails
35 – Zombie – The Cranberries – Tabs
36 – Would – Alice in Chains – Tabs
38 – Runaway train – Soul Asylum – Tabs
40 – Mr. Jones – Counting Crows – Tabs
41 – Basketcase – Greenday – Tabs
42 – Killing in the name of – Rage against the machine – Tabs
43 – Self esteem – Offspring – Tabs
44 – What’s the frequency Kenneth – REM – Tabs
45 – Buddy Holly – Weezer – Tabs
46 – 1979 – Smashing Pumpkins – Tabs
47 – What I got – Sublime – Tabs
48 – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day – Tabs
49 – The Distance – Cake – Tabs
50 – Lump – Presidents of the united states of america – Tabs
What’s your favorite alternative song of the 90s?
Please share in the comments.
Hi Klaus,
I am a beginner who is learning and practicing the guitar with a teacher.I’m not sure that i could become a guitar player.I love to play guitar because it gives me pleasure and distract me from my life stresses.There are many obstacles in my path which hinders my guitar practicing. If I am able to make my own music in my guitar i will be very happy.I have the desire to learn guitar with many distractions that hamper that desire.I am glad that i had found your website.I love your website because it helped me a lot to keep myself motivated.I am a beginner your articles are so inspiring and motivating to me.If I become an amateur guitar player i will be very happy.I am imagining and believing that i will be able to become a guitar player one day with the help of your blog.
I love your website,you have helped me a lot.your ideas are simple but highly effective.There are no words to express my gratitude.If I had studied with you in person i would be a great guitar player.This article contain good songs.There are points to take notice in the songs.I like the songs selfesteem, the way,whats up and I alone.I will surely practice some of these songs.Thanks for sharing.
Hi Klaus sir,
I have a doubt in 3 ways to improve your skills,I had understood the first part(don’t think about what you can’t do ,focus on your practice),I am unable to understand the second part(practice with the tools you have while you pursue all the knowledge you want).
can you explain the second part so that i could understand it?
Hi Prasana,
I mean that not everybody has a decent sounding guitar or can afford private guitar lessons or whatever you need to help improve your guitar playing, but let that not stop you from practicing and achieving your goal.
Hi Klaus,
Say int ain’t so by Weezer and Even Flow by Pearl Jam.
Great list, thanks.
Hi Dave,
“Even flow” Great song!
What about Come out and play by Offspring
Brandon
SludgeFeast by Dinosaur Jr. !!! J Mascis is a guitar god.
Hi Klaus
Every rose has it’s thorn
Greg, dude, Every Rose has it Thorn is 80’s bro. Great song, wrong decade.
The list is sorely lacking PIXIES and The Replacements.
Also; Hootie & The Blowfish?… Alternative?… What?