Beabadoobee, one of the standout indie rock artists of the Gen Z era, has gained attention not just for her nostalgic sound but for her unconventional guitar style. Known for blending influences like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, her chord progressions often bewilder traditional guitarists. According to her, even session musicians sometimes can’t understand her choices, often questioning how certain chords even exist!
However, what confuses some has won over none other than legendary producer Rick Rubin. Rubin, famed for shaping the sound of artists across all genres, has embraced Beabadoobee’s raw and imperfect playing. During the production of her recent work, he advised her to strip down her sound, letting her naturally experimental style take center stage. Instead of encouraging polished perfection, Rubin leaned into her instinctive playing, highlighting how her lack of formal training gives her music a unique authenticity.
A big part of Beabadoobee’s signature sound comes from her use of alternate tunings. These tunings allow her to experiment beyond the conventional, opening up fresh harmonic possibilities that may sound out of place to some but are the core of her sonic identity. Her music, full of raw emotion and experimental texture, resonates with listeners because it’s not bound by typical chord theory.
While traditional guitarists might struggle to place her progressions in familiar categories, Beabadoobee’s approach is a refreshing reminder of the freedom that music allows. It shows that breaking the rules can create something special—just as it did in the hands of indie and alternative guitar heroes before her.
For guitarists and musicians, there’s a lesson in her work: Don’t be afraid to embrace the unconventional. Whether it’s alternate tunings or chords that “don’t exist,” the key to creating something memorable might just lie outside the boundaries of theory. Beabadoobee proves that creativity trumps technique, and sometimes, the strangest chords make the most impact.
