"Outshined" by Soundgarden is one of the most iconic tracks from the grunge era and a standout on their Superunknown album. It blends heavy, sludgy riffs with intricate song structure and deep, emotional lyrics—classic Soundgarden style.

🎸 About the Song

• Title: Outshined
• Artist: Soundgarden
• Released: 1994
• Album: Superunknown
• Writers: Chris Cornell
• Producer: Michael Beinhorn

💬 What’s It About?

Outshined is often interpreted as a song about inner struggle and self-doubt. The lyrics explore feelings of being overshadowed, not living up to expectations, or feeling inadequate despite external success. It's one of those grunge anthems that touches on personal introspection while still having a raw, powerful energy.

Lines like:

“I'm looking California, but feelin' Minnesota...”
“I’m outshined...”

suggest a disconnect between how the world perceives the singer and how they feel inside. It's an introspective battle of identity and self-worth, wrapped in a powerful, aggressive sound.

🎸 Musically

• Heavy, sludgy riffs with Chris Cornell's soaring vocals at the center
• The intro riff is instantly recognizable: a mix of crunchy distortion and deep, groove-heavy rhythms
• Kim Thayil’s guitar work stands out with his unique, dissonant bends and melodies that give the song its "grunge" feel
• The song alternates between heavy, driving sections and more melodic, haunting breaks
• The solo is short but fits perfectly with the song’s mood—emotional but not flashy

🖤 Legacy

• Outshined became one of Soundgarden’s most well-known songs and helped define their sound in the 90s
• Superunknown was a massive success, both critically and commercially, and Outshined was key in that success
• The track has become a fan favorite and a staple of Soundgarden's live shows
• It’s often seen as a defining piece of the grunge movement, blending emotional lyrics with hard rock energy

🤘 Chris Cornell’s Vocal Power

• Chris Cornell’s vocal range in this song is a standout: from his raw, raspy lower registers to his powerful, melodic highs. It's an example of his ability to convey deep emotion without sacrificing intensity.

The zip file below contains the PDF for this lick and the Guitar Pro file as well. 

Below is the audio for this riff with guitars and without guitars. You can download both of them. I would suggest recording yourself along with the audio with no guitars. Give it a try. It's fun!