Chordna
Basket Case
punk rockpunkrock90s

Basket Case

Green Day

From the album

Noize Boyz (1996)

Written by

Green Day

Key:Eb Major
Duration:2:50

Listen to the Song

Open in YouTube

Summary

Released as the breakout single from the diamond-certified album 'Dookie', 'Basket Case' defined the 1994 punk revival. It remains a cornerstone of alternative rock, blending high-speed power chords with vulnerable lyrics about mental health.

pop-punk90s rockalternativeskate-punkenergetic

Musical Analysis

At first glance, 'Basket Case' is a quintessential three-chord punk anthem, but its harmonic DNA is surprisingly classical. The verse progression is a direct variation of Pachelbel's 'Canon in D' (I-V-vi-iii-IV-I-V), a sequence that provides a sense of relentl…

Structure:Intro-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro

Chords

verse:Cm - A♭ - E♭ - B♭
chorus:E♭ - B♭ - Cm - A♭
bridge:A♭ - B♭ - Cm

History

The song was written by Billie Joe Armstrong about his experiences with anxiety and panic attacks before he was diagnosed with a panic disorder.

“The song's title refers to a slang term for a person who is mentally or emotionally unstable.”

📝 Lyrics

anxious · frantic · neurotic

Theme

Anxiety and the struggle with mental health and paranoia.

Surface

A person detailing their feelings of going insane and their unsuccessful attempts to seek help from a therapist and a sex worker.

Deeper meaning

Written by Billie Joe Armstrong about his then-undiagnosed panic disorder, the song explores the isolation of mental illness. It captures the frustration of not knowing whether one's distress is a clinical issue, a result of drug use, or merely existential boredom, ultimately reflecting the stigma of 'whining' about mental health.

Symbols

The ShrinkThe WhoreBasket Case

Full Musical Analysis

The song features a simple, yet effective harmonic progression characteristic of punk rock.

The rhythm is fast-paced and energetic, driven by a steady drum beat and driving guitar riffs.

The melody is catchy and memorable, with Armstrong's vocals delivering a sense of urgency and vulnerability.

The song was written by Billie Joe Armstrong about his experiences with anxiety and panic attacks before he was diagnosed with a panic disorder.

Released as the breakout single from the diamond-certified album 'Dookie', 'Basket Case' defined the 1994 punk revival. It remains a cornerstone of alternative rock, blending high-speed power chords with vulnerable lyrics about mental health.

Song DNA

Genre

Rock

Era

90s

Mood

Aggressive

Tempo

Fast

Key

Major

Texture

Full Band

Sound

Guitar-driven

Feel

Straight

Explore More

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🎸 punk rock📅 1996🔥 Most popular

Listen & Learn

Last.fm

Statistics

21.7M

Plays

2.5M

Listeners

100%

Popularity

2:50

Duration

4/4

Time

Credits

Written by

Green Day

Produced by

Rob CavalloGreen Day

From the album Dookie

Chord Sheet

Song Structure

Verse-Chorus

Chords Used

E5
G5
D5
A5

Chord Fingerings

E5

Standard

G5

Standard

D5

Standard

A5

Standard

Sections

IntroVerse 1ChorusVerse 2ChorusBridgeGuitar SoloChorusOutro