Black Hole Sun Chords
Soundgarden
Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden is in the key of G Major. Chord progression: I–bIII–bVII–VI–bVI–V–IV–bIII.
Superunknown (1994)
Chris Cornell
Listen to the Song
Chord Sheet
Song Structure
Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Guitar Solo-Chorus-Outro
Chords Used
Chord Diagrams
Sections
At a glance
- Key
- G Major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- I–bIII–bVII–VI–bVI–V–IV–bIII
- Chords used
- F · G · Am · C · Bb · E · Eb · D
- Form
- Intro-Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Outro
- Difficulty
- 8/10
Summary
Serving as Soundgarden's most iconic hit, 'Black Hole Sun' bridged the gap between heavy Seattle grunge and 1960s-inspired psychedelia. It showcased Chris Cornell's unparalleled vocal range and became a defining cultural touchstone of the mid-90s MTV era.
Musical Analysis
Soundgarden's 'Black Hole Sun' is a masterclass in what theorists call 'quasi-functional harmony.' While the song is grounded in G Major, Chris Cornell avoids the standard tropes of the genre by utilizing an almost constant stream of modal interchange. By borr…
History
Chris Cornell wrote "Black Hole Sun" in about 15 minutes after experimenting with a Gretsch guitar he had recently acquired. He initially dismissed the song as a 'cheesy' pop tune.
“The band initially struggled to capture the song's atmosphere in the studio.”
📝 Lyrics
melancholic · surreal · hauntingTheme
Existential dread and the desire for total purgation of a superficial world
Surface
A surrealist dreamscape where the narrator describes a changing, uncomfortable environment and calls upon a cosmic anomaly to alter the weather.
Deeper meaning
A nihilistic anthem reflecting on the hypocrisy of society and a personal yearning for a 'reset button.' It explores the feeling of being an outsider in a world of 'plastic' smiles, using the black hole sun as a metaphor for a cleansing destruction that wipes away the mundane misery of existence.
Symbols
Full musical analysis
The song features a somewhat unconventional harmonic structure, with chromaticism and dissonant intervals creating a sense of unease and dreaminess.
The rhythm is generally slow and deliberate, with a steady 4/4 time signature. The drumming emphasizes the song's hypnotic feel.
Cornell's melody is both haunting and catchy, characterized by its wide leaps and unexpected turns. The vocal delivery is often described as otherworldly.
Chris Cornell wrote "Black Hole Sun" in about 15 minutes after experimenting with a Gretsch guitar he had recently acquired. He initially dismissed the song as a 'cheesy' pop tune.
Serving as Soundgarden's most iconic hit, 'Black Hole Sun' bridged the gap between heavy Seattle grunge and 1960s-inspired psychedelia. It showcased Chris Cornell's unparalleled vocal range and became a defining cultural touchstone of the mid-90s MTV era.
Some sections are still pending
6 of 12 sections are ready. Ask for the rest and this song moves up our analysis queue.
Song DNA
Genre
Rock
Era
90s
Mood
Dark
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Minor
Texture
Layered
Sound
Guitar-driven
Feel
Straight
Explore More
Similar Songs
Explore related
Listen & Learn
Statistics
21.5M
Plays
2.2M
Listeners
100%
Popularity
4:31
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album Superunknown