BILLY CORGAN's 19 Greatest Guitar Techniques!

One of my favorite guitarist/songwriters of the 90's. Love his unique style. Check out all our instructional videos at: www.the-art-of-... and Patreon: / theartofguitar
Thanks!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

For people asking about my effects chain it's: Boss Harmonist, Big Muff, Dragoon Overdrive, Boss Phaser, into my 1979 Deluxe Reverb played with my 2006 Fender Strat Deluxe.

[@sld67869801]

Thanks for posting what you were using. What Big Muff did you use?

[@spackle9999]

I really admire your respect and mastery of the tones and techniques you presented here.

[@12monkeys95]

Would you say the boss harmonizer fattens your sound? Especially when paired with fuzz? Also. Does the boss harmonized do just as good a job with a distortion pedal. Or would I be better off buying a double tracking guitar pedal (for example the tc electronic Mimiq)

[@benderman1157]

Big muff enough said. Lately have been looking into the gear of billy and the big muff always comes up btw great video. As an aspiring guitarist billy Corgan is definitely up there as my inspirations and this definitely helps break down what I want to take away from his techniques.

[@XChristianNoirX]

I hope you are using .008's, or I'm a wimp. 😂 The bends with vibrato have always killed me... And his solos are almost all really wide bends with awesome vibrato. The only other guy who really does it for me vibrato-wise is Marty Friedman.

[@samj5227]

Octaves (over open strings) 1:01 Chord inversions 2:29 high string harmonies 3:41 Lead line overdubs 4:44 Octave tremolo picking 5:35 Octave below soloing 6:55 Slow mo bend 7:42 Floating melody patterns 8:43 Prebends(rocket) 9:33 Incidental open strings10:33 The corgan bend 11:21 Flamenco pre strum 12:41 Pentatonic box motifs 13:46 Open string chord staek 15:22 Drop d and c# 16:35 Low string natural harmonies(natural harmonics) 17:24 Slash chord alterations(bullet with butterfly wings) 18:48 Explosive vibrato 20:09 Signal note metal riffs 21:50

[@nihlhinz488]

Thank you, I hope your girl gets this much attention.🤔

[@sixty4rainy]

Thx!! The last one could be "Single Note Metal Riffs"

[@Syclone0044]

You’re god among me. Thanks bro

[@radley2004]

Staek

[@FACTBOT_5000]

Thanks bro.

[@rrp2600]

Siamese Dream is still my favorite album of all time. I played that thing from start to finish at least twice a day for years. Wore out 2 cassette tapes before eventually getting the CD. I just could not get sick of it. I don't know what my second most listened to album is but I know it is a distant second.

[@notsure1135]

Same, bought it without really hearing them, played it non stop saw them a month later for the first of many times.

[@MrGunwitch]

One of the greatest albums of all time.

[@banksy_gg]

Still is amazing today

[@SuperSaiyanScandinavian]

yeah i totally agree. even tho i dont listen to the pumpkins quite as frequently these days Siamese Dream is still my favourite album of all time cuz there isn't one bad song on it. there are many albums i absolutely love but there are almost always a few duds on them.

[@nicolosmoffitt]

Same

[@dictatorrich3412]

Billy Corgan is one of the best benders in the business IMO. So expressive. I can usually tell it's him just from his bends and/or vibrato.

[@dg3513]

Like on Ric Ocasek's solo album "Troubilizing" that Billy produced which is pretty much a Smashing Cars album at the end of the day 😃

[@mattgilbert7347]

He's the master Bender with a Blender.

[@909trunks]

@@mattgilbert7347 and a fender

[@ippotsk]

@@dg3513 Smashing Cars is a pretty cool supergroup name too

[@TEKDAD]

Maybe that why I love him and David Gilmour (pink floyd).

[@Tomdawg89]

Buying the Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream albums in 2006 is what opened up the rest of the music world to me. It was amazing to finally see the band live last year (3 hour 15 minute show!).

[@benallmark9671]

How old are ya ?

[@bladerunner1b]

I respect Corgan for not making a Siamese Dream 2 but i really wish he made a Siamese Dream 2.

[@tom1957]

Listen to pisces iscariot. It's the B side to siamese dream and it stands super well on it's own. It's essentially another album. Because there's also bonus demo material for siamese dream as well. Starla is definitely one of my favorite songs off of it.

[@cuteasxtreme]

Hot take I think Oceania is the closest thing

[@Jack458111]

Siamese Dream 2: Electric Boogaloo And yeah, Starla is an amazing song.

[@porcelinaofvastoceans]

@@cuteasxtreme Gross take

[@ippotsk]

Is Mellon Collie not it? Sounded pretty similar to me.

[@whitestplayer3014]

1:46 Cherub Rock (Main riff) 2:03 1979 3:11 Cherub Rock (Chorus rhythm) 4:05 Cherub Rock (Solo) 5:02 Cherub Rock (Chorus lead) 7:25 Quiet 8:03 Today (Chorus) 8:56 Today (Intro lead) 9:13 Today (Intro rhythm) 10:04 Rocket 11:01 Soma 11:37 (Technique used a lot in the Soma solo among others) 13:03 Disarm 14:17 Geek USA (Solo) 15:41 Spaceboy 16:51 Jellybelly (Intro) 18:11 Zero 19:59 Bullet with Butterfly Wings 22:11 Where Boys fear to Thread 22:45 Tales of a Scorched Earth

[@aurum1235]

bro thank you so much

[@kretendebil2126]

THANK YOU

[@saywhat9158]

You always have to give an extra bonus to these lead singers whom are also the lead guitarists as that multi-tasking is well beyond being able to focus entirely on one task.

[@leob4403]

Corgan is ambidextrous though as far as I know, which probably helps

[@BruceLyeg]

Except that his playing while singing live is sloppy. He's a great guitarist and a decent singer, but doing both at the same time... not so great

[@kidwajagstang]

Bruce L. I’d say that what he does do is better than most attempting to play and sing what he does. He has gotten better also. Saw them at their last US date this year and they played well. Not perfect, but wasn’t a slopfest either. Even closed the show with Aeroplane Flies High, which was a pleasant surprise. I hold the opinion that a guitar player that isn’t afraid of being somewhat sloppy on stage (again, not TOTAL slop, but just isn’t stressed about hitting every note exactly in time) tends to be able to let the music flow thru them easier and this can lead to not only some entertaining “happy accidents” that can sound really cool, but also pour more of their emotions of the moment into their playing. This isn’t necessarily all positive or all negative, but could go either way since if they’re in a lousy mood, that means a lousy show and unhappy fans. But when their mood is conducive for the music that’s being played, it can be amazing.

[@danielblake1537]

Other than James Hetfield he played guitar and sang and was amazing at it live!!

[@Syclone0044]

So true. I’ve tried singing and playing simultaneously in Guitar Hero on songs I knew like the back of my hand for years and found it almost impossible. Sort of like juggling....with your feet, while rubbing your tummy and patting your head. People like Hetfield, Corgan, or anyone at all who can do it is fucking impressively talented.

[@HaikalHanafiah]

And billy corgan is very underrated as a guitarist

[@DrumRoody]

I disagree. Every muso i have ever known puts BC on the pedestal he deserves

[@elymolloy8333]

lol not when you compare him to almost any other famous guitar player

[@pictures_on_silence]

i dont think so...he s very famous all around the world......obviously if you 'd ask to my grand mother she didnt know him very well.....

[@bgilley8199]

@@elymolloy8333 he's a great songwriter and a great player, there are very few alt rock guitarists who have achieved more over the past few decades.

[@Tomdawg89]

@@bgilley8199 The coolest thing is that he was one of the best in that era and he knew it. Every other guitarist was trying to do the punk/indie/Kurt Cobain reluctant rockstar thing and Billy was playing guitar like Van Halen was still in style. Absolute beast.

[@JP-zi9mr]

Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins are the most underrated Band for the level of contribution to Rock in Roll Music. I still have not heard all their work and I try too. That's how deep their catalog is.

[@axxessmundi]

Billy Corgan and John Frusciante are more musical geniuses than their celebrity fame.

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

There are millions of unknown guitarists who are better in every way. So no, NOT agreed

[@antoinehubs]

@@TheSandkastenverbot guitar fans are the worst for real

[@lassi1203]

@@TheSandkastenverbot you know these millions of people? what do you mean every way? do they make money? its very nice to be "the best" guitar player, but you are an idiot if you cant make money while being it.

[@ska4dragons]

​@@TheSandkastenverbotTechnical proficiency isn't all that impressive. They are unknown because they didn't write great music or songs.

[@honeyfrost3355]

​@@ska4dragonsyah I love how guitar fans seem to forget that not everyone wants to see fancy ass guitarists play their fancy ass shit. Sometimes the most simple stuff is the best.

[@kuba4285]

i'd love one of these for johnny greenwood. or radiohead in general since ed o'brein also does lots of cool stuff

[@ChristopherStandardTime]

concur.

[@DonnieSmooth]

you might not be into Blur, I'm not entirely familiar with all of their stuff, but in the 8th grade, aka 1998 or so was the era i learned guitar, and i read a interview or article talking about their new guitarist entering the band on that album or so at that time, that had, Coffee and Tv on it...i learned in the article about his use of a vintage Boss 80's effects pedal they don't make anymore, i think some of the same ones Prince used, i forget exactly now, it's a good article to look up, maybe it was Guitar or Guitar World magazine ..he gets it to sound all detuned and like a musical box for the solo part of, "Country Sad Ballad Man"...

[@rhythmace1]

@@DonnieSmooth That guitarist would be Graham Coxon, but he wasn't new, he was a founding member, and "13" was their 6th album. Great guitarist, too.

[@danielblake1537]

When I saw that live video of Radiohead I think it was Jools Holland they played "Paranoid Android" and I was honestly amazed how great they sounded live it sounded spot on to the actual album version it was awesome!!

[@hR-gw3re]

yes and I'd actually love some Ed techniques. He plays the guitar so calm and smooth like a violin and creates his own atmosphere, underrated af

[@cdreyes81]

Finally attention to the great Corgan. Just in time for new solo release this month. Love his slow bends.

[@peterhydaniels]

Totally remember them opening with "Soma" at Lollapalooza and almost losing my mind because it was (and still is) my favorite tune off of Siamese Dream.

[@miguelagawin]

Sophisticated techniques. Billy Corgan is a genius.

[@maluorno]

i always thought he was an angel-voiced guitar wizard. this guy broke it down pretty well

[@bingusmode4650]

We need a Johnny Marr techniques video.

[@advancedraymondology2914]

Billy really is underrated as a guitarist. People obviously talk about what a great songwriter/arranger he is, but seldom do I hear people talk about his tone and leads. Dude throws in these awesome little lead parts, like in "Ava Adore" and "Here Is No Why," that are just amazing. And D'arcy IS the 90s to me. I had a huge crush on her. I was so excited about the reunion, but lost interest when I heard she wasn't involved. It's not really SP without D'arcy.

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

Because he's overhyped enough as a musician. No need to overhype him as a guitarist as well

[@TheSiameseDreamer]

Soma has the greatest solo ever written.

[@alexmalch]

totally agree

[@hipfirehippie3474]

I always knew he was a genius. for me, the 90's were the Pumpkins era. they had to much emotion in their songs, and always loved Billy's unique voice.

[@luizcastellar]

Loved the Darcy picture in the background

[@chhungteinternationalazl8333]

Same here, Corgan would be pissed off if he had seen this 😂

[@Daves_not_here_man_]

I love your on screen text choice, just like vieuphoria. So 90's, so SP.

[@chaseth]

I feel the floating melodie over thick chords trick is really the pixies influence shining through on almost every alternative 90s band. Love your cideos

[@Dork_Central]

I genuinely jumped out of my seat and cheered when you started playing Jellybelly. Such a massive song.

[@kenthonea5533]

saw the Gish tour and a later the Siamese dream tour 3 nights in a row... on Acid.... so incredible

[@broc8095]

One of my favourite guitarists. So underrated.

[@TellEveryoneRecords]

The idea of “incidental” open strings is my personal favorite. I use it in chord progressions constantly, but never attributed it to Corgan. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Peter Buck does it all the time.

[@rogeralleyne9257]

Great lesson because Smashing pumpkins contribution to alt rock cannot be overstated!!! Billy Corgan is also another very underrated guitarist & arranger by the way!!!!🙏🙏🙏

[@snottydoggmlgdank]

holy shit dude awesome thanks for making this, im a huge fan of billy corgan and his lead work, very underrated as a lead guitarrist imo

[@rockmusicexclusivez2975]

Billy was a shredder before pumpkins thats why he is so good !!

[@amorphisdepute]

Underrated guitar player. Your video is probably the only one on YT about him. I would have added a 20th technique : his use of dead notes especially in his solos.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

Petition to fund a time machine to go back in time and rescue D'Arcy from herself.

[@leob4403]

Atleast she's still alive

[@fortj3]

@@leob4403 After we rescue her from herself, I'm staying behind. I liked that decade much better than any after.

[@Lak3baby]

Shutup simp

[@paulypoobrain2929]

And Jimmy and Jonathon Melvoin. Tho Jimmy is doing much better now but I’m sure he still feels responsible for Jonathan’s death.

[@johnaldbrillten8930]

Save Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain too. & make blink-182 never break up

[@nas9947]

Omg thank you for this vid! Billy is amazing his musical talent and authentic personality ! Love hearing more of you playing his songs 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@artisanRiCo]

Your artist series is great for beginner and advanced guitarists. You capture the guitarist motiff and explain it well. Thanks.

[@malcolmadams2105]

Wow this made me realize how much they influenced me in my songwriting as far as choruses are concerned.

[@FeroVlkolinsky]

That "Corgan bend" and "Explosive vibrato" are absolutely spot-on Billy signature. I wasn't able to find out what exactly he's doing to get that special "something" into it, but realized it the very moment you showed. Thanks a lot!

[@bwatson8066]

Corgan is an inspiration to many musicians. Thanks for this!

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

Nice, one of my all time favorite guitarists too! So underrated

[@only5186]

Yep! Even made me a Bat Strat in white 😆 Along with my Marshall and OpAmp they sound sweet. Thier on my page

[@fidelrivera2887]

Crazy how so much of my guitar playing style comes from the techniques you demonstrate here. 90% of the songs I learned in the beginning and intermediate stages were Pumpkin songs... so go figure. They have such a diverse catalogue that there are a lot of things to learn at all levels of playing. I remember the octave chords being called the Hendrix chord back in the day. Great stuff... thank you.

[@SeekingNamelessly]

Love this demonstration and discussion - wonderful to have someone explain a bit about my favorite artist

[@DonnieRockett]

Really dug this video. Billy’s easily my favorite guitarist, his solos just always seem to add the proper energy to the song. The solo in Soma is my favorite, and I’d consider just a perfect, emotionally charged piece of music. Thanks again for putting this vid out.

[@blacknapalm2131]

*Most under-rated axe man in history*

[@rayjackson5499]

22:45 One of my favorite riffs from Corgan. That tone that you got is insane

[@CorbCorbin]

Excellent lesson! The rhythms and his voicing choices, are very unique. I love the clean tones, that transform by either phaser or Uni-vibe, with an endless delay/reverb sound, then just compressed Muff tones bursting through the mix. I also used to love mashing Today, with Grateful Dead China Cat, just to upset hardcore dead heads. 🤗

[@thtavrgwhteguy8808]

Dave Navarro uses that same octave technique in the intro for warped it’s really cool!

[@aglees2b]

Great call on the Strength Beyond Strength similarity. Great look at all things Corgan. I'd also call some of the open stringed arpeggios as indicated on Thru The Eyes of Ruby as classic Corgan.

[@nebulous8389]

Ever since I learned cherub rock I fell in love with sliding octaves

[@hoochrocks]

Wow. You gave me a greater appreciation for Billy's playing as I now understand how he does what he does. That was cool.

[@needlenosemusic]

This was an awesome video! I’m a long time drummer learning to play guitar and as you might expect I’m trying to soak up everything. This was very on-point and very helpful!

[@paulcrowder]

One thing I've noticed that KZbin guitarists always seem to do when they play "Cherub Rock" is they use all down-strokes on the intro, but Billy Corgan uses down and up strokes which makes it sound a lot more fluid. See this Smashing Pumpkins performance for reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJrahYehiLNmsKM

[@bigmufff]

Amazing video and the Darcy’s picture was the icing on the cake !

[@bryanp8010]

I been playing 25 years and learned a lot here. Love pumpkins!

[@guitaristssuck8979]

3:15 actually Billy plays the basic chords and James the root+third major on two octaves 5:10 7:30 those are James leads, at least in a live context 12:55 I think Noel Gallagher was inspired by both Disarm and Today when writing, well, "that" Anyway, the Big Muff was used only when recording Siamese Dream, never in a live context

[@connorandrus1904]

Nope Billy had used the Big muff on multiple live occasions including Howard Stern

[@AntonioCrash]

@@connorandrus1904 Howard Stern show is very close to a studio recording

[@gmoney4458]

Thanks for the great video! SP is my favorite band and that of course is because of Billy Corgan. I used to play their music on guitar years ago but haven't played in a long time. This video inspires me to pick it back up and try these techniques.

[@mindfield7]

Nicely done- I’ve been a SP fan since Gish. Just got back into playing their tunes again. Always fun. 👍🏻

[@j_freed]

Billy's "playing a lead over a chorus' sounds very Mick Ronson style David Bowie. My favorite Bowie eras, there's never too much melody to add more melody, it's great.

[@teresathomley3703]

We faithful students humbly beseech thee to release more artist series videos!! They are of tremendous import to me personally- I have grown considerably as a musician beacuse of them. You are truly one of the greats, sir. Keep up the GREAT work.

[@june8898]

Aw thanks for this, I don’t know the guitar but I adore Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins with my heart and soul so it’s nice to see you doing this 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ratleygoo-eaters7097]

Awesome video! I'd love to see you do a video on Elliott Smith's guitar techniques sometime!

[@james.a.delancey]

That’s been a great tutorial, thank you! I just realized that I use so many of his tricks.. I started playing guitar by figuring out their guitars 🎸☺️

[@whyty227]

Those slow bends are why Soma always gets me in the feels even 20 years later.

[@edwallace3704]

I love your videos , my 44 year old brain is thinking I wish my 18 year old brain had videos like this to watch on a daily basis back in the day !

[@benallmark9671]

76 or 77 ?

[@calebdickerson2003]

Damn a lot of these clips perfectly capture that melodic and sometimes badass and sometimes beautiful guitar sound

[@blackfishgaming7145]

what a great breakdown of the subtleties.. way to go

[@jack321gogogo4]

i bet, corgan just did the "Octaves (over open strings)" thing, to show everyone the middle finger, while he is playing.

[@PeeFunk2008]

Nice quick pace and very informative. I started playing right when melancholy came out. Didn't realize Billy was such an influence on me. I do a lot of these techniques which feels like 2nd nature at this point. Great job man. I'll work on my bends!

[@Colby_Earleywine]

Really glad I watched this, you covered a lot in 20 mins!

[@bobbyg65]

Your Strat is freakin awesome. Basically it's my dream set up because I learned on a Fender Mustang with the exact same color scheme..black pick guard, rosewood fingerboard, etc.. Cool.

[@croay]

Hey, just posting this comment to let you know I really like your videos and think they're the creme de la creme of youtube guitar videos.

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Agree, he should have a million subs at-least.

[@jasonbott3583]

Id really like to see josh homme covered in this way. He has interesting lead and rhythm work! Very distinct style

[@johnladd5016]

Brilliant, learnt loads from this, and plenty of ideas to practice.

[@andrewpappas9311]

I saw the Pumpkins over the summer with my brother when they were touring with Noel Gallagher (Gallagher opened for them) and it was such an awesome show, Billy is one of my favourite guitarists and is criminally underrated but the stuff he played was still so innovative and just really damn cool

[@benallmark9671]

No doubt , he’s a showman for sure and a dam good one

[@chrisblight3451]

I only just came across this video. Really helpful and well explained

[@HaikalHanafiah]

Darcy picture at the back,haha we all fan of her

[@only5186]

Funny how much shit she gets from some fans. I mean yeah Billy played alot ofnher parts in the studio to save time etc etc. But if you listen to alot of live Pumpkins she kicks some ass. The crazy up tempo Geek USA or the 30 minute Silver Fucks shes in it hard. They've probably had better pure bass players since but i do wish the could have held it all togehter with her.

[@adammichaelchannel]

Thanks for posting this. I have been trying to cobble together a list of Billy’s techniques, and this made it simple.

[@otraperspectiva]

This is awesome. I really dig the corgan bend ! It's exciting to recreate some of those sounds. These technique videos really fill a gap in learning these songs for me. It's the pumpkins flavor

[@grumpygorman4579]

I'm not a guitar player, but am a lifelong smashing pumpkins fun and found this very entertaining, sincere and helpful! I also have to make note of your clever use of font for the subtitles. ;) I've attempted playing guitar enough times to know I make a great piano player! ;) Cheers

[@Rockeiro70]

I played ZERO once with a former band project, that was much fun... 😜🤘 Yeah, You did a great overview of his techniques. Thanks so much, gives me some motivation to retry some of the infinite sadness songs...

[@LindsayAdam447]

Maybe do Ler Lolande of Primus or Duane Denison from the Jesus Lizard? I love how their styles sound unmistakably their own. Bizarre and wild styles yet uniquely melodic and rhythmic at the same time. Both guys sound almost off-the-cuff with their parts but they’re actually much more compositional than a listener might think after first listen.

[@charlesvonsneedinghamiii2026]

corgans my guitar god. been learning basically the same songs you brought up on video, guess i did good spotting the interesting songs to learn lol. felt rather good when i knew literally every tip you gave, guess i absorbed more than i assumed. good video, you nail all the coolest riffs and tecniques.

[@paperbox819]

Cherub Rock is wrong. I grew up and learned this album. He does not use the C# as a bass note for the A chord. For that whole chorus section there is a guitar that is playing octave 3rds with the bass root note. For example that A chord would be 5-4-X-6-X-X which is still the C#, but not as the bass note. He does this for the whole chorus section using the same pattern start on the 10th fret for the D, 5th fret A, 8th fret C, 3rd fret G.

[@MichaelSkelton]

This. The octave thirds are rooted on low E, and Billy just slides the chords up and down the neck instead of laterally switching them across different strings. Your version sounds great too, but I think it's different than how Pumpkins arranged it.

[@josephf9324]

@@MichaelSkelton I think that’s James’ part in cherub rock chorus.

[@MaquiladoraIII]

Excellent explanations of these classic sounds. Now I've heard the low string harmonics sections, I can definitely see the influence on Placebo's 'Nancy Boy'.

[@weatherphobia]

What I like best about Billy Corgan's songs is they are not heard as much today.

[@leob4403]

Id rather not hear Smells like teen spirit one more time in my life let me tell ya

[@Spiri7ualShi7]

I think apart from the techniques, the defining sound is the heavy use of the mixolidyan mode as a main instead of pentatonic scales.

[@youreallygotmenow4855]

So, do you think the Mixolydian mode is the one he uses the most? I thought his 'sound' was mostly pentatonics with a few ionian, aeolian, and dorian notes thrown in the mix. Well, one thing is certain: he likes to use big bends a lot in his solos.

[@leob4403]

@@youreallygotmenow4855 he uses A LOT of mixolydian

[@beepst]

9:00 I always do that subconsciously when composing… Billy Cortan influences subtly showing

[@TwilightCalzone]

Dude, you nailed his vibrato technique.

[@JonathanPenneyMusic]

Great video and tips for Billy’s sound. Thanks man!

[@matthewevans3718]

Damn I’m binging these all day tomorrow

[@oneaburns]

Why am I scrolling through all these comments and not seeing anything about D’arcy in the background 😂 Love it!

[@lamigraice2442]

The contacts are weirding me out.

[@tj10777]

The contacts make it hard for me to take him seriously. Your eyes are the most memorable thing about your appearance. So when you wear contacts like that, the most memorable thing about your appearance is fake. Seems like something a woman would do.

[@dam7196]

I think it looks cool. Just to change it up occasionally. NBD

[@danielkillorin9742]

Kinda cringe

[@Syclone0044]

I don’t know what you’re seeing? To me it just looks like the reflection of 2 studio lights.

[@Wakeman8791]

Was wondering what looked so different about him. Was there an explanation about them in another video?

[@V1C10US]

Great! I bought a Big Muff Pi a few months ago, and it's been collecting dust.

[@andrewpappas9311]

I got one as well and I also use it from time to time, and when I first got it the first thing I played was Cherub Rock which is one of my go-to fuzz riffs

[@munguiax]

This is cool, but in your examples using Cherub Rock, you're missing one of the coolest ways of using octaves that Corgan had. In the chorus, the DACG progression, he doesn't use open strings, with his fuzz it would sound insane. Instead he leaves his fingers in the same position as the octave and hits the root with the middle finger. So in the first D in the chorus, he doesn't move his hand, in the change from the E in the verse to the D in the chorus, he just hits the root D with the middle finger and leaves the E and the root as the third and uses this position to go up and down in the neck.

[@johnladd5016]

Trying to figure out what you are describing... this needs a video of its own...

[@phwildman124]

@@johnladd5016 Play a 3rd with an octave, essentially. So, on the D chord, you'd use your middle finger to play the D note (10th Fret, E String) and the F# as an octave (on the 9th and 11th fret of the A and G string). You move that shape around to the A, C and G. Make sense?

[@avedic]

Great video! I've always adored the Pumpkins and Billy's entire musical output. But this video really reignited my love for it all. And helped put a lot of disparate ideas into context. I'm about to play guitar for a few hours, as I do every evening, and I think I'll try to put some of this to work.... :D

[@dbmayne]

I'm not a Billy Corgan fan (how did I end up here?), but your presentation is fantastic! I can't wait to view your other videos. Just superb.

[@TheAlibabatree]

His voice is an acquired taste, but his guitar skills are unmistakable.

[@shoegazeforever8810]

218 likes and no dislikes as I click the like button -very impressive! Smashing Pumpkins are as criminally underrated as XTC. (Both bands also have amazing drum sounds. )

[@steveparkes]

My first guitar teacher back in about 1990 was an XTC fan and I got him to tab Shoegaze and other trippy indie sounds for me ;)

[@shoegazeforever8810]

@@steveparkes XTC, My Bloody Valentine, and Slowdive are great bands that have stood the ultimate test: time. Check out Rick Beato's latest What Makes This Song Great Video - he has chosen an XTC song.

[@Zappappappappa]

Siamese Dream was the first album I learned in it's entirety on guitar and I actually swapped my stock strat pickups for some lace sensor (blue, silver, and red) which Billy used on the first three albums religiously and I think they are the most versatile pickups on any of the seven electrics I own in terms of the range of styles and tones you can get using them.

[@KentBuchla]

Not on Gish though.

[@podespault]

Hasn't been D'Arcy since around 2000! Great video with spot on technique and tone. Thanks!

[@th1rtyf0ur]

She played thru the Arising! tour which ended in April 1999. In October they played Bridge School benefit as a trio, & in December they had Melissa Auf der Maur (who played w/ Hole) until the breakup in 2000. They've had a few different bassists since reforming in 2007.

[@Hot80s]

I live in Auf de mar’s hometown but I’ve always been a big fan of D’arcy.

[@Dartheomus]

Great video! You captured Billy's style and techniques well! One minor improvement for future videos: Please reduce the disparity of your vocal volume and the guitar volume. In many of your videos, I find myself constantly hovering over the volume. I have to turn you up to hear your words, but then quickly crank it down when you start playing! =P

[@oyh3551]

Maybe do Jonny Greenwood?

[@CorbCorbin]

O Yh Ed had a really cool That Pedal Show episode, where he showed some the effects he uses for certain sons. I really enjoyed him explaining why he uses certain gear, and how he likes to leave room for accidents. So it’s a real performance, instead of all preset sounds, all done on cue.

[@herkuskaminskas1409]

Hell yes

[@herkuskaminskas1409]

Hell yes

[@nihlhinz488]

Hells yeah, man!

[@youngroyalty7991]

I agree with this

[@jesse.b613]

Been waiting for this one!