Chordplay - The Chords of Soundgarden

[@monkface]

Soundgarden existed way before Temple of the Dog.

[@mmarcz]

When Cornell recorded the initial demos for Superunknown, the Producer wasn't too impressed. He asked Chris about the songs, and Chris said he was doing his best to write songs for the fans who want to hear *Soundgarden songs". The producer asked him "what kind of songs would you like to hear?" Chris said "Cream mixed with the Beatles". The producer told him "Go write me some of those songs then, your fans will follow you". Chris Cornell then delivered a demo tape that near album complete versions of "Black Hole Sun", "Fell on black days", and basically all the hits on the album. He said he listened to the demo 3 or 4 times through upon delivery, and he was absolutely blown away, he'd never heard anything like that before. He said that *Black Hole Sun" is the most amazing song because it never really resolves.

[@simonrourke1978]

Always thought the riff to 'Limo Wreck' was one of their best, so clever and great fun to play.

[@georgew.morrowiii118]

Soundgarden is so heavy and melodic along with killer vocals...Great Lesson

[@absea7918]

Nice Flannel! Perfect attire for a Soundgarden Chordplay. Great lesson per usual. Soundgarden was the Alpha band in Seattle, and set the bar for all those that followed. So talented. Soundgarden was around well before Temple of the Dog. That was a project that was formed when Chris' roomate (Andy Wood - singer of Mother Love Bone) died from an OD on the eve of the release of their debut.

[@han36solo]

Hey Brew don't wanna be that guy but...lol.., the "Outshined" riff is in 7/4!

[@TheSterlingSound]

We definitely need a Soundgarden series please!

[@jimbrennanguitar]

Awesome! And it makes me think of how STP has some nice chords too.

[@teacherney]

Amazing!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 my favorite band. Thank you so much.

[@shychuck2112]

Awesome lesson! IMHO Kim Thayil doesn't get enough recognition for his innovative guitar chords, tunings and voicings. Thanks!

[@sbrave]

The kings of open / alternate tunings! They were the perfect mix of heavy Sabbath type riffs/grooves, but with modern day alternative feel as well.

[@douglaschristine8387]

Hi David , love Soundgarden and most of their songs and lyrics. Chris was a musical genius. Burden in my hand is one of those. Peace man.

[@dragonevo33]

I loved your channel and way of teaching. I would really appreciate it if you made a video with Chris Cornell's album "Euphoria Morning". The work of Alain Johannes and Natasha Schneider there is brutal. Thanks for your classes and good vibes. Greetings from Chile !!!

[@mnegline1971]

breaking these chord plays down really makes you realise how much of this great music you take for granted. another great video.

[@stlflyguy]

I always felt there was an Eastern presence to Soundgarden’s music, similar to the way George Harrison introduced Indian music to the Beatles.

[@quinnmitchel4075]

For such a big band, their songwriting id so unique with unique guitar tunings, chords, and melodies

[@josefrancisco6969]

This was great.

[@erikm9540]

Thank you sir, for the awesome lesson!

[@fbeegle]

Holy shit man, What had no idea grunge was so sophisticated with their chordery! "Chord-ery" ... Is that a word lol?

[@ruschm]

Thanks for this, I’ve been getting into them again and wow, what I thought they were doing vs actually doing is so impressive. Amazing parts!

[@elkvineink1991]

Incesant Mace, Loud Love, Hunted Down, Black Rain. True Gems

[@rogertheaker4907]

Would love to see you break down Tim Sult of Clutch. I love his guitar work.

[@jaybee-5481]

hell yeah

[@colico14]

Soundgarden was formed in 1984. Cornell was originally the drummer. Temple of The Dog was Cornell's project to commemorate Andy Wood of Mother Love Bone, after his death in 1990.

[@bema_seat]

Billy Corgan / SP please.

[@midnightflyer7510]

I seem to remember an interview with Chris Cornell where he states that he didn’t have a clue how to play guitar when SG first started! Hard to believe! Maybe that’s how he came up with so many unique phrases. Like Dime used say, “I just go for it!” Only a chosen few get to tap into the magic!

[@colico14]

That's because he was originally the drummer. They were a power trio in the beginning.

[@dudeman5303]

Yeah originally he didn't, but he was a great guitarist by the time BadMotorFinger was recorded.

[@midnightflyer7510]

@@dudeman5303 Hell yeah he was! I really miss the man.

[@StephenGibb1]

Right on !

[@regolithia]

This is AMAZING

[@Scottocaster6668]

The last acoustic song sounds like a 12 string without having a 12 string!! Cool stuff 👍

[@jongibson6522]

Love how you go through specific parts and really dissect them. Also, your camera is weird - in a good way. It seems to accentuate the middle part of the fretboard. Thank you for posting these videos.

[@allenlocke1935]

Enjoyed the lesson! Enjoyed the selection! Yes, there are so many good ones that could be done for a lesson. Some of them, not even Soundgarden...like, "Hunger Strike" and "Sunshower".Thanks for all the great lessons!

[@jay_sun_michael]

Thank you, David! Now I'm going to learn Holy Water haha. So heavy and bluesy.

[@andyracksthecams]

You are always 1 step ahead. Well probably a few miles worth of steps in reality. I was heading towards some Soundgarden after recently getting back into Van Halen but this time with the drop D twist I'd avoided years back. I think floating terms deter you from delving. I have more than 1 floating trem guitar now though, (don't tell the missus but I have 4). Really great video and perfect timing. Appreciated and saved 👍

[@fabiangaray6008]

Gracias David, es un placer cómo interpretas y trasmitis de qué manera, estos mounstros del grunge componían. Very, very, very wood your class...!!! thank you...!!!

[@rvanstar]

Thanks man 👍🏼 very informative ..

[@philipweber404]

Incredible band. Always really cool and interesting progressions and chord choices. Great vid!

[@lefujyou]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the knowledge and great positive energy you put out ❤☮️✨🙏🏽

[@chrisgreenwell3404]

Thanks bro :)

[@erep1255]

Awesome as always David! How about the often overlooked....underrated.....soloist extraordinaire....GLENN TIPTON!!!

[@cooltunesmadeeasy]

Soundgarden.....kicking!

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Good one David...U remind me of the guitar player/ singer for Ram Jam in the Black Betty video...I ain't a jokin'...

[@andallicansayis]

ah yes, my favorite songs in high school were Savage Garden's "Truly Deeply Madly" and Chordplay's "Yellow"

[@jimbrennanguitar]

C tuning? Cool. Thanks man. I tend to mess with these tunes in standard tuning.

[@angrybird32495]

Who automatically sang along to the Outshined riff? I sure as hell did!

[@Melvinator]

Confirm

[@travisstanley6093]

Smearing and moshing chords are technical terms that I trademarked throughout the years of my playing terminology.

[@glennhutson2015]

LOL !

[@UsNCollord216]

Hahaha

[@UsNCollord216]

They are fitting aren’t they??

[@BluesInSeattle]

I trademarked smoshing. Now in have to sue you.

[@arod273]

It’s funny how he always say, “something like that” and its always dead on. Love your channel Brother, Thanks so much for the vids!

[@StephenGibb1]

You should do an Alain Johannes Chordplay. How about some Chris Whitley ?

[@romucorporation]

Very cool

[@vincec4570]

Really got a lot out of your lesson here, I was wondering if you have done "Searching with my good eye closed" at all, ? I would love to get that one right . Thanks for sharing your accurate interpretations of these songs, Chris Cornell in all his brilliant guises is sorely missed.

[@hunter757]

They've definitely got some interesting chord progressions going on, black hole sun is definitely cool. Would you class Kim's opening chords over what Chris is playing as polychords?

[@tomdutra977]

Dave nice lesson. Never got to see them , damn it. Thanks again . Oh yeah how bout Mr. Robin Trower...

[@dudeman5303]

The verse to outshined is one beat shorter than you're playing, it doesn't have that extra strum at the end you're adding cuz Its in 7/4.

[@DaveTaste]

Thanks mate

[@bilnjan]

You are so good yourself !

[@CliveBarnesMusic]

I've been the guitarist in a Soundgarden tribute band for the last 5 years and I bring 7 guitars to each show because of tunings ha ha

[@kbelbeisi]

you could use a Line6 Variax guitar

[@Psyfonify]

Variax shmariax..an alternate guitar or two makes sense for some of em, but to save on a few go the Buzz Osbourne (melvins) route and use one single guitar for EADGBE, DADGBE, CGDGBE(limo wreck and others), AND AADGBE! Cept soundgarden doesnt do AADGBE but they do BADGBE. Theres 4 on one, get used to the feeling of each different tension.. Buzz never swaps for those

[@brandonlinhart6925]

Would love to see some Alter Bridge stuff! Been playing for two years now and want to tackle the blackbird solo - just can’t find a good lesson of it on YT. Anyways, great channel!

[@alexrousedds]

4:20 is awesome!

[@wreckstate7778]

Great band. Down on the Upside is my favorite album but doesn't get much love.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

when you write music with shapes instead of thinking what it is in jargon/theory,you come up with incredible music unknowingly. ive only really delved into theory more so in the last 10 years,for the 1st 20 of playing i winged it .when you break down people who use lots of partial,broken arppegiated chords it seems insane but it was what the person knew at the time

[@DaveTaste]

Would love a video on Status Quo.

[@profd65]

Isn't Superunknown basically in open G tuning (Keith Richards) except for the high E string, which is left as it is?

[@ignacioinder]

Soundgarden is one of the daddy bands of the middle 80ties seattle grunge genesis. Coming from the punk rock scene cause was the only guys letting them play when seattle was just sleaze. Soundgarden has an amazing theory behind it. Funny how all of the members studied music in their families before getting to rock. Cornell with gospel and jazz, Thayil western music, Cameron is practically a session drummer and so on.

[@gunslinger80sguitars]

Nice🤟

[@caseyharris4013]

David I'm sure you have had suggestions coming at you all the time about doing lessons on bands... I'd really be interested in your thoughts on Silver Chair! I recently rediscovered them on my streaming music platform and they just seemed to use a lot of different progressions within the Grunge genre but a little more heavy closer to Alice In Chains. I was listening to the early stuff from Frog Stomp and FreakShow. Hope this finds you well and appreciate your lessons and time!

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

THIS WAS AWESOME...........THANK YOU i hate caps but this was worthy

[@unfcknblvbl]

Devin Townsend soon, please.

[@mireudeoliveirasimoes3557]

Can i be that guy and point put that you played Outshined's riff in 8/4 instead of the original time sig 7/4? Nevertheless, great video bro, subscribed

[@leafamania1]

Nice shirt

[@UsNCollord216]

For super unknown, do you believe Chris put any thought into the chords being played or was it just what came to him in that tuning, because it’s so bizarre. I’d like to imagine he said F-it and tunes down and just started noodling

[@regolithia]

I think he started noodling since the pattern repeats but one string above.

[@dudeman5303]

Ben shepherd taught Chris and the other members more sophisticated music theory, you can see a direct change in their music when he joined because of it, beginning with BadMotorFinger. Chris was aware of the sophistication, there is a chance he did not know the theory behind maybe some parts, but I would bet money he understood what he was doing for basically all of it. They knew some theory before Ben started, but he was the one with all of the extensive theory knowledge, and he showed them what he knew when he joined. Edit: by all of this, obviously when you learn theory that doesn't mean you're never noodling around, everyone still does some noodling, but with the theory knowledge you "get" what the noodling is when you look at it, so I am sure Chris noodles around but he definitely had the know how to understand what he was doing. He actually wrote black hole sun in his head while he was driving, the melody just came to him and he ran to where he was going quick to document it, in his own words he wrote the entire song in less than 30 minutes(including lyrics), but you've gotta have a pretty good grasp of what's going on if you can come up with it in your head, remember it, and then document it so fast. It's possible to do it by ear if you have a well trained ear, but thankfully he had both a well trained ear and the theory background.

[@UsNCollord216]

@@dudeman5303 no kidding, if I could only remember half the stuff that comes to me and I was able to record it, I might be a better musician

[@dougshankle7946]

OMG

[@seansowers4812]

outshined

[@Pravindaswani74]

Hello,do you use the same tuning as Kim?

[@Pravindaswani74]

Sorry,yes you said it in The Outshined section.

[@Stevejoohee]

The only 90's band that I eventually really got into was Pantera.

[@DaveTaste]

No one has ever even heard of them. Boomer.

[@waynegram8907]

Spin Doctors uses a lot of chords, do a lesson on the Spin Doctors chords and Doug Aldrich chords

[@ericrepper6919]

The Spin Doctors? Really?

[@waynegram8907]

spin doctors Chord changes

[@jettrainbow]

I hate to be that guy but you're playing the Outshined riff incorrectly. It's in 7/4. You're adding an extra beat.