Understanding Black Hole Sun

Chris Cornell was a brilliant singer, songwriter, and arranger, and in honor of his passing, we'd like to take a look at one of his most famous songs, Black Hole Sun. Described by Cornell as a "surreal dreamscape" and by Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil as "not safe as milk but [not] glass in someone's eye, either", Black Hole Sun is a disorienting but moving piece that uses some pretty advanced harmonic devices in some very clever ways. Chris Cornell's passing was a great tragedy for the world of music, and his legacy lives on through his many works of art. Rest in Peace, Chris Cornell.

Transcription sources:

Huge thanks to our gold-level Patreon supporters:

Ron Jones
Jill Jones
Susan Jones
Howard Levine
Elaine Pratt
Ken Arnold
Mark Yachnin

And thanks as well to Henry Reich, José N., Logan Jones, Eugene Bulkin, Abram Thiessen, Anna Work, Oliver, Jody, Jc Bq, Adam Neely, Jon I, David Zahara, nico, Mark Himmelberger, Chris Borland, Harold Gonzales, Lucas van Loomis, Alex Henson, jason black, and Dutreuilh Olivier! Your support helps make 12tone even better!

Also, thanks to Jareth Arnold and Inés Dawson for proofreading the script to make sure this all makes sense hopefully!

[joealexander]

After reading some of these comments, it's incredible to me how many people don't understand that this isn't a video of HOW the song was written, but the musical concepts in play AFTER the song was created. Personally, I love these music theory breakdowns. Here's some recommendations for you: Achilles' Last Stand by Led Zeppelin, Roundabout by Yes, and 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson.

[viralvideomaker]

It's crazy how all of this came to him while he was driving, he was definitely tapping into something divine

[CrazyStarr_]

Yes... mhmm... I know some of these words

[AnAmericanComposer]

If you are going to talk about Soundgarden in the future you should really talk about Limo Wreck. That sound has incredibly intense harmonies in it, as well as its very non-standard guitar tuning, CGDGBE

[soro]

This is the first time I've seen one of your clips.  I hardly understood anything you mentioned, however, your explanation has reminded me that most beauty is surrounded with a marvel of complications.  thank you

[joshajcip]

Its amazing how Chris Cornell thought about this all in his head, not knowing the terms or words for what he was writing, but it just sounded good to him. Love this breakdowns!

[harrycallahan]

Theres something really haunting about this song, very moody chords but the chords that Kim plays over the top reminds me of an ice cream van for some reason which gives the song a creepy but uplifting feeling, Chris said he wrote the lyrics to whatever he thought sounded good with the mood of the song, like painting a picture and went with the flow, maybe this why he mentions "Boiling heat, Summer stench" thinking of the ice cream van you always get in the summertime, who knows.

A lot of people get tired of it and say its nowhere near Soundgarden's best song, I think its a masterpiece, that dreamy intro gets me every time, beautiful chords, its baptising ending, the songs like looking through a keyhole into Cornell's dark, disturbing thoughts like Alice in Wonderland, "Hang my head, drown my fear, till you all just disappear" R.I.P

[elmaroosthuizen]

This is like minutephysics but about music. I love it.

[dylc]

The guitar is tuned "a little flat", the bass has the E tuned 1 step down to D and then the rest tuned half a step up

It's the most scary tuning I've played in because there's so much tension, you feel like the strings are gonna snap

[timcwalker]

Soundgarden didn't think about this song as much as this video did.

[MagiConch]

Just shows the true genius to his work, RIP Chris Cornell

[PaulMcMinotaur]

This song has always baffled me, and even after watching this video and grokking everything you've said about it, I have to admit that I "get mystified" over it.
I think Cornell invented his own music theory rules for this one.

[PrinceWesterburg]

Jeeeesus man, I did the Royal Academy Jazz Course and completely forgot all this theory for the last 25 years. Its like being hit over the head with a music encyclopedia and just what I needed! LOL Thanks man! :D

[DancingCurrently]

Brilliant theory break down! I studied music theory and I still don't know what to call some chordal harmonies I hear. Steely Dan stumps me frequently, but I can theoretically explain what Donald Fagen does most of the time. This song seemed like a mysterious structure I would never figure out and I decided not to analyze it and hurt my head. You explained it so very well and included the ambiguous nature of some of your choices as to what "name" to give some of the chords. Excellent job... fun little doodles, too.

Now...
Chris Cornell's passing was very traumatic for me. I have never cried so hard and so long for a stranger. I can't bear to see any of the press or pics about his funeral... not yet.

Thank you for this tribute to him. We can't let his passing be just another day. We can't let his soulful, vulnerable, heart-wrenchingly beautiful works of art be forgotten.

[tobiasgilsenan]

that's so awesome mate, one of the best songs ever made. Cornell is so sorely missed and I never got to see him. Ok another song for you, break down Epic from Faith No More. that would make my life.

[dennisrusde]

wow, what a masterpiece! The video is just insane! Both the author of the song and the author of this video breakdown are very talented!

[drali]

LOVE this video! Thanks so much for making it. This was the first song I heard as a kid that felt uniquely mine and not my parents' music. A great tribute to Chris Cornell.

[crowsoaa]

The amount of work you put into this one video it to say the least impressive. Well done ! Subbed:)

[BogdanEchoMilosevic]

Wow, this is an excellent video! Reminded me of an essay I wrote back in college on all the production and mixing approaches and techniques used while recording Black Hole Sun. Brilliance in every way!

[aliciau]

I studied musicology in Germany and your videos help me internalize english vocabulary concerning that word field. Apart from your interesting content, you have a good way of describing!