The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Outro
Bullet With Butterfly Wings < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘E5’, ‘G5’, ‘F#5’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The specific part you’ve asked about appears to be in the key of D major, with the progression as follows:
B5 (VI),
G5 (IV),
D (I),
Asus2 (V7sus2),
B5 (VI),
G5 (IV),
D (I),
Asus2 (V7sus2),
B5 (VI),
G5 (IV),
D (I),
Asus2 (V7sus2),
B5 (VI),
G5 (IV),
D (I),
Asus2 (V7sus2),
E5 (IIm),
G5 (IV),
F#5 (IIIm)
The progression is predominantly in D major, with the B5, G5, and D chords forming a typical I-VI-IV pop/rock progression. The Asus2 is a suspended dominant functioning as the V chord, and the E5 and F#5 in the final chunk of the pattern present a brief modulation to the relative minor key of B minor.
Similar Chord Progressions
Some similar progressions can be found in other works of the period. An example would be the verse progression in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, which uses a similar I-V-VI-IV pattern in the key of F minor, although it employs minor rather than power chords: F5 (I), Bb5 (IV), Ab5 (bIII), Db5 (bVI).
Another example is “Creep” by Radiohead, which follows the progression G (I), B (III), C (IV), Cm (iv) in the key of G major. This is a I-III-IV-iv progression, somewhat similar to the VI-IV-I-V7 in “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”, and it also includes a sudden shift from a major to a minor chord for added dramatic effect.
Please note that the roman numerals differ depending on your interpretation of what key the songs are in. This is a rather simplified analysis and it might be slightly different depending on which harmonic interpretation you use.
Musical Analysis
The predominant use of power chords and suspended chords gives the song a strong, driving feel, appropriate to the loud and aggressive style of grunge and alternative rock. These chords also create a sense of ambiguity and tension, which is never fully resolved and thus characterizes the angst conveyed in the song.
Overall Analysis
“Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins can be categorized as alternative rock. The chord progression showcases the grunge influence, with an emphasis on power chords and the use of suspended second chords which are often used to create ambiguity or tension.
Style Analysis
The Smashing Pumpkins are known for their unique blending of different rock styles, including punk, gothic rock, and heavy metal. Like many other grunge and alternative rock bands of the 1990s, they used power chords and distorted guitars to create a heavy, raw sound, which is clearly exhibited in “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”.
What are the chords in: The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Outro?
[‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘B5’, ‘G5’, ‘D’, ‘Asus2’, ‘E5’, ‘G5’, ‘F#5’]
