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“Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins, was released in 1993 on their second album, “Siamese Dream.” The song is classic-’90s alternative rock with its layered guitars and emotionally raw lyrics. key is “E minor.”

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“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins, originally by Fleetwood Mac, is written in the key of G major. The song features simple, but effective, chord progressions that are common in the folk and rock genres. The progression utilizes primary chords in the key (G, D, and C), along with some modal mixture via the borrowing of the minor iv chord (C) and minor vi chord (Am) from the parallel minor key (G minor). The secondary dominant D/F# creates tension and movement towards the Em chord. There is also the use of a G6 chord which adds color to the piece.

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The chorus of the Pink Floyd song “Breathe” features a mixture of diatonic and non-diatonic chords and creates a dreamy, spaced-out mood. The combination of major and minor seventh chords, as well as dominant 7th chords with altered 9ths, contributes to this atmospheric quality.

Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” is an alternative rock ballad from their 1995 album, “The Bends.” The moody and atmospheric track is characterized by its emotive vocal delivery, contrasting dynamics, rich arrangement, and engaging chord progression. This progression, in particular, features an interesting mixture of diatonic and borrowed chords that create a sense of tension and resolution throughout the piece.

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The piece, ‘1979’ by The Smashing Pumpkins follows an overarching structure with a mix of major and minor chords, what stand out are the rich extended chords, ‘Emaj7’ and ‘Amaj7’. The piece displays a balance between tonic chords and dominant chords, expressing a classic pop-rock style whilst frequent usage of maj7 chords adding a distinctive jazziness to the tune.

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The Smashing Pumpkins – Today – Chorus 2

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
G Major (IV)
D Major (I)
A Major (V)
B Major (VI)

Here are the borrowed chords:

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B Major (VI) borrowed from D minor
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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”:
A minor (I) – G Major (VII) – D Major (IV) – F Major (VI)
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F Major (VI) borrowed from A Major
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2. Radiohead – “Creep”:
G Major (I) – B Major (III) – C Major (IV) – C Major (IV)
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B Major (III) borrowed from G minor
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3. Oasis – “Wonderwall”:
F# minor (VI) – A Major (I) – E Major (V) – B Major (II)
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B Major (II) borrowed from A minor
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Musical Analysis

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The chord progression, D-A-G, is a classic I-V-IV progression in the key of D Major. It offers a cycle of fourths, moving from D to G, a perfect fourth, and back again through A. This is a very typical rock ‘n’ roll progression but Billy Corgan often uses distinctive voicings and colors to change up this classic progression. He does this by switching from a Major key to its relative minor, creating a darker, melancholic mood, which is complemented by the lyrics.

The borrowed B Major chord introduces a momentary modal shift. The B Major (VI) chord is not diatonic to the key of D Major – it’s borrowed from D minor. This brings a brief but effective surprise to the listener and an unexpected twist in the otherwise predictable progression.

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Overall Analysis

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Given by the chords you’ve provided, it appears the song “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins is primarily in the key of D Major with occasional borrowed chords from D minor and E minor. The varying uses of D Major, D minor, and E minor really showcase the variety in Billy Corgan’s guitar writing.

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Style Analysis

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The Smashing Pumpkins often made use of alternative tunings, creating a unique and expansive wall of sound. This chord progression showcases their mix of heavy rock sensibilities with a keen pop sense for melodic hooks. Additionally, the band’s love for borrowing chords and switching major/minor tonality contributes to their distinctive style, adding depth and contrast to their music.

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Chords in the Chorus 2 section of Today by The Smashing Pumpkins are:

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘B’]