The Smashing Pumpkins stole one chord from Jimi Hendrix and turned it into a 1993 anthem
The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1993 song ‘Cherub Rock’ helped define the band’s sound with its blend of forceful rock and softer, shoegaze-influenced melodies. Billy Corgan says its distinctive guitar figure uses what the band jokingly calls the “Pumpkin chord”, a sound he traces to Jimi Hendrix.
Corgan described the chord as an octave played with an open string, and said he used it in other songs including ‘Drown’ and ‘Tristessa’. In ‘Cherub Rock’, movement between E major and D major, along with notes that avoid a straightforward resolution, builds musical tension and a sense of lift; the song opens the album Siamese Dream.
- ‘Cherub Rock’ features the Smashing Pumpkins’ signature “Pumpkin chord”.
- Billy Corgan said the chord drew on Jimi Hendrix’s use of octaves and open strings.
- Its unresolved harmonies help build tension and momentum.
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The Smashing Pumpkins are an American rock band formed in Chicago, led by singer and guitarist Billy Corgan. Their 1993 album Siamese Dream brought together loud guitar parts and softer, hazy melodies, helping establish the sound they became known for.
Jimi Hendrix was an influential guitarist whose approach to electric guitar has shaped generations of rock musicians. Corgan has said the band’s nickname for a particular guitar sound points back to Hendrix; the sound combines an octave with an open string.