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The Ultimate 2025 Guide To Playing Radiohead's 'Creep': Chords, Tabs, And Jonny Greenwood's Secret Noise

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Learning to play Radiohead’s "Creep" is a rite of passage for any aspiring guitarist. It is a masterpiece of early 90s alternative rock, deceptively simple in its chord structure yet profound in its emotional impact. As of December 2025, the core of the song remains a perfect blend of basic chords and one legendary, intentional sonic disruption.

This comprehensive guide cuts through the noise, providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date tabs, the essential chord progression, and the secret technique used by guitarist Jonny Greenwood that makes the song truly authentic. Whether you are a beginner looking for a simple strumming pattern or an advanced player aiming for the exact studio sound, you’ll find everything you need right here.

The Essential Chords and Authentic Progression

The beauty of "Creep" lies in its simplicity. The entire song—verses, pre-chorus, and chorus—is built around a single, repeating four-chord progression. Mastering these four chords is the first and most crucial step to playing the song accurately.

The Four Core Chords in the Key of G

The song is played in the key of G, using a descending chromatic bass line that adds a melancholic, dramatic feel. The chord progression is G–B–C–Cm.

  • G Major: The starting point, a foundational open chord.
  • B Major: This is the first hurdle for beginners, as it is typically played as a barre chord on the second fret.
  • C Major: Another standard open chord.
  • C Minor (Cm): The emotional core of the song. Like B, this is usually played as a barre chord on the third fret. The shift from C Major to C Minor is what gives the song its distinctive, heartbreaking quality.

The Chord Progression (Verse, Pre-Chorus, and Chorus):

G - B - C - Cm

Each chord is typically held for one measure (four beats), creating a continuous, repeating loop that defines the entire track.

Strumming Pattern and Dynamics

For the verses, the strumming pattern is relatively gentle and consistent, often a simple down-down-up-up-down-up rhythm, but the key is the dynamic change. Thom Yorke’s acoustic guitar part is played very softly during the verses to build tension.

When you transition to the chorus ("You're so very special..."), the dynamics must increase dramatically. This is where you should strum harder and louder, reflecting the song's emotional release.

The Beginner’s Guide: The Capo Trick

If you are a beginner struggling with the B Major and C Minor barre chords, there is a widely accepted, easier version that still sounds fantastic and allows you to focus on the rhythm and dynamics. This method utilizes a capo.

How to Play Creep with a Capo:

  1. Place a Capo on the 3rd Fret: This is the key to unlocking the easier chord shapes.
  2. Use Easier Chord Shapes: By using the capo, the chord shapes you play will be E, G#, A, and Am, but they will sound in the correct key of G–B–C–Cm.

New Chord Shapes (Relative to the Capo):

  • G Major (sounds): Play an E Major shape.
  • B Major (sounds): Play a G# Major shape (often simplified to a G#m or a variation).
  • C Major (sounds): Play an A Major shape.
  • C Minor (sounds): Play an A Minor (Am) shape.

This capo method removes the need for challenging barre chords, making the song accessible to players who are just starting out.

The Legendary 'Noise Blast': Jonny Greenwood's Secret Tabs

No performance of "Creep" is complete without the famous, jarring burst of distorted guitar noise that happens right before the chorus explodes. This is the signature contribution of lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and it’s a crucial element of the song's identity.

The Intentional Sabotage

The story behind this noise is legendary. During the recording sessions for the album *Pablo Honey*, Greenwood was reportedly unimpressed with the song's quiet, mellow nature. He felt the chord progression was too tame. His solution? He intentionally tried to "sabotage" the track by playing three sudden, abrasive blasts of guitar noise right as the band transitioned from the verse to the chorus.

Instead of ruining the track, the producers loved the raw, aggressive sound. It perfectly captured the feeling of self-loathing and frustration in the lyrics, creating a powerful dynamic shift that is now iconic.

How to Recreate the "Dead Notes" Technique

The noise is not a standard chord or riff; it’s a specific technique often referred to as a "dead note" or "scratch" effect. To achieve this authentic sound:

  1. Mute the Strings: Use your fretting hand (left hand for right-handed players) to lightly touch all six strings without pressing them down to the fretboard. This creates a muted, percussive sound.
  2. Use Heavy Distortion: Engage a high-gain distortion or fuzz pedal. The more aggressive, the better.
  3. The Timing: The noise occurs in three quick, distinct bursts on the last beat of the C Major chord, just before the chorus begins.
  4. The Authentic Tab: The most accurate tab for this is simply three rapid, heavily distorted, muted strums (XXX) right before the G chord of the chorus hits.

The Chorus Transition:

| C | C | C | C (XXX) | G (Chorus) |

This technique is what separates a simple cover from an authentic performance. It is a moment of pure, raw sonic aggression that defines the song's transition from quiet despair to loud, self-deprecating confession.

Advanced Techniques: Ed O'Brien's Riff and Tremolo

While Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood handle the main rhythm and noise, the other guitarist, Ed O'Brien, adds layers of texture that are crucial for the full electric sound.

  • The Pre-Chorus Riff: Ed O'Brien often plays a simple, high-pitched riff during the pre-chorus, usually involving single notes on the higher strings (B and high E) to add a shimmering quality just before the noise blast.
  • The Tremolo Picking: During the chorus, Jonny Greenwood often employs tremolo picking on the higher strings, playing octaves to create a sustained, piercing, and frantic sound over the heavy distortion. This technique involves picking a note extremely quickly and repeatedly.

By combining the simple G–B–C–Cm progression with the essential dynamics, the beginner's capo trick, and the legendary Jonny Greenwood noise blast, you can master one of the most enduring and emotionally resonant songs in the history of alternative rock.

The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Playing Radiohead's 'Creep': Chords, Tabs, and Jonny Greenwood's Secret Noise
tabs for creep by radiohead
tabs for creep by radiohead

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