Learn To Play Radiohead

Guitar Lesson Course Overview

Unveiling the layers of alternative rock's enigmatic icons, Licklibrary's "Learn To Play Radiohead" course is an immersive journey into the band's distinctive sound. This comprehensive tutorial by Jamie Humphries is tailored for guitarists keen to delve into the intricate guitar work that makes Radiohead one of the most innovative bands on the contemporary music scene.

Guitar Lessons Include:

Creep 

High And Dry 

Just 

Paranoid Android 

Fake Plastic Trees

Lesson Performance Notes

Creep

"Creep," Radiohead's seminal hit, showcases the emotive dynamics and raw energy that define their music. This song is fundamentally in G major, though it features an interesting usage of the B major chord, creating a stark contrast that underpins the song's lyrical content. The course breaks down Jonny Greenwood's aggressive bursts of 'dead notes' and the subtle arpeggios that weave through the verse's chord progression. The song doesn’t feature a traditional solo but is renowned for the crunchy, muted guitar stabs in the chorus, providing a study in controlled chaos.

High And Dry

"High and Dry," one of Radiohead's more melodic offerings, presents a contrast with its gentle, almost ethereal guitar lines. Set in E major, this track offers insight into the use of suspended chords to add a sense of unresolved tension. The lead guitar work here is more about texture and less about technical prowess, focusing on emotive single-note lines and spacious strumming patterns.

Just

"Just" is a testament to Radiohead’s versatility, showcasing their ability to blend high-energy rock with avant-garde elements. The song is composed in C# minor and features intricate rhythm guitar parts interplaying with a more melodic lead. The solo section is a prime study in building tension, utilizing the minor pentatonic scale with added dissonant notes, reflecting Greenwood's affinity for jazz dissonance and creating a sense of unease and unpredictability.

Paranoid Android

"Paranoid Android," often hailed as Radiohead’s magnum opus, is a multi-sectional track with various intricate guitar parts. The song’s composition is an eclectic mix of E minor and A minor scales, offering a rich tapestry of sonic textures. The tutorial deconstructs the arpeggiated chords, the haunting solos, and the aggressive strumming patterns that give the track its progressive character. Greenwood employs a mix of scale runs, string bending, and high-energy strumming, demonstrating his ability to use the guitar as a multifaceted tool for expression.

Fake Plastic Trees

"Fake Plastic Trees" is an acoustic-driven track, renowned for its haunting lyrical content and minimalist arrangement. The song is in A major and primarily uses open chords, making it accessible yet expressive. It’s a study in simplicity and dynamics, illustrating how much impact a simple chord progression can have when delivered with emotive precision. The course focuses on the strumming patterns, the use of dynamics, and the subtle embellishments that transform straightforward chords into a deeply moving musical experience.

Jonny Greenwood - The Sonic Architect

Radiohead's lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, is pivotal to the band’s sound, often using his guitar in unconventional ways to serve the song’s narrative. His playing style on these tracks showcases his range, from the aggressive, almost percussive approach in "Creep" to the delicate, melodic lines in "High and Dry." Greenwood rarely adheres to traditional rock guitar tropes, often incorporating unusual scales, chord inversions, and innovative use of effects. His contribution extends beyond just playing the guitar; he shapes the sonic landscape of each song, making each track a unique auditory experience.

Guitar Techniques in These Lessons

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Arpeggios
• Pull-offs
• Palm Muting
• Barre Chords
• Hammer-ons
• Double Stops
• Slides
• String Bending
• Open-string Riffs
• Chromaticism
• Altered Tunings

From exploring the emotive power of simple chord progressions to navigating the chaotic beauty of dissonant solos, "Learn To Play Radiohead" offers guitarists a unique insight into the innovative guitar work that underlies some of Radiohead’s most iconic tracks.