5 Secrets To Mastering Radiohead's "Creep" Guitar Tabs: The Definitive 2025 Guide

Radiohead's "Creep" remains one of the most requested and iconic alternative rock anthems since its release in 1992. For guitarists, it’s often seen as a simple four-chord song, but mastering the definitive version—the one with the jarring, brilliant "dead note" crunch—requires understanding the subtle techniques and gear choices of lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. This updated guide, current as of December 2025, goes beyond the basic chord shapes to reveal the secrets that give the track its raw, emotional power and make it a true masterpiece of 90s guitar work. The song’s apparent simplicity is a deceptive veneer. While the core rhythm is straightforward, the nuances of the arpeggiated verses, the specific tuning, and the legendary pre-chorus distortion are what separate a competent cover from an authentic performance. We’ll break down the essentials, the advanced techniques, and the gear needed to truly sound like you’re playing on the original *Pablo Honey* recording.

The Essential Chords and Capo Position for "Creep"

The most common and easiest way to play "Creep" on acoustic or electric guitar is by utilizing a capo. The song is in the key of G, but to match the original recording's vocal range and sound, you must use a specific setup.

Tuning and Capo Setup:

• Tuning: Standard EADGBe.
• Capo Position: Place the capo firmly on the 3rd fret.

By using the capo on the third fret, you can use simple open chord shapes that transpose to the song's actual key of G major (relative to the open strings) or B♭ major (in concert pitch). This approach is primarily used by Thom Yorke and Ed O'Brien for the rhythm guitar part.

The Four-Chord Progression (Capo on 3rd Fret):

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The entire song—verse, chorus, and bridge—uses a simple, repeating four-chord pattern, but the final chord changes quality, which is crucial for the song’s emotional shift.

• G Shape (Verse 1, 3, Chorus): This shape is played first.
• B Shape (Verse 1, 3, Chorus): Often played as a B7 or B major shape.
• C Shape (Verse 1, 3, Chorus): The major chord.
• Cm Shape (Verse 2, 4, Chorus): The minor chord that provides the song's signature melancholy and tension.

In concert pitch (what the audience hears), these shapes are actually B♭, D, E♭, and E♭m chords. The transition from the major C shape to the minor Cm shape is the heart of the song's emotional hook, perfectly mirroring the lyrics' self-loathing sentiment.

Unmasking Jonny Greenwood's Infamous "Dead Note" Crunch

The most distinctive and challenging part of "Creep" for any aspiring guitarist is the three bursts of aggressive, distorted noise that hit just before the chorus. This sound—often referred to as the "crunch" or "anti-solo"—was famously an act of intentional "sabotage" by Jonny Greenwood, who was reportedly annoyed with the song's quiet, mellow nature during the recording session and wanted to ruin it.

Far from ruining the track, this aggressive burst became the song's most memorable moment, injecting a sudden, violent energy that resolves into the soaring chorus. To replicate this sound authentically, you need to focus on two key elements: the technique and the gear.

The Technique: Playing the Dead Notes

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The "crunch" is not a specific chord or a power chord, but a technique known as dead notes or muted strings.

1. Fret-Hand Muting: Place your fretting hand over the strings, pressing down just enough to mute them but not enough to produce a clear note. You should hear a dull, percussive *thwack* when you strum.
2. The Strum: Use a vicious, full-arm, downward swiping movement. The attack needs to be extremely heavy and fast to generate the necessary percussive force.
3. The Pattern: The bursts happen on the final beat of the verse and are played as three quick, loud hits: DUH-DUH-DUH. It's a short, sharp burst of noise that cuts through the mix and signals the emotional explosion of the chorus.

The Gear: The Marshall ShredMaster Secret

The sheer volume and gain of the crunch come from a specific distortion pedal that became synonymous with Jonny Greenwood's early sound: the Marshall ShredMaster.

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• Pedal: Marshall ShredMaster distortion (or a high-gain distortion pedal with similar characteristics).
• Guitar: A Fender Telecaster (often his signature Plus model) was used by Greenwood during this era.
• Amps: His tone was often run through a combination of a Fender Deluxe 85 and a Fender Twin Reverb, or sometimes a VOX AC-30, to give a clean platform for the distortion pedal to shine.

To get the tone right, set your ShredMaster (or equivalent) to a high gain setting with the tone dialed to be slightly bright and aggressive. The key is to have a massive volume jump between the quiet verse and the sudden burst of noise.

Advanced Techniques and LSI Entities for Topical Authority

Beyond the main chords and the crunch, two other elements are essential for a complete, authentic performance of "Creep." These details are what elevate the song from a simple strum-along to a dynamic, layered track.

1. The Arpeggiated Verse Riff

While Thom Yorke plays the chords with a simple strum, Ed O'Brien and/or Jonny Greenwood often play a subtle, arpeggiated riff over the verses, creating a sense of movement and melancholy. This involves picking the individual notes of the G, B, C, and Cm chords rather than strumming them. The pattern typically focuses on the lower strings (D, G, B strings) of the chord shapes, giving the verse its signature delicate texture. For the most accurate tab, look for versions that include the subtle fingerpicking lines that weave through the main chords.

2. The Guitar Solo (Tremolo-Picked Octaves)

The solo section after the second chorus is a brief, intense burst of melodic noise. This is achieved using tremolo picking on octaves.

• Technique: Tremolo picking involves rapidly picking a note or notes up and down as fast as possible.
• Notes: The notes are played as octaves (e.g., fretting the 7th fret on the D string and the 9th fret on the B string simultaneously).

The solo is short but requires high-speed picking precision and a similar high-gain setting to the pre-chorus crunch, often utilizing the same ShredMaster pedal for its aggressive, cutting tone.

3. Alternative Tuning: The Open-Tuning Approach

For those looking for a truly unique and modern take, some guitarists explore alternative tunings to play "Creep" without a capo. One such "optimized" tuning found in recent online discussions is C-G-B-G-G-D#. While this is not the original band's method, it demonstrates the ongoing exploration of the song’s harmonic structure and provides a fresh, full sound for fingerstyle arrangements. Experimenting with open G or open C tunings can also yield interesting results for a solo acoustic performance.

By combining the foundational rhythm (capo on 3rd fret), the intentional aggression of the "dead note" crunch (Marshall ShredMaster), and the subtle arpeggios, you can achieve a performance of "Creep" that is as musically nuanced as it is emotionally powerful. This song is a masterclass in dynamic contrast, and mastering these five secrets is the definitive way to play one of alternative rock's most enduring hits.