Creep Guitar Lesson - Radiohead

In this video guitar lesson, I will show you note-for-note how to play Radiohead's breakthrough hit "Creep".

In this Creep guitar lesson, I will not only show you all the chords, but in addition, I will break down guitarist Jonny Greenwood's tremolo picked octaves played during all the chorus' including the extended ending chorus.

The entire song is based around a simple four chord progression using bar chords. When playing these chords you will need to use an arpeggio picking style throughout all the verse sections. There is no definitive picking pattern because it changes gradually throughout the song. The main thing you will need to focus on during the picking pattern is to slowly make your way to the higher pitched strings every time you play through the verse chords. This will all make a lot more sense after watching the video lesson.

The real guitar fireworks happen during the chorus when the distortion is kicked in and we have a couple of separate guitar parts being played simultaneously. During the first chorus you will begin the octave melody when the C major chord arrives. The first chorus cuts the octave melody short, but the extended chorus and the end of the song let's the entire octave melody be heard.

When learning this extended octave part, you may need to watch that section of the lesson multiple times and memorize the numbers of the frets to play the octaves on a section at a time. The chord form never changes and it always remains on the same strings so you can just focus on the fret numbers and the rapid tremolo picking.

Speaking of that tremolo picking, just as I suggest it the video lesson, rapid strumming is easier on the picking hand if you temporarily raise your wrist. It gives you a better angle to strike the strings and helps you keep your wrist and forearm relaxed, which is essential when attempting something that is this fast for this long amount of time.

So enjoy learning this incredible Radiohead classic, it is definitely one of my favorites from the 90's. :)

Carl...

[sebastiancarlson]

Here's a tip: play it with reverb. It will make it sound more like the recording.

[DylanTrowbridge]

Surprising note: Radiohead refused to play this tune for 7 years. Whenever people requests the song, Thom Yorke, would cuss and leave the stage b/c it was so popular.

[MrJanes-clsj]

i really use the shit out of your youtube channel i feel like i should give u money... nobody does it like you man..so thorough...so patient...Anyone just getting to this guys channel: Ive learned easily 25 song from Carl this is the one of the easiest he posted. This man is a beast.

[vicorochavidal]

I used a translator to thank you dude you are the best I learned this song even when i don't speak English

[boogaloo]

Like how could someone DOWNVOTE this video? He couldn’t be more clear or have presented it more easily. This is how you play it.

[Shawn-rqpy]

I wish all of you who give these lessons would include any pedals and amp settings etc along w the lesson. It’d be a great help.

[stevenmal]

I wrote down the numbers for the outro with the extended octaves passage. Thank you for another great lesson Carl.

(hold)...3...2

[iysil]

Your playing guitar is so fuckin special
.
.
.
I wish i was special

[marcusrios]

We're playing this in my band and this video was a HUGE help in breaking that octave part down. Actually I just wrote down the chords while I watched the video and in no time had it memorized. Thank you Carl Brown!

[sleepy]

4:56 the part everyone really clicked this video for..

[masonarlein]

A little tip to get the right tone is I don’t have a compressor tho and it still sounds great so you don’t necessarily need a compressor

[miguelmf]

I started doing some covers at home with my studio setup and I did so far two songs: The Pretender (Foo Fighters) and Creep (Radiohead). Both of those songs are broken down on this channel! I've learned SO MUCH! Thank you so much, man.

[andrewsfury]

That distortion is sick wtf amp is that.lol

[jeffkranitz]

mad gratitude sensei. you lay the perfect foundation for what we players must build upon. you're interpretations are always, far as i can tell - supremely honest to the language we all speak.

[matthewonusz]

MR. Janes said it best! I love you Carl!!! I use your channel ALL the time! I have learned so much from you. When I get stuck I turn to your channel to get unstuck. When I can't quite get the rhythm right, you come through all the time! Keep it up brother because you are helping more people than you think!!! You are my first choice always! Thank you!

[oxrjbizzley]

moving that pinky while picking those barre chords is the part that messes me all up, great lesson of a truly great song. i know radiohead says this song almost "ruined" them, but it is still my favorite song from them....

[diegohuijbregtsgarcia]

Being Spanish, I literally never use a pick. Bought a strat the other day, so looking for songs, but it seems I'm gonna have to learn to play with a pick.

[Hasan-simg]

Your videos r helpful i am lerning alone at home since 2 months ago and its really astonishing how easy you make it
Thanks alot

[picoliciousartistry]

Great lesson Carl. Thanks again for such great song choices.

[ReneHernandez-ohgv]

I Love You Carl!!!😭😭😭😭(No homo) he's just a badass guitarist😭😭