Creep
by Radiohead
Difficulty Profile
Skill LevelOverall
BeginnerRhythm
BeginnerLead
BeginnerBass
BeginnerWhy "Creep" Works Harmonically
Beyond standard guitar tabs and chord charts, discover the exact music theory mechanics, modal interchange, and voice leading choices that give Radiohead's classic its unforgettable emotional power.
The Chromatic Descent of Modal Interchange: The Minor Plagal Cadence (IV to iv)
The entire song is powered by an inescapable 4-chord loop: G - B - C - Cm (I - III - IV - iv). The heartbreaking emotional pivot arrives when C major drops one single note by a half step—the E natural sinks to Eb—transforming into C minor (the minor subdominant borrowed from G Parallel Minor). This minor plagal cadence creates an overwhelming sense of collapse and melancholic longing.
Harmonic Progression (Roman Numerals)
I - III - IV - ivStep-by-Step Movement
- •G (I): Warm, stable root tonic establishing standard G Major tonality.
- •B (III): Major mediant secondary dominant (V/vi) introducing D# chromatic tension leading into C.
- •C (IV): Bright, hopeful diatonic subdominant providing open harmonic relief.
- •Cm (iv): The emotional masterstroke—borrowed minor subdominant from G parallel minor, pulling chromatically back home.
Voice Leading & Counterpoint
- ›The defining voice leading thread is the chromatic descending inner voice: D (in G) → D# (in B) → E (in C) → Eb (in Cm) → D (in G).
- ›The sudden downward pull from E natural (in C) to Eb (in Cm) creates the unmistakable feeling of emotional defeat.
- ›Ed O'Brien's clean arpeggios emphasize the top strings, ensuring the moving chromatic inner voice cuts clearly through the mix.
Fretboard Mechanics
Ed O'Brien plays ringing arpeggiated barre chords with light tremolo and chorus. Jonny Greenwood interrupts the serene arpeggios before each chorus with his legendary dead-string muted "crunch rakes" (striking fret hand mutes violently behind the bridge) through a cranked Marshall ShredMaster distortion pedal.
To give a simple 4-chord loop profound emotional weight, follow a major IV chord with a minor iv chord before returning to the tonic. That single half-step descending voice (3rd of IV to flat-3rd of iv) does all the emotional heavy lifting.
The overall key center and diatonic foundation.
The borrowed source of the heartbreaking Cm chord.
The parallel mode supplying the minor subdominant (iv).
Root-6 and Root-5 barre shapes used throughout the song.
Understanding the sorrowful color of the borrowed Cm chord.
The classic minor plagal cadence.
Musical Analysis
🎹 Key & Tonality
⏱️ Song Structure
💡 Understanding G Major:
G Major has a bright, uplifting character typical of major keys. The G Major with Parallel Minor Borrowed iv Chord (G Minor / Modal Mixture) mode gives it a stable, resolved feeling. This key works well for anthemic rock songs and creates a powerful, confident mood.
The bright diatonic framework for the G and C major chords in the verse
The source of the heart-wrenching borrowed C minor (iv) chord
Provides the D# leading tone that turns the diatonic Bm into a dramatic B major chord
Understand major chord construction and voicings
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in G Major
G Major Scale (Ionian)
Notes: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#
Application: The bright diatonic framework for the G and C major chords in the verse
Interactive Fretboard Map
Chord Progressions & Movement
Main Progression
The ultimate 4-chord demonstration of modal interchange: moving from the triumphant C major (IV) to the devastating, borrowed C minor (iv)
💡 Theory Insight:
This progression creates a specific harmonic movement that defines the song's emotional character. Understanding the relationship between these chords helps in improvisation and songwriting.
Chord Shapes In This Section:
G
B
C
Cm
Harmonic Functions & Roles:
- G (I)The warm, gentle home tonic chord played with clean arpeggiated fingerpicking
- B (III)Major III chord (secondary dominant V of vi) creating unexpected upward tension with the sharp D# note
- C (IV)The subdominant lift that provides a fleeting sense of hopeful brightness
- Cm (iv)The emotional gut-punch: borrowed from G minor, the Eb note creates profound longing and sorrow before resolving to G
Key Techniques
Modal Interchange Voice Leading (IV to iv)
BeginnerUnderstanding and executing the single-note chromatic descent from E (in C major) to Eb (in C minor) to D (in G major)
Uses chords:
Progression:
C to Cm Resolution
Technique Tips:
- •Listen intently to the chromatic descent: E -> Eb -> D
- •Play Cm with delicate restraint in the verse to maximize its emotional impact
Dead-String Crunch Rakes
BeginnerJohnny Greenwood's iconic aggressive pre-chorus dead-note strums created by muting strings with the fretting hand while digging in with heavy distortion
Uses chords:
Progression:
Pre-Chorus Transition
Technique Tips:
- •Attack the strings with authority right above the bridge pickup
- •Ensure zero open strings ring out accidentally
Clean Steady Arpeggio Picking
BeginnerEd O'Brien's continuous clean 8th-note arpeggiated picking pattern outlining the barre chords throughout the verses
Uses chords:
Progression:
G - B - C - Cm
Technique Tips:
- •Keep the pick close to the strings to minimize wasted motion
- •Maintain consistent volume on every picked note
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of G Major. Switch instrument sounds (Acoustic Steel, Nylon, Clean Electric, Piano) and practice at your own tempo.
Clean Intro & Verse 1 Arpeggios
Arpeggiated Modal Mixture
The serene clean guitar arpeggio pattern introducing the G - B - C - Cm progression with gentle compression and subtle room reverb.
- •Use clean barre chord grips at fret 3 (G), fret 7 (B), fret 8 (C), and fret 8 (Cm)
- •Pick in steady eighth notes across strings 6, 4, 3, and 2
- •Listen for the poignant drop from C major to C minor
Pre-Chorus Dead-Note Crunch Rakes
Greenwood Dead-String Stabs
Johnny Greenwood's legendary three muted string stabs with roaring distortion that shatter the calm and launch the chorus.
- •Deaden all strings with the fretting hand
- •Engage high-gain Marshall ShredMaster distortion
- •Strike three aggressive, percussive downstrokes right on the beat
Chorus 1 Fuzz Wall of Sound ('I'm a creep')
Distorted Chorus Wall of Sound
A monumental wall of distorted guitars playing full, ringing open and barre chords through the G - B - C - Cm progression.
- •Heavy full-strum downstrokes with maximum distortion sustain
- •The transition from C to Cm sounds colossal under high gain
- •Let the low root notes ring out thunderously
Verse 2 Delicate Clean Arpeggiation
Verse 2 Clean Dynamics
The song drops back to near-silence for the second verse as Thom Yorke sings 'She's running out the door'.
- •Soft picking dynamics creating extreme contrast with the chorus
- •Emphasize the flat 3rd (Eb) in the Cm chord
- •Maintain relaxed 92 BPM pulse
Bridge Vocal Climax & High Arpeggio Ascents
Bridge Vocal Climax Swell
Thom Yorke's soaring vocal peak ('She runs, runs, runs...') backed by swelling tremolo-picked electric chords.
- •Swell chords with pick strokes building in velocity
- •Let the emotional shift between C and Cm ring with sustain
- •Brace for Johnny Greenwood's final explosive guitar entry
Chorus 2 & Outro Decaying Clean Cadence
Outro Decaying Cadence
The explosive final chorus dissolves into the gentle, mournful piano and clean arpeggios of the outro.
- •Gradually fade right-hand strumming intensity
- •Allow the final borrowed C minor chord to linger
- •Resolve cleanly onto the home G major chord to end
Equipment & Tone Setup
🎸 Guitar
Recommended Model:
Pickup Type:
Bridge Lace Sensor Dually humbucker for the explosive crunch
Alternative Models:
⚡ Amplifier & Settings
Recommended Amp:
Tone Stack Dial-In:
Gain: 7.0
Treble: 6.0
Middle: 5.0
Bass: 6.0
Presence: 5.0
🎛️ Effects Pedals
Overdrive / Distortion:
Marshall ShredMaster or ProCo Rat distortion pedal set to maximum saturation
Reverb / Delay:
Fender spring reverb on the clean channel (setting 4)
Modulation / Other:
Boss Tremolo and Roland Space Echo for ambient textures
Recommended Learning Path
The 4-Chord Progression
⏱️ 1-2 weeks
- •Learn the 4 core chords: G, B, C, and Cm using barre chord shapes
- •Practice transitioning smoothly from C to Cm at 60 BPM
- •Listen to and feel the emotional power of the modal mixture
Clean Arpeggio Picking & Dead-Note Crunch
⏱️ 2-3 weeks
- •Master the clean 8th-note arpeggiated picking pattern at 92 BPM
- •Nail the timing and explosive attack of the 3 pre-chorus dead-note rakes
- •Transition seamlessly between clean arpeggios and roaring chorus fuzz
Dynamic Mastery & Studio Nuance
⏱️ 3-4 weeks
- •Recreate Johnny Greenwood's dual-amp clean/dirty rig setup
- •Master the extreme quiet-to-loud dynamics that define 90s alternative rock
- •Perform the song with authentic vocal emotion and guitar intensity
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Missing the C to Cm chord change and staying on C major
- •Playing open chord voicings instead of barre chords, losing the smooth voice leading
- •Rushing the tempo during the quiet verses
⏱️Targeted Practice Routine
0/4 Completed (0%)Check off each segment during your session to track your practice progress:
- 5 min: C to Cm barre chord transition drill focusing on the flat-3rd drop
- 10 min: Clean arpeggio picking pattern with metronome at 92 BPM
- 15 min: Pre-chorus dead-note rake and chorus explosion transition practice
- 10 min: Full song playthrough focusing on extreme dynamic contrast
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Modal interchange voice leading (E -> Eb -> D)
- •Clean-to-dirty dynamic impact
- •Steady, relaxed 92 BPM tempo control
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Set metronome to 92 BPM with a steady 4/4 click
- •Practice the verse arpeggio pattern until every eighth note lands exactly on the grid
- •Practice the 3 pre-chorus dead-note rakes so they land squarely on beats 3, 3&, and 4