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)G Major Scale (Ionian)
Notes: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#Notes: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#
Application: The bright diatonic framework for the G and C major chords in the verseApplication: 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 Verse 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
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 Fuzz Explosion
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
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: 7/10
Treble: 6/10
Middle: 5/10
Bass: 6/10
Presence: 5/10
🎛️ 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
Master the 4 Barre Chords & Modal Shift
⏱️ 1-2 weeks
- •Learn to play clean 6th-string barre chords: G (3rd fret), B (7th fret), C (8th fret), Cm (8th fret)
- •Practice the half-step finger movement from C major to C minor
- •Strum along with the recording at 92 BPM
Arpeggio Precision & Dynamic Pre-Chorus Stomps
⏱️ 2-3 weeks
- •Learn Ed O'Brien's clean 8th-note arpeggio picking pattern
- •Coordinate timing the three pre-chorus dead rakes with the distortion switch
- •Master smooth transitions between clean picking and heavy power strumming
Full Studio Dynamic Nuance & Feedback Control
⏱️ 3-4 weeks
- •Master the high-register ambient lead fills and feedback manipulation in the outro
- •Integrate multi-amp clean/dirty switching setup
- •Perform the entire track with complete emotional and dynamic control
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Muting notes in the barre chords due to weak index finger pressure—arch fingers cleanly
- •Forgetting to flatten the 3rd on the Cm chord—losing the entire emotional point of the song
- •Playing the pre-chorus dead rakes timidly—they must be struck with violent, intentional force
⏱️ Targeted Practice Routine
- •5 min: Barre chord finger conditioning across frets 3, 7, and 8
- •10 min: Slow transition practice between C major and C minor
- •10 min: Clean arpeggio picking synchronization with metronome at 80 BPM
- •10 min: Full dynamic run-through with distortion stomps at 92 BPM
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Clean barre chord tone without buzzing
- •The emotional half-step voice leading from C to Cm
- •High-impact dynamic control between clean and distortion
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Set metronome to 92 BPM and count: 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and for steady arpeggios
- •Isolate the pre-chorus rake timing: rest on beat 1, strike on beats 2, 3, and 4