Creep features an unassuming chord progression that nevertheless creates tension-filled lyrics, setting an appropriate atmosphere and atmosphere. Furthermore, this song showcases how identical chords may sound dramatically different depending on which key they’re played in.
To play this song’s chords, we will employ an alternate strumming pattern consisting of down and up strums for maximum impact and to get that lively groove that will have listeners tapping their feet and nodding their heads! This technique will ensure we achieve that satisfying “bouncy groove.”
The B chord
The B chord is a three-note triad played on the first three strings of a guitar and often seen in blues songs; it can also be used to sneak in other chords such as C major.
Although not as straightforward to play as open voicings of E or G, arpeggiated intros such as that seen in Radiohead’s Creep are an excellent alternative for beginner guitarists until they have developed the endurance for full barre chords. Arpeggiated intros also add some flair!
As with other triads, the B chord has various variations that can be used to sneak into other chords. These stepping-stone versions, more commonly referred to as inversions, are easier to play than the full shapes and can help beginners develop finger strength. Furthermore, inversions may even help change key of songs while keeping their progression the same but shifting up or down according to vocal range or musical style preferences.
The Cm chord
C minor chords can be played using one of two methods. One involves creating a barre chord; to do this, place your index finger firmly across frets marked C, E and G on the third string and add your second finger onto string four through six of string four as described above before strumming. This variant may be easier on your fingers but does not yield as full an octave sound quality.
Power chords are another common way of playing the C minor chord. To create one, place your finger on the fifth fret of the first string and slide it down to the sixth fret before sliding it again – this creates a major chord with three flat notes.
Radiohead’s song, “Creep”, serves as an excellent demonstration of how chord progression can create an emotive journey within a song. From non-diatonic B chording to minor plagal cadences and beyond, Radiohead uses these music theory concepts to craft an unforgettable piece of art.
The G chord
Beginners may find playing full G chords to be challenging when played barred, so one approach for making G chords easier for beginners would be using an open G shape and moving your middle and ring fingers (fingers 2 and 3) up one string to form a G6 shape that still sounds like full G chord.
Creep uses this G6 chord throughout their song to add an air of defeat that resonates perfectly with its lyrics. Additionally, using minor subdominant chords adds another level of emotional intensity that truly brings this track alive.
This chord progression can be played in any key. Try shifting it to fit your vocal range or the sound of the recording you’re listening to; do this either with capo on or by transposing chords using music math; both approaches provide valuable opportunities to learn scales and chord relationships simultaneously!
The E chord
The E chord is another basic barre chord found across most genres of guitar music. Beginners will find it simple and effective for building more complex barre chord shapes.
The key of E is a major scale with E as its root note, meaning any chord beginning on E will sound different than one starting on lower notes.
Example: A Cm chord that begins on C will sound quite differently from one that begins on G due to different string pitches in G and E strings; this change of sound is known as tonic shift.
Radiohead’s Creep features an easy chord progression made up of open and barre chords that is straightforward to learn. The song can be performed in any key that suits your voice or vocal range and even uses capo to move up or down by two keys while still keeping its harmonic relationships.