Radiohead, a band synonymous with innovation and sonic exploration, are revered for their groundbreaking use of guitars. From their early grunge-inspired days to their more experimental electronic soundscapes, the guitar has remained a vital instrument in their evolving musical palette. Jonny Greenwood’s often unconventional techniques, Ed O’Brien’s atmospheric textures, and Thom Yorke’s unique chord voicings combine to create a rich tapestry of guitar work that is both captivating and, for aspiring guitarists, often incredibly challenging.
While many articles celebrate Radiohead’s “best” guitar songs, a more pertinent question for guitar players is: What Is The Hardest Radiohead Song To Play On Guitar? Radiohead’s discography isn’t just about catchy riffs; it’s laden with intricate arpeggios, unusual time signatures, and effects-laden soundscapes that push the boundaries of guitar playing. Therefore, instead of focusing on simply the ‘best’ or ‘heaviest’, we’re diving into ten Radiohead tracks that present a significant challenge for guitarists looking to master their complex and inventive guitar work. These aren’t necessarily the most technically dazzling in a shred guitar sense, but they demand precision, creativity, and a deep understanding of Radiohead’s unique approach to the instrument.
10. Knives Out (Amnesiac, 2000)
While Amnesiac is known for its experimental and often dense sonic textures, Knives Out stands out as a deliberate step back towards a more guitar-centric sound, making it deceptively approachable. However, beneath its seemingly conventional structure lies a subtle complexity. Inspired by Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Jonny Greenwood crafts a descending, melancholic riff that requires precise fingerpicking and chord changes. The challenge in Knives Out isn’t outright technical virtuosity, but in capturing the nuanced emotional weight of the riff and the evolving guitar lines that subtly shift with each verse. The song demands a clean, articulate tone and a keen ear for dynamics to truly bring out its understated beauty and make it sound effortless, which is far from easy.
9. How to Disappear Completely (Kid A, 2000)
How to Disappear Completely, a haunting masterpiece from Kid A, strips away the album’s more overt electronic experimentation and focuses on a core of emotional vulnerability. At its heart is a deceptively simple acoustic guitar progression, but its beauty lies in its fragility and the precise execution required. Thom Yorke’s descending chord sequence, primarily moving from a bright D chord to F♯m (often played with a capo on the 2nd fret), creates a sense of emotional deflation. The difficulty here is not in speed or complex techniques, but in the delicate touch and emotional expression. The song requires a guitarist to convey the raw vulnerability and ethereal atmosphere through subtle dynamics, clean chord changes, and allowing the chords to ring out and resonate. It’s a lesson in musical economy where every note and strum must count, and the challenge lies in conveying maximum emotion with minimal technical flash.
8. Street Spirit (Fade Out) (The Bends, 1995)
Closing The Bends with a sense of foreboding, Street Spirit (Fade Out) is built upon a hypnotic arpeggiated guitar pattern that is both mesmerizing and demanding to execute perfectly. Played by Ed O’Brien on his custom ‘Plank’ guitar, the arpeggio moves around A and E minor, creating a tense and graceful harmonic foundation. The difficulty in Street Spirit lies in maintaining the clockwork precision of the arpeggio throughout the song. O’Brien’s measured picking pattern needs to be consistently even and rhythmically locked in, providing the ominous pulse that drives the track. It requires strong right-hand control and stamina to maintain the hypnotic rhythm and clarity of each note, making it a deceptively challenging song for rhythm guitarists.
7. Present Tense (A Moon Shaped Pool, 2016)
Present Tense, from A Moon Shaped Pool, is a masterclass in delicate guitar layering over a bossa nova rhythm. Jonny Greenwood’s glistening acoustic arpeggiations are the song’s backbone, incorporating a percussive tapping technique he developed in his solo work. The difficulty here is in the combination of the intricate arpeggios and the subtle percussive element. Greenwood taps his guitar between notes, creating a rhythmic complexity that needs to be tightly integrated with the flowing arpeggio sequence. The technique requires precise coordination between picking and tapping hands, along with maintaining a consistent and delicate touch to achieve the song’s shimmering, emotional depth. Mastering Present Tense demands both technical finesse and a sensitive musical ear.
6. There There (Hail to the Thief, 2003)
There There, the lead single from Hail to the Thief, is characterized by its unsettling atmosphere and build-up of tension. Thom Yorke’s gritty guitar sound, achieved with his feedback-prone Gibson ES-125T, creates a dissonant foundation, while Jonny Greenwood’s explosive, fuzz-soaked riff provides a cathartic release. The challenge in There There is twofold. Firstly, capturing Yorke’s raw, feedback-laden guitar tone requires experimentation and control over feedback. Secondly, Greenwood’s fuzz riff, while seemingly straightforward, demands precise timing and attack to deliver its full impact within the song’s dynamic build. The song’s structure, inspired by experimental band Can, builds pressure through repetitive verses before unleashing the chaotic riff, requiring a guitarist to navigate both textural soundscapes and explosive, high-energy riffing.
5. Just (The Bends, 1995)
Just, from The Bends, is a high-energy guitar tour-de-force that showcases Jonny Greenwood’s dynamic and inventive playing. Opening with a fiery, Smells Like Teen Spirit-esque chord progression, the song quickly shifts into a more subdued verse before exploding back into the riff. The primary challenge in Just is Greenwood’s multi-sectioned guitar solo, a dazzling display of technical skill and melodic phrasing. The solo is packed with rapid runs, intricate bends, and dynamic shifts, demanding significant technical proficiency and stamina. Beyond the solo, the song’s shifting dynamics, from aggressive riffs to melodic hooks, require a versatile guitarist capable of navigating both high-energy and more nuanced passages with precision and musicality.
4. Let Down (OK Computer, 1997)
Let Down, a gem from OK Computer, is celebrated for its intricate layers and emotional depth. While the song features a driving rhythm section and Yorke’s soaring vocals, the guitar work, particularly Greenwood’s polyrhythmic central riff, is a standout element and a significant challenge. The difficulty in Let Down lies in the odd-time signature arpeggio riff. Greenwood plays a 5/4 arpeggio pattern over the song’s 4/4 time signature, creating a polyrhythmic texture that is both beautiful and disorienting. Executing this riff cleanly and in time, while maintaining the song’s flowing feel, requires a strong sense of rhythm and independence between the picking and fretting hands. It’s a deceptively complex part that demands precision and rhythmic understanding to master.
3. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows, 2007)
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi from In Rainbows is a masterclass in layered guitar textures and rhythmic interplay. The song features three guitar parts intertwining over Philip Selway’s driving 4/4 rhythm, creating a mesmerizing and complex sonic landscape. The main challenge in Weird Fishes/Arpeggi is the interplay of the three arpeggiated guitar parts. Ed O’Brien, Thom Yorke, and Jonny Greenwood each play harmonized arpeggios in a 3/4 groove against the 4/4 drums, creating a ‘hemiola’ effect. Learning to play just one part is manageable, but mastering the interplay and layering of all three, ensuring each part is distinct yet harmonically cohesive, is a significant undertaking. It requires precise timing, a keen ear for harmony, and the ability to weave individual guitar lines into a larger, complex tapestry.
2. 2 + 2 = 5 (Hail to the Thief, 2003)
2 + 2 = 5, the opening track of Hail to the Thief, explodes to life with raw energy and unconventional song structure. Triggered by the sound of Greenwood plugging in his guitar, the song is a dynamic and politically charged piece with distinct sections and shifting moods. The difficulty in 2 + 2 = 5 stems from its rhythmic complexity and dynamic shifts. The song opens with a Drop D picking pattern in 7/4 time, immediately throwing a rhythmic curveball. It then progresses through multiple sections, including aggressive power chords and chaotic, high-register squalls. Navigating these abrupt changes in time signature, dynamics, and guitar techniques, while maintaining the song’s raw energy and intensity, makes 2 + 2 = 5 a formidable challenge for any guitarist.
1. Paranoid Android (OK Computer, 1997)
Paranoid Android, a centerpiece of OK Computer and arguably Radiohead’s most iconic song, is a sprawling, multi-part epic that defies genre classification. Inspired by The Beatles’ ‘White Album’-era compositions, it seamlessly blends acoustic sections, descending melodies, phased micro-hooks, and Jonny Greenwood’s iconic heavy riff and whammy-pedal solo. Paranoid Android is undoubtedly the hardest Radiohead song to play on guitar due to its sheer scope and variety of guitar parts. It demands mastery of multiple techniques: clean acoustic strumming, intricate lead lines, heavy riffing, and whammy bar manipulation. The song’s structure is unconventional, moving through distinct sections with dramatic key changes, requiring a guitarist to seamlessly transition between different styles and tones. Greenwood’s heavy A major riff and the chaotic, whammy-driven solo are particularly challenging, demanding both technical skill and a sense of adventurousness to capture the song’s epic and genre-bending spirit. Mastering Paranoid Android is a true testament to a guitarist’s skill and dedication to Radiohead’s complex musical vision.
Radiohead’s guitar work is a testament to their innovative and boundary-pushing approach to music. While this list highlights some of the most challenging songs, the rewards of tackling these tracks are immense. They offer a deep dive into the band’s creative process and provide guitarists with a unique opportunity to expand their technical skills and musical vocabulary. So, if you’re looking for a real guitar challenge, dive into the complex and rewarding world of Radiohead’s guitar-driven masterpieces.
