How does Johnny Greenwood come up with stuff like this?!

Printable Tabs available here! ► www.mymusicshe...
Subscribe For More Content! ► bit.ly/3x15FcL
Support The Channel 🙏
• Patreon ► / nikolagugoski
• Guitar Pro 8 (Save 20%) ► bit.ly/41rHP9h
• Justin Guitar App ► bit.ly/3Enq56S
• Merch ► nikola-gugoski...
• Learn Guitar Theory ► hooktheory.com...
Follow Me On My Socials 📱
• Instagram: / nikola.gugoski
• Facebook: / nikola.gugoski
Original Music 🎵
• Bandcamp: nikolagugoski....
Song: Thin Thing - The Smile

[@bokehintheussr5033]

It's honestly amazing how he can make his guitar parts sound like glitchy electronically generated music with minimal effects. This sounds like a synth being controlled by one of those old pattern sequencers.

[@liadcohen8327]

If you watch his performance of Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint you can see that he was learning how to do this delay effect, so it's natural that he wrote a few riffs like this for the Smile.

[@SETRAAKI]

The first time he used that technique in a song was i think Present Tense since the performance u just mentioned was from 2015 and present tense was released in 2016.

[@stalwartzero7001]

Feels like that’s the only Reich song people listen to though 😔

[@RC-hv1yx]

@SETRAAKI This is what I was thinking. If anyone wants to see the draft of this technique, look up the Present Tense performance directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. “Thom, Jonny, and a drum machine” or whatever it’s called. First time I saw him do it was there

[@KangarooGrapes]

@@RC-hv1yx he also used the trick on staircase

[@greenvelvet]

Nailed it👍

[@adrian19mt]

i knew you’d find this eventually, such a simple yet complex riff

[@thomyboy3219]

Screaming «i knew it before you»🙈

[@pierre.estenaga]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXLIiJRsdtOehKssi=KO-oOm8CC4dY2APu

[@pR0ManiacS]

​​@@thomyboy3219he's happy he enjoys it and they both share the taste for it* knowing the song doesn't mean anything. Maybe Nikola knew about this long time b4 making this video. Stay positive. Think b4 u type.

[@mightyquinn38]

simple? don't think so

[@darris1939]

Nothing about it is simple tho? It’s complex and that’s it lmao

[@theheadmaster1973]

i saw johnny greenwood live playing this and it blows your mind simply amazing

[@deliverance9975]

Just dropped in to say I appreciate this perspective (as in the camera angle) so much more than pretty much every other guitar KZbinrs out there. It's so much clearer and easier to understand without the mental gymnastics.

[@discobunny4eva759]

This is the best perspective for demonstrating techniques on guitar imo.

[@AsAugustSleeps]

Probably the most underrated guitarist of all time. His stuff is so insanely unique and creative.

[@immastranger6752]

I can't think of the actual song, but if you watch In Rainbows From the Basement there's a point where Jonny stops playing some keys or something, picks up his guitar and starts playing.. you don't even hear his guitar come in for like 15 - 20 seconds! By the time you hear what he first played he's playing a second or third part.. all with super long delay time.

[@liadcohen8327]

It's in Weird Fishes/Arpeggi... he records a loop silently while the drums base and rhythm guitar are coming out of the middle section, then after around 8 bars I think he steps on the pedal for the recorded loop and then plays another part on top of it. It's so cool.

[@nikolagugoski]

That part is so insane to play live. I needed a few moments to figure out how he is playing it. When I heard the studio version I was sure they don't play that part live 😅

[@MatthewThompsonAllen]

I know the part you're talking about. I think he's basically live sampling a guitar line, playing the sample, and playing over the riff. Maybe not as hard as anticipating a 15-second delay but still damn impressive. I once saw him play a keyboard with his guitar headstock while playing the guitar. Two totally different rhythms and he did it like no big deal. He's crazy talented and obviously spends a lot of time exploring sounds.

[@severenr]

​@@MatthewThompsonAllenYep, he plays the strings for Street Spirit using the headstock of his Starcaster while playing the higher octave guitar part.

[@anthonyrios2300]

@@MatthewThompsonAllenHe does it in 15 Step too it’s so trippy

[@juliandipilla8288]

Amazin riff!. the cover sounds super clean!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you Julian! Glad you liked it 🙂

[@GuyDude-hk8uy]

Serious answer to the title: he's playing clawhammer (as in, banjo) style on guitar. There's a lot of creativity there especially in the left-hand choices, but those sorts of rhythms do tend to fall out rather naturally and sound less bizarre if you've played clawhammer style before. It isn't just "baby's first clawhammer" either though, doing the brush-stroke sort of thing most do; he's playing more of a "Round Peak" style associated with Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham where drop-thumb technique is used (that's where you use the thumb to play notes other than the drone string, and on guitar is required to play anything other than the low E string). If someone wants to extent the style even further by taking even more influence, you could try some open string pull-offs, which is something you rarely ever see done on guitar usually. Without fretting anything with the left hand on that string, pull, or rather "pluck" said string with one of your left hand fingers. It's a good way to get those "doubled/delayed" notes he's going for in open position by first open-pulling the string and then striking it with your right hand. Here's a common fill lick you'll find: strike open G with right hand, open-pull B with left hand, strike open B with right hand, play the open G by pulling up with the thumb whilst simultaneously moving your hand back to the position you started so your index/middle is ready to strike the G string again. You can get some nice circular patterns going like that. The general idea is that the notes you'd normally play with an upstroke using a plectrum are played using hammers, pulls, or the thumb by pulling upwards; all the downstroke notes are played by striking downward using the nails of either the index or middle finger.

[@caseynewton827]

Wait but you know he’s using a delay pedal to do this right?

[@severenr]

Jonny has expressed an interest in the banjo several times, so this, alongside his more modern habit of using delay in a very musical way, really does explain how he comes up with guitar parts like this one.

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

​​@@caseynewton827 A delay pedal is simply the means necessary to achieve the desired effect when you're not in the necessary level of technical accomplishment to achieve it with your barre hands only. What Op had explained up there is the proper musical concept behind the seemingly distinctive sound, which turns out to be achievable w/out the use of effects if anyone knows the real concept and technique behind it. Tosin Abasi's selective picking is another great example of modern guitar techniques that attempts to emulate similar "digital" delay by natural means, despite the first impression may be very intimidating by comparison.

[@brownholecharles]

People get defensive when pointing out their favorite guitarist isn't really playing anything complex or technically challenging.. it only sounds that way because they've not heard it before.

[@edgardevice]

I'm pretty sure he did the same thing with cellos on the Power of the Dog soundtrack.

[@DIYGuitarMods]

Im a guitarist and its breaking my brain seeing what looks like power chords making all that. super cool! also the tone sounds like a wurlitzer in a great way

[@janneelias]

The Smile!! What an amazing band

[@otgv]

One major influence is Steve Reich - Electric Counterpoint. Jonny's played it fully live.

[@cannedpineapple2702]

Steve Reich is wild dude

[@iamsittingaroom]

i dont think it sounds anything like reich

[@urmumsbaps]

@@iamsittingaroom it's literally the same technique used, nobody is saying it sounds the same.

[@thevastidity888]

@@urmumsbaps Electric Counterpoint is a series of guitar parts looping and converging. But the delay trick Jonny uses is essentially that sound but "portable."

[@alanashlock3900]

He is truly Innovative.

[@WJL91]

Massive Steve Reich influence in this riff surely. Music for 18 musicians / electric counterpoint both come to mind

[@rayanna7188]

Johnny Greenwood is just another breed of guitarists man (& I mean that in a good way)

[@ZaidVegaL]

Amazing!!! I love that Tele, looks so pretty and I really love this song, Can you do the tabs of the entire song?

[@KetoGuido]

That’s genius level right there… serious talent and practice!

[@jcreature11]

Give a musician a guitar and a good quiet room by themselves and they will create unique sounds and riffs!!

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

he just has a lot of knowledge about a lot of stuff. he plays games, he makes music for movies, he paints, he makes music, he reads books and studies classical music

[@BinhPham-yi7xc]

Sound like multiple guitar play at the same time,dude is absolutely insane

[@eileengrothe]

BECAUSE… Jonny is a genius❣️

[@miguelrosado6348]

It's simple: he is an experimentalist. He is not trying to be a guitar virtuoso which seems to be the goal of so many guitar players, and he doesn't mind exploring outside the rock genre and just play with sounds that resemble noise more than actual music.

[@turnerdrywallrestoration8077]

Makes me smile

[@radioheadpodcast]

I see what you did there.

[@yargnad]

This is one of the main examples of why I don't really care for shredders anymore. I went through that phase for a bit back when I was a young buck, but grew tired of it. Stuff like Plini and Polyphia are interesting for a song or two, then the formula is revealed and it never seems to stray. I have never grown tired of Radiohead (minus Pablo Honey) or really anything Johnny and Thom do. They're always evolving and moving forward and challenging my views on music overall.

[@ytpanda398]

I have plenty of love for experimental guitar and a lot more for radiohead, but it would be wrong to look over what bands like polyphia do as well. There's all sorts of new and interesting sounds, with a really nice mixing of harmonics into chords, selective picking, and running melodies through chord changes simultaneously. It's fresh and vibrant, but if the structure of a song is paramount to you then yes you'll get bored of that. Depends on what you really enjoy in guitar and music i guess

[@joeroberts5826]

Check out thank you scientist and try to figure out the formula💀

[@yargnad]

Thank you Janitor

[@joeroberts5826]

@@yargnad that response makes a lot of sense👍

[@yargnad]

@@joeroberts5826 Apparently have no clue where the name Thank You Scientist comes from....

[@greenvelvet]

Jonny greenwood did a series performances of minimalist composer Steve Reich's pieces. And a lot of Steve Reich's compositions are like this, very short repeating phrases with overlapping triads, and polyrhythms. Jonny greenwood composed a early piece based on this idea called 'Loop'. Interesting to hear how it's evolved over the years.

[@brookmelee5983]

He lets the pedal do all the work for him 😆

[@philc7168]

It's what you get when you dedicate your life to art. All members of Radiohead agreed at a young age to create a space where they could come up with this stuff and keep their egos intact. There may have been techically better prog bands in the past, but where some of those older bands start arguing, these guys just get on with it.

[@moosetimes1000]

The riff really puts me in mind of later Grizzly Bear. And rumour has it, J Greenwood once said they were his favourite band

[@goozterizaka467]

that's just brilliant

[@gtrriffs]

Sounds awesome 💯👏🤨

[@nikolagugoski]

Yeah, I thought it's pretty creative. Haven't heard delay being used in this way

[@gtrriffs]

@@nikolagugoski Buckethead uses delay well, but I agree, you don't hear much riffs like that.

[@ms8742]

I was at the National Gallery in London a couple months ago, and a guy stuck out to me, and he had woman (his wife) and a guy in his twenties with him (his son). Looked closer and it was Johnny Greenwood. I was so starstruck, I went up and shook his hand but didn't say anything. I didn't want to bother him. Was so cool. He was enjoying all the art. I assume he has been there many times.

[@Blkac-pill-Black-Life]

sounds amazing

[@mr.alexgy4523]

You should cover completely this song 🤩🤩🤩

[@KetoGuido]

I saw the Smile, they were okay, Greenwood was simply profound.

[@gasseremara1514]

reminds me of his delay trick on the present tense mv

[@hgfskate]

Can’t wait for the new album from The Smile this month!

[@Vigi]

New guitar? :0

[@nikolagugoski]

Yes :D I wanted a telecaster since forever but I needed something with humbuckers for the channel. Then this tele showed up and it was kind of a win win haha

[@Vigi]

@@nikolagugoski That's awesome! :D

[@danilzao]

what song is this on?

[@Destroianus]

this is like the less prog version of the intro riff of An infinite regression - AAL

[@user-eg4nj5mw1d]

That’s awesome!!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thanks man! Glad you liked it 🙂

[@AndreasKlanzer2384]

By listening to King Crimson / Robert Fripp

[@sneakking101]

You should definitely also check out Jonny greenwoods live performance and album version of Identikit, he uses the same cool delay effect

[@issyjas3309]

Without a doubt the boy is the most talented guitarist at work today

[@liberioescriba6158]

julian lage

[@nikidosya5201]

Make full tabs please 🙏

[@riffpick7832]

That's exactly what I thought the very moment I listened to it

[@ahmetyolgoturen2821]

This sounds better than the original

[@Blkac-pill-Black-Life]

BEASTEST BEAST.

[@michtim1919]

He came up with this 'cause he also plays the banjo and transit those techniques to other instruments.

[@LuisFeRiffs]

Best guitar teacher on internet

[@artem1ism]

Can't wait other stuffs of Johnny in The Smile with your tabs: Colors Fly, Bodies Laughing, Under Our Pillows and others)

[@ThePeaceFrog722]

what tuning is this in? jeez its so good- thank you for the demo :)

[@putsitinmybottos]

It’s call effects pedals, been around a long time.

[@csgrinds]

By listening to 80s crimson

[@diegolanders2377]

Nikola can you cover with tabs this two songs, 'Outer Space, Kaly' of red hot chili peppers?

[@wildesage4172]

Left hand go crazy: 🔥🔥🔥 Right hand go crazy: 💀

[@Reneromero08]

He probably has so much practice he hears the idea in his head and just plays it.

[@ibrahimsaslag]

I'm pretty sure every single Radiohead's song began with someone in the band asking Johnny to make the guitar to not sound as a guitar at all and he just rolls with it.

[@deathchips926]

He’s a composer, that’s how.

[@Jaroslav.]

I know you get requests very often, but would you be able to tab Frusciante’s version of Dream Girl/Dream Boy please? Sorry for posting it here, not sure where else to ask.

[@Verkrustet]

i coulda watched that for another 20 minutes

[@yargnad]

You still can

[@Verkrustet]

@@yargnad very true, and i will loop it, but i'd like to taste the whole lick

[@user-tp4tk6eu8d]

What are the delay settings

[@otgv]

Philip Glass has similarities to this, there's some influence also

[@maxvandenberg6018]

I'm pretty sure he went up and down on the guitar playing the same notes and the same chord shape. Crazy stuff, I know.

[@lucastobrazil]

Any tips on which delay settings to use for this?

[@lordohnehelm]

Will you realease the complete tabs for the whole song?

[@gothamlab]

There hasn't been a guitarist as innovative or important to the instrument since Jimi.

[@BautistaZep777]

Johnny is really that guy

[@neooneart]

Clawhammer banjo motion

[@connorlarkinbass]

what is the name of this song!? This is such a cool part!

[@nikolagugoski]

It's called Thin Thing by The Smile

[@connorlarkinbass]

@@nikolagugoski Thank you! super cool part! great playing!

[@StephenReid-hk8hs]

​@@connorlarkinbassdude Telaharmonic and Under our pillows is a must for you from the smile you can thank me later 👍

[@toweringdaddy-qy7if]

i'm not even going to attempt this one

[@toweringdaddy-qy7if]

nvm i hear the delay now. trickery!

[@robertuwrightjr]

What song is this? Thanks.

[@nikolagugoski]

It's called Thin Thing by The Smile

[@beepst]

This is what keeps electric guitar interesting, and not those old bluesy licks.

[@Xinbaset]

wreck it ralph vibes

[@oknotokk]

Full song lesson, please!!

[@exentybyte4499]

Do The Darkest Side of the Night by Metropolis

[@drakeshelburn]

i feel like its honestly more impressive to figure out how the hell he did that rather than noodling and writing.

[@campfiresedge9395]

Captain Beefheart. That where this all comes from.

[@roaaajdjni804]

What

[@MrDanieloneill]

I mean, playing with a delay. It comes out.

[@nomoredarts8918]

It's Jonny Greenwood

[@landonlakes4782]

Fred Frith

[@Austonnnnn]

Awesome stuff man. This might be a dumb question but would you happen to know if a Line 6 DL4 could get this delay effect?

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you! This is actually created by Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead. I'm pretty sure it can be done with any delay pedal

[@adrian19mt]

i can confirm that you can do this on the DL4, i have it myself it’s a bit tricky to set up tho

[@andymandy8862]

@@adrian19mt You got a time setting for that delay? I've been fiddling with it but I can't seem to get it right...

[@r4ydify]

:18-:22 sounds like SKIP DIVIDED

[@copache]

listening to Sonic Youth probably, to answer your question

[@mmaccheg]

heyy!! can u upload a video showing the tutorial of exactly same way john plays DREAMBOY/DREAMGIRL?¡ it will be the firts video con youtube about that awesome cover! really apreciatte it! thanks!!

[@vrooooooooooooooooooom]

What’s the song name?

[@nikolagugoski]

It's called Thin Thing by The Smile

[@batman40528]

this riff is so hard to even just practice. you have to get the delays PERFECT

[@KnjazNazrath]

Octaves and delay. You're welcome. Yeah mum, I know I'm cool.

[@Atlas65]

This sounds like something that Tim Henson would write if his stuff would have emotion or as good songwriting ability as these guys have (we don't know who came up with the chord progression. Thom or Johnny) Maybe Thom wrote the song and Johnny aranged the riff like that. Edit. I just put the song on and on second thought. It sounds a bit like Four Tet. Not exactly alike. But it gives me the same vibe as the synth enters in kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJm8h2WHa8SbmKs

[@spacetweek]

And then Thom has to figure out how to sing over it.

[@Jugnaut]

The Darkest Side of The Night by Metropolis tabs and tutorial?

[@cadenlarge8205]

the delay is one thing but i think jonny plays/thinks in terms of shapes. he’s kind of all over the place here but his left hand mostly stays the same

[@liberioescriba6158]

yeah, is just octaves & a delay pedal, no big deal, fans girls just like to over rate him

[@maniacguitar]

@@liberioescriba6158lol - def not overrated

[@ahmetyolgoturen2821]

What song is this?

[@liberioescriba6158]

thin thing by the smile

[@konsco]

Sounds like Tosin Abasi on a 6 string

[@craigmurdock4740]

Is there a delay pedal? It always sounds like it’s made using delay but maybe not

[@CaptainOffensive]

There is

[@liberioescriba6158]

there is or you could practice for weeks & play each note twice

[@CaptainOffensive]

Tosin Abasi vibe haha

[@nikolagugoski]

Tosin's thing is way more complicated than this haha 😆

[@Snoozelightable]

Tim Henson wished he could write stuff like this, instead he just makes flashy garbage.

[@agentyeetus9263]

id love to hear this with no effects pls

[@bowlofnuggets]

What’s the song?

[@nikolagugoski]

It's called Thin Thing by The Smile

[@BenignIndividual]

Music Theory.