How To Play Like Thom Yorke: Less Is Chord [Tutorial with Joe Edelmann]

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Hi everyone! A link to the tab examples shown is now also in the description. Thanks again to @Matas Berzinskas for pointing out enharmonic notation to me - I was focused on the tablature half and bumping fret numbers up and down and didn't realize MuseScore put in some very music-theoretically awful accidentals in there.

[@matasberzinskas]

Beautiful!

I saw those Thom’s dance movements in Presen Tense. 👀

[@zhezhang1124]

ah i'm looking for this comment

[@farmerBri]

Same same 😊

[@rizvanxd8724]

Please 😭

[@jager9022]

@@arebabalouba9931 looks like someone is jealous of the peak male performance

[@mauki5424]

This way of making chords with the 10th interval is such a god send. It never sounds out if place when trying to make a song, such a magnificent and pleasing sound. Thank you for giving this knowledge to other people! New subscriber!

[@rs6000_]

Joe, I'll be deadly honest: I don't understand a single word you said. But you still made it really intriguing, and it was a really interesting watch!

[@lunatunakitty]

@lucy I was thinking the exact same thing. Lol I've had an electric guitar for years but I don't know how to play it. 🤷

[@KentBuchla]

Eschew cliché, especially when they don’t fit the purpose.

[@plummetplum]

It's just intervals and inversions of chords, easy to learn with some research.

[@seanmichael2917]

I never do too bud...but if i keep listening stuff clicks randomly while im playing myself....

[@Senijs]

The different chord inventions you did with Optimistic was a really nice example of how lowering or highering a note by an octave changes the sound of the whole song!

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Totally! Small changes make a big difference!

[@brownsuitcase]

thank you, how have i not seen or noticed this video in 2 years!!!

[@franciscofarias6385]

As a person who's both trying to learn more about music theory and guitar _and_ a Radiohead fan this was a godsend! It's really incredible how many insights I took from a quick 8 minutes video. You're doing an amazing work, for real, thank you.

[@alfiehaigh8412]

Im a huge frusciante/Chili's fan, and I never clicked on the influence he had on Thom, but I really do hear it now, you learn something new every day.

[@themurman1]

The whole Neil Young analogy just put everything into perspective. Amazing the subtlety in playing styles and how that drastically effects the outcome.

[@E-CommerceLab-u3p]

It's been 4 years and I still don't find a Reckoner tab as accurate as this one, please I need the full one 🙏

[@erdemguvenmuzik]

Additionally, both Thom and Jonny usually play minor chords with 3 notes without octaves. E.g. 5-x-x-5-5-x for A minor. Sometimes without 5th: 5-x-x-5-x-5 as in There There and Go Slowly. Sometimes they add a 6th or 7th on D string, and/or 7th on high E string, and/or constantly change the bass note as in the intro of Paranoid Android.

[@kobolt6247]

I love the structure of the 3 note songs. Playing paranoid android is so fun I wish I knew more songs with that rhythm

[@marlonthemarloncorp.kreuze3921]

dude is so competent, cool and stylish thank you for this video

[@r.lum.r]

This is incredibly high quality and thorough. Love this channel

[@rjghassemi]

Excellent job. Well done man.

[@pau1056]

me, a guitarist with small hands, watching all of you use your thumb: nice 👁 👄👁

[@patricklewis4597]

You can grab notes with your thumb over the neck no matter how small your hand is, it’s all a matter of the position of the wrist.

[@Toppu]

@@patricklewis4597 I disagree, if your fingers are relatively short, it becomes a real pain in the ass

[@patricklewis4597]

Toppu my fingers are short and fat and I have no issue grabbing chords. Sometimes it can be a pain tho. You can omit notes tho like the 5 in a barre chord if u can’t get it

[@ricjenner1120]

For me, it's all about finding the right guitar, the neck shape being the most important

[@mattengland653]

@@Toppu well Thom Yorke has crazy small hands and short fingers - double trouble - and he’s one of the great rhythm players so it’s not something that you can’t overcome

[@GustavEkky]

Far away from UK or USA, in Indonesia we are highly appreciated their music, so when you make this video, many people wanna know Thom's secret Thanks!

[@relaxedphylax]

Hey, I watched your Yorushika Itte cover the other day and here I found you on a Thom Yorke tutorial video lol. I'm Indonesian too, it's nice to find fellow countrymen who likes Radiohead as well.

[@Mrthomxx]

Thanks for a great video as usual. One thing I would like to add to Reckoner, is that watching Thom playing it live, he (as he does quite often) doubles the root note using his thumb (plays it twice very quickly) at each chord change. It creates an interesting dynamic/rhythm.

[@4FSmith]

This is such a masterclass, there are many years worth of great technique & theory to study from this short clip.

[@WAXWANE]

This was a great lesson taught by someone who knows and loves this music. Thanks for doing these. You have a way of breaking down things that just makes sense to me and helps me when I’m getting lost in the woods of trying to be Thom or Jonny or Ed. They’re all such unique players and so many lessons can be learned from what each one brings to the table. Thanks again Joe. You’re fantastic.

[@michaelsydney6945]

Excellent. 10/10. You’ve got a new subscriber

[@danflynn8470]

Dude your guitar tone is bang on! Great vid :)

[@DavidSanchez-li4hl]

This is an outstanding explanation on York's most angelical inspiration as it is reckoner.

[@gpeddino]

I play and sing Thom’s parts in a Radiohead cover band. I always have a hard time with the chords in which he uses his thumb, so I try to adapt them as I can. I love his use of melodic parts incorporated in his playing, and how they somehow go against what he’s singing (in Bodysnatchers and House of Cards, for example).

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Gui Porto do what you gotta! It’s all good. And yeah I love that too.

[@pinkzeppelin428]

You have awesome tutorials, keep up the good work along with Fluffy Momo!

[@RC-fi8nn]

I've never noticed the Hendrix influence in Thom's playing until now. Great vid. His playing in "Airbag" is great, too.

[@jimbaaab]

Nice work, fella! Glad you are doing well.

[@roryhensen]

As always, insane attention to detail! Thank you for your service!

[@mattheweastel129]

Thanks for explaining how he plays. I’ve been a fan since the mid nineties and play rhythm guitar and have never quite got my head around his style. It makes sense that it developed from being in a three guitar band

[@NytronX]

Easy to see why Thom cited Frusciante as the influence for Reckoner. That clean neck pickup tone with the hendrix chords is just ear candy.

[@mattborba1340]

Love you so much man. i periodically come back and watch this one to refresh my memory about new rhythm guitar ideas. I really wish we could get one for the rhythm guitar work on the smile album!!! Thanks Joe

[@king_taksin]

Cheers for name-dropping Neil Young and Frusciante

[@ManuelManjarrez.]

you're the best musical content i've seen of radiohead. keep it going!

[@rupertmurray1533]

This is brilliant. All your vids are. You should have at least a million subscribers

[@cheppito]

Wow, amazing stuff. I'll suscribe. Thank you and keep posting things like this, please!

[@-l5905]

Great job! I would love to see some piano tutorials. Thank you brother.

[@MacianArt]

I can’t wait for episodes on how to write strings like Jonny, how to play bass like Colin, and how to play acoustic and drums like Phil (a lot his solo stuff is actually solid).

[@corydkiser]

This is very high quality content. 🔥🔥🔥 As a 1 year guitarist who loves Radiohead trying to find my own style, I beg you to please continue the series. It is immensely helpful. I also second continuing the series with Paul Banks. However, more Johnny and Thom first. 😛

[@TheButcherHicks]

GREAT TUTORIAL!!!! PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. THEY ARE AMAZINGLY HELPFUL

[@lnb29]

I didnt even know I needed this. Thank you, well done. Liked and subscribed.

[@whoisporter]

the tone is perfect

[@robinklieber8134]

love the details you didn't miss. haven't heard such a cover like this before :)

[@GaelleKh]

you play beautifully joe!

[@Benjabola]

I understand enough about music to just barely understand all of what you are saying, but not enough - yet - to put this wisdom to use.

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Benjabola music is a process of experimentation, not calculation, so don’t worry! Just keep exploring, learning and trying whatever sounds good!

[@leoself9858]

What you call the Frusciante I call the Reckoner interval. Love the out-tro to that song. I’m a massive Radiohead & particular a Johnny Greenwood fan, but the whole band are excellent musicians. Nice to see their song writing is appreciated in USA.

[@robingarrettmusic]

Superb content from a true musical master. Thanks Joe!

[@stu9000]

For the level I’m at this was an eye opener! Love how you played different variations to demonstrate the difference. More Yorke/Radiohead stuff please! - wait I saw you have lots of Radiohead stuff. Nice one.

[@shanedabor9855]

made my night dude :D thanks so much for this

[@Christian-97]

Probably my biggest influence on guitar, when I think about it. I’ve always loved the “less is more” approach to riffs and progressions in music, shredding doesn’t really do anything for me (except when Jonny or someone like Robert Fripp/Geordie Greep does it)

[@cbrooks0905]

Nice breakdown! It’s interesting to hear things explained like this because we can all get a little insight into our own playing. At least I did. I play the exact same way, seeing as I like my chords to be more articulated, rather than having that lush, folky sound, which can be nice sometimes, but more often than not I choose very carefully which notes I allow into a chord progression. The kicker is, I didn’t really know it was a thing until watching this video. I just use my ears, which I’m sure is what Thom is doing. It just makes sense. Cheers!

[@matthewmartinez5021]

you should also consider touching on Thom Yorkes acoustic guitar style!

[@matthewmartinez5021]

Or also songwriting tips!

[@yairmichaeli267]

this series is spectacular!

[@Wicked_Panda]

Great video, Joe. Subscribed.

[@Healisem]

Have watched most of your videos in the past half year but never commented. Great channel :-)

[@shinjial]

It was really interesting! It’s something I never considered but can see myself using. I’ll experiment with this concept.

[@VVRATHH]

This was very interesting to watch and I personally think these kinds of videos would make a great series, seen a few Interpol comments regarding Paul's playing style as well as Ed's from 'On a friday' and would love to see how you approach those too

[@zeon137]

really educational video, thanks joe :)

[@Professor-Scientist]

Thanks Joe for another great video. Much appreciated 🙏

[@danielngardner]

Can you do JG's part in the numbers. The Thom and Jonny and drum machine??? Please...ive been trying to figure this out

[@imgitai]

For Climbing Up The Walls, I've seen a bunch of performances where thom plays the root with his thumb, the 5th with his ring, and the 10th/3rd with his first

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Gitai Vinshtok very possible/probable (the Reckoner fingering)! He mixes things up from time to time too.

[@simonvoigt8261]

Well I'm in love with your craft. Time to hit Rocksmith..

[@onedoorfilms]

Great video man, love Thom Yorke's solo and band stuff! If I had one suggestion, it would be that there's a hell of a lot of explaining, when all I wanted to see was you actually demonstrating it on the guitar. Starting off with actual guitar playing might hook people a bit sooner on as well, instead of talking. Keep up the great work though, fascinating insights!

[@TacticsTechniquesandProcedures]

I'd be interested to see how you play "There There" my favorite part is the chorus: A7- Dmaj9/F#-Gmaj7-G6...the tension builds and then the A7. What effects does Thom use? Sounds like a bit of delay and slight overdrive but could simply be a specific pedal. I can almost replicate it with a tube screamer (low drive settings) on a clean tone Marshall 15watt.

[@Radioactive_11]

Got the only thing I need right now. My guitar!

[@anujbeatles]

I might be wrong, but Thom already played Present Tense at the 2009 latitude festival, before Jonny used the chords for the movie Norwegian Wood.

[@JoeEdelmann3]

anujbeatles you may be right, the timing is close, maybe the soundtrack came out in 2010 but Jonny had written it before too? Not sure. Either way, both are so cool!

[@JoeEdelmann3]

David Einhorn I could have sworn I saw a light comin onnnnn

[@plummetplum]

Sounds like Thom's guitar too. I'd love to get an SG, they just got a certain sound.

[@JoeEdelmann3]

The Agenda it’s a lovely guitar! I like the thicker neck profile mine has.

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Beautiful guitar man

[@nicke.424]

Step 1: be a musical genius Step 2: profit

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Nick E. You forgot 1b ???

[@thalamusDecimation]

What i find the funniest is that the people who say Thom Yorke is a musical genius are generally the people with least knowledge of music theory. Stop imitating what everyone says and start having your own opinions man

[@nicke.424]

@@thalamusDecimation I call someone a musical genius when they make fantastic music, which thom does. Thats my opinion, man

[@metrosuez7475]

@@thalamusDecimation not only is that a really pretentious thing to say, but you’ve also based that opinion off of absolutely nothing😂

[@DISK0N3CTED]

You saved me on Reckoner🙏🙏

[@nicolasroque990]

Great video! Noticed the move you did just like Thom before starting to play The Present Tense haha

[@naps340]

ohhh i was really hoping you'd use True Love Waits as an example the whole song revolves around chords that all have little variations to them and most of them are open chords but it still makes a beautiful and interesting song (i'm talking about the acoustic 90's version of True Love Waits) great video too !

[@andrewlipari5702]

Now we just need an Ed O’Brien tutorial! Your awesome man! Ps I think I ran into you at the EOB show in February Monday night in manhattan

[@JoeEdelmann3]

andrew lipari thanks! It’s definitely forthcoming! Ah yeah, I remember, good to hear from you! ☺️ Just got my Earth vinyl and gave it a spin.

[@antoniojoserunez4165]

Speaking of which, how about a "How to Play Keyboards like Thom/Jonny"?

[@theharozomber5201]

It would be great if you made a video showing how you did your ondes martenot

[@bpsychoz]

Love this series!!!!

[@hayesbrenner8095]

These videos are great! Thank you so much!

[@nicennice]

Wow how much information in 8 minutes! For me this is what makes Radiohead the most important band since The Beatles. Such musicality and technique with songs that have so much emotion and resonance. Joe, for fans your channel is a goldmine and an inspiration. Thanks again.

[@hassaananwari2460]

Awesome video man, I really enjoyed it, thanks for uploading. Would be cool to see a similar video on Yorke's acoustic playing and interesting chord changes such as on songs like Exit Music, Karma Police or Last Flowers to name some. :)

[@aidenhallgotdambit6401]

To be honest I play with minimal chords cause barre chords were hard for me early on and ever since then I’ve just played them like that

[@philspill6854]

There there is tough for me even using his tuning. Something I'm missing with open and fretted notes.

[@JoeEdelmann3]

It is tricky! He’s very accurate at picking/muting the right strings even across large distances.

[@bluemeadows40]

Brilliant thankyou very much for making this

[@jenniferzuiff8517]

This was amazing thank you 🙏

[@Theam-Phibious]

Really cool as always! It would be great if you do a How to sing like Thom Yorke. Keep it up! Nice work!

[@jacobmorris9834]

Black Swan seems like it would be a fun one for you.

[@phi6337]

Let your hair grow for a few months, then you'll look well like Jonny.

[@Pandamasque]

Without ever realising it, it turns out I've been playing like T.Yorke for years now, fretting with the thumb and all, especially when writing new melodies (I may change the arrangement later). And I didn't even know that was Thom's thing, or which guitarist in Radiohead does what. My biggest influences are Page, Fripp and Rodriguez-Lopez and I thought this minimalist thing was MY thing dammit! lol

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Pan Damasque like I said, doesn’t belong to any one in particular! But the greats know how to use it appropriately (and sometimes being ‘’’maximalist” can be a great thing too)!

[@uncurbedthoughts]

You can make it your thing if you're as cool as Thom Yorke

[@frenchguitarguy1091]

Oh yeah same here, turns out my favourite chord shop is this one

[@rahulbaidh]

Black Swan is a great song too.. Good work Joe. Stay safe.

[@christopherwillcock-irving8538]

Can you do a tutorial on how to play dawn chorus?

[@Rgdonaire_07]

Your nerdyness level about radiohead goes beyond anything I’ve seen on KZbin in a very very long time... and this comes from a diehard radiohead fan and guitar player

[@TonyContiniProductions]

Yeah, that Present Tense got me. Well played, bud.

[@Insidia85]

can you make present tense tuto? there's no present tense tuto (without use of Capotasto) on youtube.thnaks in advance

[@winterwonderland7445]

You can use the tab

[@Insidia85]

@@winterwonderland7445 the tab cover 1/6 of the song

[@jchunter21]

Thom Yorke=Arpeggios

[@ieuanphillips4963]

Weird Thom/arpeggi

[@urimusic1]

Great work man

[@OmriNamir]

nicely done

[@MWL865]

Well, there's my evening planned. Thanks!

[@Jasonlimitless]

I might be wrong, but I doubt Thom knows all of the technical side of what he's doing in the way you explain it. I think it's just his natural style/playing/arranging with a good ear. I don't think it's theoretically calculated. He doesn't even know how to read music! I think he just plays what sounds good to him. He always says Jonny is the member with the real deep understanding of music and music theory. Interesting video diving into it none the less !

[@JoeEdelmann3]

For sure, I think the same and I believe the ear is always the most important thing! I’m far from a theory guru myself, and I believe theory is more descriptive than prescriptive, so I’m mostly curious in analyzing and describing in musical terminology what the artist did that made it impactful to me, rather than suggest they are that calculating up front. Probably should have been a little more clear about that here 😅

[@Jasonlimitless]

@@JoeEdelmann3 I get you totally, it's great to know that something sounds good but it's fascinating to understand 'why' it sounds good !

[@Williamk492]

So well explained! 👍🏻

[@lockyp204]

Thanks Joe 👍

[@TheButcherHicks]

Of all his songs, I find The Clock the most difficult to play clean. Would be interested in knowing what song or songs of Yorke /Radiohead you find the most challenging. Jigsaw Falling Into Place was also frustratingly difficult for me.

[@JoeEdelmann3]

Jigsaw is definitely a tough one! (especially to play and sing) For me, as only an intermediate pianist, I find any of the ones where I've tried to play and sing pretty tricky (like Subterranean Homesick Alien or playing Jonny's Karma Police part while singing, or Thom Yorke Suspirium with its tempo)

[@TheButcherHicks]

@@JoeEdelmann3 Joe, thank you for taking the time to reply. I am inspired by your talent and look forward to learning more from your KZbin contributions. Best of Luck.

[@mammothpool]

@@JoeEdelmann3 And don't forget pyramid song!

[@Showbiizzy]

This is so good, it would be interesting on how you’d approach on playing like Matt Bellamy

[@MrJorge212]

Saludos desde Ciudad de México!!muy buena clase,..lo pondré en práctica,...👍

[@MrJorge212]

Ojalá y toques reckorner completa!

[@kpman644]

Would be great if you looked at some of Thom's piano playing. Great vid!