How to Play Radiohead - Creep on Guitar: Complete Beginner Tutorial

"Creep" by Radiohead is one of the most iconic songs of the 90s, and it's also one of the best songs for beginner guitarists to learn. With just four chords and a simple strumming pattern, you can play this hauntingly beautiful track in no time. Let's break it down step by step.

The magic of "Creep" lies in its simplicity. The entire song uses just four chords: G, B, C, and Cm. That's it. The chord progression repeats throughout the verses and chorus, making it incredibly easy to memorize. Once you nail the progression, you can play the whole song from start to finish.

Let's start with the G chord. This is your home base for the song. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high e string. Strum all six strings and let it ring out. If you're using Chordie AI, the app will show you exactly where to place your fingers and tell you if any strings are buzzing or muted.

Next up is the B chord. This is traditionally a barre chord, which can be tricky for beginners. The good news? You can use a simplified version. Place your index finger across the 2nd fret of the A, D, G, and B strings. It won't sound exactly like a full B chord, but it works perfectly for this song. Chordie AI offers multiple chord variations, so you can start with the easier version and progress to the full barre chord as your skills improve.

The C chord is a beginner favorite. Index finger on the 1st fret of the B string, middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. Strum from the A string down — don't hit the low E string.

Finally, the Cm (C minor) chord adds that emotional tension that makes "Creep" so powerful. It's similar to the C chord but with a slightly different voicing. Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the A string, middle finger on the 4th fret of the D string, ring finger on the 5th fret of the G string, and pinky on the 5th fret of the B string. This is a barre chord shape, so if it's too difficult, Chordie AI can suggest an easier alternative that still captures the song's mood.

Now let's talk about the strumming pattern. The basic pattern for "Creep" is: down-down-up-down-up. Keep it steady and consistent. The tempo is around 92 BPM, so use a metronome or Chordie's built-in tempo trainer to stay on beat. The key is to keep your strumming hand moving in a constant down-up motion, even when you're not hitting the strings.

The chord progression for the verse and chorus is: G - B - C - Cm. Each chord gets four beats (one measure). Play G for four beats, then B for four beats, then C for four beats, then Cm for four beats. Repeat this progression throughout the song.

Here's a pro tip: listen to the original recording and pay attention to Jonny Greenwood's guitar work. He adds a distinctive "chunk" sound before certain chords by muting the strings with his fretting hand and strumming. This percussive hit gives "Creep" its signature sound. Once you're comfortable with the basic progression, try adding these muted strums on beats 2 and 4 of the B chord.

Practice makes perfect, and with Chordie AI, you get instant feedback on every strum. The app listens to your playing and highlights which chords sound clean and which need work. It's like having a guitar teacher in your pocket, available whenever you want to practice.

"Creep" is more than just a great song to learn — it's a gateway to playing dozens of other songs that use similar chord progressions. Once you master G, B, C, and Cm, you'll be surprised how many songs suddenly become playable. Download Chordie AI, fire up "Creep," and start your journey to guitar greatness.