BULLETPROOF (I WISH I WAS...)
Radiohead
Bassist: Colin Greenwood
Album: The Bends (1995)
Tabbed by Shor Bowman ([email protected])
*MEMBER OF THE BASS TAB ARCHIVE TABBING ARMY*
Original tab by Andrew Baranyai ([email protected])


The last version of this tab was mainly incorrect because it was an
octave too low, but there are other things that Andrew missed. This is a 
shame, because this is one of the sweetest, loveliest songs Radiohead has 
ever done.  And it's actually pretty easy, though it may be confusing at 
first. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
There are only two main riffs——the verse and the chorus. Here they are.

RIFF #1 ("Limb by limb, tooth by tooth...")
G———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D———————————————10——10—————10—10h12—9———9—9—————12——12——9h10—9——|
A—12——12—12——10—————————10———————————————————10—————————————————|
E———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|

G———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D————————————9—10——————10—10h12—9———9—9—————12——12—12—————12——12——9h10—9|
A—12——12—12—————————10———————————————————10————————————10———————————————|
E———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|

This first riff segues cleanly into the second, which is played during the
gorgeous chorus.

RIFF #2 ("Bulletprooooooo...")
G———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————————9———9—————10—12———|10|——————9h10——————————————————————|
A—10———10—10———12——————————————————————————————————10—9—7————9————10————|
E————————————————————————10———————————————————————————————10———10———————|

G————————————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————9———9——10——12——10——————|9]—|
A——10—10———12————————————————————x—x—————|
E————————————————————————————————————————|

And that's it. Do as many variations as you like, but I'm pretty sure that
I've included all of the main ones that Colin does. Lovely song. Please
enjoy.  Questions or corrections? Email me at [email protected].

KEY:
h=hammer—on
x=harmonic
=let ring

SHORESWORTH'S PSYCHEDELIC BREAKFAST (my webpage):
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~abowman

About Radiohead

Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, beats), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboard, other instruments), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesizers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion).

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Radiohead — Bulletproof bass tabs