BASS TAB:

BAND: Radiohead
SONG: Pyramid Song
ALBUM: Amnesiac

TAB BY: Paul Simpson ([email protected])

The timing in this song is absolutely superb. It took me aaaaaaaages
to figure it out. The time signature is 11/8 so there are 11 beats
in a bar and a quarter note represents 2 beats (instead of the usual 1).
The tempo is about 155 — 160 beats/min.

The music starts on beat 5 (ie: there is an anacrusis)

Alright, the bass starts at about 1:58
You can play some of this an octave higher if you want, but all Es
should be E string open.

G—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
D—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————(the other 7 beats
A—————————————————|—————————————————————————|———————— of this bar are
E—2———2———3———————|—5———5———5———3———3———————|—3———3—— at the start)
  5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4

Every second time through this riff play    |—2———2—— instead of 3.

Alright, so play the above riff 3 times, then, when the lyrics start:

G—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
D—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
A—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
E—2———2———3———————|—5———5———5———3———3———————|—2———2——
  5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4

     ****
G—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
D—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
A—————————————————|—————————————————————————|————————
E—2———2———0———————|—0———0———3———3———3———————|—3———3——
  5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4

Alright, now play the above 2 riffs over and over for a while.

Then, when all the orchestra and stuff stops, finish at the end of
the bar with "****" above it and then play:

G—————————————————————————|————————————————————————|
D—————————————————————————|————————————————————————|
A—————————————————————————|————————————————————————|
E—0———0———3———3———2———————|—————————2———————0——————|
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Play the above 2 times, then play just the first bar again (but with
no 2)

Then:

G—————————
D—————————
A—————————
E—3———3———
  1 2 3 4

Then play the intro riff over and over until the end.

Yeah, so the actual playing of this song isn't that hard, but
getting the hang of the rhythm is. Something like this is
indicative of Radiohead's high class musicanship.

Alright, so if you have any questions or just want to e—mail me
or something, then go ahead: [email protected]

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 — Pyramid Song (ver 2) bass tabs