TALK SHOW HOST
Radiohead
Bassist: Colin Greenwood
Album: Street Spirit (Fade Out) Single CD#1
Tabbed by Shor Bowman ([email protected])
*MEMBER OF THE BASS TAB ARCHIVE TABBING ARMY*
Correction of original tab by Adam Lutz/Bill Fumerola

This song's tab has gone uncorrected for much, much too long. I have seen
several different versions of it all across the web, and incredibly they
all make some very serious errors and omissions. This may very well be
one of the greatest songs that Radiohead have ever done, and I feel that
it therefore deserves at least a correct tablature. Here it is.

RIFF #1 ("Floating upon the surface for the birds...")
G————————————————————————————————————————|
D—6—————————————6————————————————————————|
A——————6—7—8—————————6—7—8——6——————————1—|
E——————————————————————————————8——6/—3———|

RIFF #2 ("You want me?")
G————————————————|
D——————8————10———|
A—8h10———10——————|
E——————————————8—|x4

Then comes the following little variation that leads into Riff #1:
("..sandwiches and nothing...")
G—————————————————————|
D—8h10——8/——6/——5/——5—|
A—————————————————6———|
E—————————————————————|

RIFF #3 (Lovely synth—guitar break):
G——————8———————————————|
D——————————————————————|
A—0/6————6———6—6/—10———|
E——————————————————————|
Riff #3 is going to lead you back into Riff #2, which you play twice.

RIFF #4 Then, the big riff...("YOU WANT ME??")
G——————————————————————————————————————————|
D—10—(8)———————————————————————10—(8)——————|
A———————10—————8h10—10——8h10—8————————10———|
E——————————8—————————————————————————————8—|

Riff #4 is played for pretty much the remainder of the song. You know, of
course, that there are a few more Riff #1 and #3 intervals that require
variations on the ones I have listed. Here are the big vars:
RIFF #1 VAR
G———————————————————————————————————————————————|
D—6————————————————6h8—6————————————————————————|
A——————6—7—8———6—8——————————6—7—8——6————————————|
E—————————————————————————————————————8——6/—3/——|

RIFF #3 VAR
G————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A—0/6——6—6—6——6—6—6——6—6—6——6/10——10—10—10———10—10—10/———————————————|
E———————————————————————————————————————————————————————6———6—6—6————|

G————————————————————|
D————————————————————|
A—6h8————8h10——8—6———|
E——————————————————8—|
Of course, both of these eventually segue into Riff #4.
That's it! Again, I sincerely hope and pray that this is the correct
tablature. If it is not, then you know where to reach me, so please do
so. Have fun.

KEY:
h=hammer—on
()=ghost note (pull—off)
/=slide up or down

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 — Talk Show Host bass tabs