OPTIMISTIC
Radiohead
Tabbed by Shor Bowman (abowman@sas.upenn.edu)
A splendid song with a splendid tab, I'm rather
curious as to why this has been absent for so long.
Nonetheless, here is my interpretation of the bass
line, IN DROPPED-D TUNING! I would like to also
mention that there is never any bass during the first
two times a verse is sung.
*RIFF #1 The bass comes in quietly at 1:07:
G----------------------------------------------|x2
D----------5-----------------------------------|
A--------------5---3h5-5-5-x-x-3h5-5-5--5-5--5-|
D--0---0---------------------------------------|
During the interim between the first refrain and second verse:
G---------------------------------|
D---------------------------------|
A-----5--3h5-5-5-----5--3h5-5-5---|
D--0--------------0---------------|Repeat until 2nd verse
Repeat Riff #1 during the second refrain. Then, at 2:32:
*RIFF #2
G--------------------------------------------|x4
D--------------------------------------------|
A--7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10h9-9--9/-|
D--------------------------------------------|
During the third semi-verse, just thumb the low D-string:
G--------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------|
D--0-0-----0-----0-0-----0-----0-0----0------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/r/radiohead/optimistic_btab_ver_2.html ]
Now, repeat Riff #1, then play Riff #2 with slight variation
on the second repetition:
G--------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------|
A--7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10-10--9/12-12/5-|
D--------------------------------------------------|
On the fourth repetition, leading to the outro, play this:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D---------------------------------------------12h10------|
A--5-7-7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10h9-9-------12h10-|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
The first part of the outro features improv on high D:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D-0--12--0-10-0-10-10--12/0--12-0-10-12-12/0--3-/-5-5--4-|
A--------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
You can also hit the 7th fret and bend the 12th if you like.
The final part of the outro is light and jazzy, and goes:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D-0-12-0-10-10-0-12--0-0-----10-0-12-0-10-10-0-12--0---0-|
A-------------------------10-----------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
It's just a matter of repeating this last riff until the song
ends. There's an odd time signature alteration at the end, so
just listen to the recording until you figure it out.
Thanks! If you have any questions, just email me and I'll check
it out. I'll also gladly listen to any and all corrections.
--Much love, Shor Bowman
