AUTHOR/ARTIST: RADIOHEAD
TITLE: OPTIMISTIC
ALBUM: KID A
TRANSCRIBED BY: RICHARD CARTER
Ok. For this one you'll need to detune your low E string down to a D.
Intro:
D7 D6 D
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---14-----14--14-14-/-16--16--x-x--11----11--11----11---11--11--11---11----11--11--10----
D---10-----10--10-10-/-12--12--x-x---7-----7---7-----7----7---7---7----7-----7---7---8----
A---12-----12--12-12-/-14--14--x-x---9-----9---9-----9----9---9---9----9-----9---9---8----
D---0------0---0--0--/-0---0---------0-----0---0-----0----0---0---0----0-----0---0---0----
Bd7 C/D D6
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------0-0-----------------------------------------0-0-0--
G--10---10--10--10----10--10--12--12---0-0--11----11--11-------11--11--11--11--11--0-0-0--
D---8----8---8---8-----8---8--10--10---0-0---9-----9---9--------9---9---9---9---9--0-0-0--
A---8----8---8---8-----8---8--10--10---------9-----9---9--------9---9---9---9---9--0-0-0--
D---0----0---0---0-----0---0--0---0----------0-----0---0--------0---0---0---0---0---------
Repeat the second part of progression, replacing the open string hits between the C/D and D6
with to muted hits on the D A D G strings. Then replace the open hits after the D6 with 3 more
strums of the chord.
Main Riff:
Dm C/D D
E----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------7---7--7----5--5--5--5--5--5--5---------9---9--9-----7----7--7--7--7--7-------
D----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A----------8---8--8----7--7--7--7--7--7--7--------10--10-10-----9----9--9--9--9--9-------
D--0--0--0-0---0--0-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0-0---0--0--0--0----0--0--0--0--0-------
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/r/radiohead/optimistic_tab.html ]
You must make sure to mute the D String and keep a steady relaxed feel through out this part
of this song. Keep your third finger on the A string and switch between your first and second
on the G string for the change in chords. If you ever see Thom playing live he's never to
worried about clinical accuracy so just go with what you think sounds good.
Chorus:
D7 Gadd9/D Gmadd9/D Gm/D Dsus4
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--14---14-14-14---14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---14--14-12-12--12--11-11-11-11-11-11--
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--15---15-15-15---15-15-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---13--13-13-13--12--12-12-12-12-12-12--
D---0----0--0--0----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----0---0--0--0---0---0--0--0--0--0--0--
(The second part of the chorus is just a repeat of the main riff). Keep your second finger on
the G string and switch between your first and third finger for the fret changes on the A
string. The bridge for this song is very tricky. Try to keep a relaxed alternate picking going
for both the chorus and the main riff.
Bridge:
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-
D-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-
A-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------
G-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-
D-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-
A-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-
D-----------------------------------------------------
The bridge for this song is very tricky. It has Johnny stricking mutted hits on the
A D G strings whilst using a delay pedal.
