This guide gives the ukulele chords, rhythm, and practical tips to play Radiohead’s “Creep” on GCEA tuning using the core progression G → B → C → Cm. It lists exact fingerings, easy voicings, tempo targets, capo and transposition options, practice drills, and quick fixes for the two trickiest moves: the B chord and the C→Cm shift.
Essential ukulele chord cheat sheet for Radiohead’s Creep (G · B · C · Cm)
Core chords on GCEA tuning (fingerings written G‑C‑E‑A): G = 0-2-3-2, B = 4-3-2-2, C = 0-0-0-3, Cm = 0-3-3-3.
Difficulty level: G and C are easy for beginners; B is the hardest because of the stretch; Cm needs a small partial barre but rings clean once you set the anchor finger.
Easy alternatives: play B as a simplified shape by sliding into 4-3-2-2 with a pre-placed index on the two 2nd-fret notes, or substitute Bm = 4-2-2-2 for a less bright sound if you want an easier left-hand shape. For Cm, use 0-3-3-3 (barre C/E/A at 3) rather than a full barre across all strings.
Partial-barre options: for B keep your ring finger on the 4th fret of the G string as an anchor and pivot the other fingers into 3-2-2. For Cm keep your A-string finger on fret 3 and add a small barre across C and E with your middle or ring finger.
Printable charts and a one-page PDF cheat-sheet: export the four chord diagrams and the strum/pick patterns from a chord site (MuseScore, Ultimate Guitar, or ukulele-tabs) or generate a PDF from your notation app; save it to a practice folder on your device for quick reference.
Exact chord progression mapped to each section of the song
The entire song repeats the same four-chord loop: G → B → C → Cm. Verse, pre-chorus, chorus and outro all use that loop; the section feeling comes from dynamics and phrasing, not new chords.
Order and counts: one loop equals four bars. Play G for one bar, B one bar, C one bar, Cm one bar. Repeat that loop and adjust repeats to match the lyrics—typically two loops per verse line in most arrangements.
Beat placement and hold: strum the first downbeat of each bar clearly and let the chord ring. For a closer match to the studio feel, hold G and B for the whole bar with sparse attacks in the verse, then strum fuller on the C and Cm in the chorus.
Handling quiet-loud dynamics: play single-finger, sparse downstrokes and light palm muting in the verse; switch to open full strums and stronger accents on the chorus to create the same tension-and-release the original uses.
Beginner-friendly substitutions and transposition options to avoid hard chords
Simple swaps: use Bm (4-2-2-2) instead of B to avoid the wide stretch; use Cm = 0-3-3-3 to avoid a full barre. Expect a tonal shift—Bm softens the brightness of B, and the emotional color stays close enough for casual covers.
Capo and transposition strategy: pick a target key where the III chord becomes a simple open shape. Use a chord transposition chart or app to shift the progression by semitones until the three problematic fretted notes become open chords, then add a capo to match your vocal range.
Trade-offs: easier shapes can change the exact harmonic tension that makes the song recognizable. If you replace B with Bm, keep the C→Cm contrast and vocal delivery tight to preserve the song’s character.
Quick method to find an easy key: pick a comfortable vocal key, then transpose the progression by the number of semitones between G and that key. Try the key while playing simple open shapes; if the III chord is still hard, move by one more semitone and use a capo to raise the pitch back up to match your voice.
Capo strategies and how to transpose Creep for different vocal ranges
To simplify shapes while keeping original pitch, use the capo to move fingerings into open positions: for example, place a capo and play shapes that avoid the B stretch. Use a chromatic tuner app to check the target pitch if you want to match the recording exactly.
Step-by-step transposition: count semitone steps between the original key (G) and your desired key. Move each chord the same number of semitones. Use a transposition chart to remap the shapes on ukulele so you always know what to play relative to the capo.
Check your key against the original: play a key chord and compare with the recording using a tuner app or by ear; if it sounds too high or low for your voice, shift the capo up or down until you find the sweet spot for comfortable singing.
Strumming patterns and rhythmic grooves that capture Radiohead’s feel
Two core patterns: verse (sparse) — count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &: play D (1), rest (&), ghost D (2&), rest (3), light D (3&), rest (4): aim for space and barely-there attacks. Chorus (full) — count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &: play D D U D U D U with accents on beats 1 and 3 to lift the energy.
Use palm muting and ghost strums: mute with the side of your strumming hand to get the choked verse sound, then release the muting for open chorus rings. Ghost strums are quick light downstrokes that keep time without full sustain.
Tempo and pocket: set a metronome around 92 BPM as a starting point; lock the verse pocket with precise downbeats, then push slightly into the chorus to create the natural surge the song needs.
Fingerpicking and arpeggio variations for a haunting, mellow cover
Basic arpeggio pattern: pick strings in this order for each chord — G, C, E, C (1-2-3-2). Keep the thumb on the G/C pair and use index and middle for E and A for a steady roll that keeps the melancholy feel.
Rolling patterns: alternate G–C–E–A with accents on the G to keep a bass anchor. For syncopation, shift the accent to the “&” of 2 or 4 to create a subtle push that highlights the lyrics.
Texture switching: use fingerpicking for verses, then move to full strums at the chorus. Add single-note fills on the A string between lines to echo the vocal melody without stealing attention.
Smooth chord changes: techniques to nail the B and the C→Cm shift
Fingering shortcuts: when moving C→Cm, leave the A-string finger planted on fret 3 and add a small barre across C and E at fret 3; that single anchor cuts motion and keeps timing tight.
Pivot fingers for G→B: keep your finger on the E-string 2 when you can, or slide from a pre-positioned shape into 4-3-2-2; the goal is to minimize lift time for each finger. Practice placing fingers on the destination frets before you release the previous chord.
Drills: set a metronome at 60 BPM and play one chord per click, then speed up in 5 BPM increments. Do 30-second runs switching G↔B, C↔Cm, then combine into full loops. Slow-to-fast repetition builds muscle memory faster than long, unfocused practice.
Common traps and fixes: buzzing often comes from uneven finger pressure—press closer to the fret and keep the thumb low on the neck. If notes are muted, rotate the fingers slightly and check for unwanted palm contact on the strings.
Voicings, inversions and tasteful embellishments to make your cover sound professional
High-register voicings: use partial barre shapes at higher frets for C and G variants to add air. For example, play G as 7-7-7-5 or other inversion to create a delicate high voice without changing the harmonic function.
Add9 and sus2 options: sprinkle single-note add9 or sus2 tones on the top strings (open E or A string fretted one or two frets) to add color. Use these sparingly on repeat sections to keep the progression clear.
Lead fills and tasteful licks: short hammer-ons on the A string between lyric phrases and slides into the top note of C and Cm make the arrangement feel polished. Keep fills under two beats so they support the vocal rather than compete with it.
Staying in tune and getting clean tone on ukulele for recordings and live covers
Tuning tips: use standard GCEA tuning and decide whether high G or low G suits your arrangement; low G gives a fuller bass response, high G gives a sweeter top end. Tune before every session and check tuning after bending or long practice.
Setup checks: ensure action isn’t too high and that the frets are clean. Low action reduces finger strain and helps tricky chords like B ring clearly. Replace old strings that sound dull or produce inconsistent volume across strings.
Recording basics: mic the ukulele near the 12th fret for a balanced tone; a small diaphragm condenser works well at home. For quick EQ: remove frequencies below 100 Hz, gently cut 200–400 Hz for muddiness, boost 2–5 kHz for presence. Light compression (2:1 ratio, medium attack) keeps dynamics under control without squashing the feel.
Singing while playing: phrasing, breath control and choosing the right key
Map breaths to chord changes: take short, strategic breaths on the quiet counts between chord hits rather than during chord transitions. Practice singing the line while holding the chord to build coordination before increasing tempo.
Choosing the right key: find the highest note in the melody and test whether you can sing it with comfort. Move the whole progression by semitones or use a capo to shift the pitch until you have at least one comfortable note above and one below that high point.
Harmonies and backing vocals: simple thirds above the vocal in the chorus add richness; keep harmony parts short and tied to sustained notes to avoid clashing with the ukulele’s bright timbre.
Common mistakes, troubleshooting and how to fix them fast
Muffled B chord: fix by checking that each finger presses cleanly on its fret and that your thumb is not sliding over the top of the neck. Slow the change, place fingers deliberately, then speed up once notes ring clean.
Timing slips and over-strumming: practice the sparse verse pattern with a metronome at a slow tempo, then add dynamics. Over-strumming often hides timing issues—reduce strokes and focus on where to place accents.
Buzzing and dead notes: retune, press closer to frets, and check nut slots and saddle height. If problems persist on one fret across strings, the setup likely needs adjustment rather than more practice.
Performance checklist: tune, check action, run the loop twice with metronome, test the singing range with a few lines, and mark tricky transitions with a sticky note on your chord chart for last-minute touch-ups.
A 4-week practice plan to learn Creep on ukulele from scratch to polished cover
Week 1 — Chord shapes and rhythm: memorize G, B, C, Cm shapes. Practice each chord for 10 minutes, then do 10-minute slow switching drills between each chord with a metronome at 60 BPM.
Week 2 — Transitions and dynamics: increase tempo to 80–92 BPM. Add the verse strum pattern and practice the C→Cm anchor motion. Work on palm muting and ghost strums for 15–20 minutes daily.
Week 3 — Fingerpicking and arrangement: learn two arpeggio patterns and the full chorus strum. Add two small embellishments and practice switching textures between verse and chorus in a 30-minute session.
Week 4 — Polishing and performance: rehearse the entire song twice through at target tempo with vocals. Record one take, listen for timing and tone issues, and do three focused 10-minute drills on the weakest section each day.
Useful resources: tabs, backing tracks, video tutorials and legal cover considerations
Reliable sources for tabs and chords: Ultimate Guitar, Ukulele-Tabs, MuseScore, and official songbooks. Cross-check more than one source: the correct G→B→C→Cm loop is consistent across accurate transcriptions.
Backing tracks and tutorials: The Ukulele Teacher and other focused ukulele channels offer practice-friendly versions and slow demos; backing tracks on YouTube and karaoke sites help lock timing and dynamics.
Cover licensing basics: for audio-only covers uploaded to streaming services you generally need a mechanical license; for video covers on platforms like YouTube use the platform’s license tools or third-party licensing services if you plan to monetize. Always credit the songwriters in the video description and listing.
