Jonny Greenwood
Alternative RockArt RockExperimental1990s–present

Jonny Greenwood

Fender Telecaster, Gretsch Country Gentleman or vintage guitar into a Vox AC30 or Fender Twin, with extensive effects including DigiTech Whammy, EHX POG and various modulation. The tone varies dramatically — from jangly clean on "High and Dry" to the screaming whammy bar of "Just" to the orchestral noise of "National Anthem."

Budget Rig Breakdown

Signal Chain

GuitarSquier Classic
ODBoss SD-1
AmpKatana 50
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Telecaster — Guitar
Boss Katana 50 MkII — Amp
Estimated total~£497

Complete Your Rig

The accessories every serious guitarist needs — cables, strings, and the rest.

Strings~$10

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings (10-46)

Standard for most electric styles — bright, responsive, and widely used by touring professionals.

Cable~$28

Planet Waves American Stage Guitar Cable 10ft

Solderless ends and lifetime warranty. The cable most session guitarists trust.

Picks~$6

Dunlop Jazz III Pick (Pack of 6)

The most-used pick among serious players — precision tip improves articulation and speed.

Tuner~$100

Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal

The professional standard for live tuning. True bypass, powers other pedals, ultra-accurate.

Strap~$38

Levy's M8 Guitar Strap

Quality leather strap used by touring guitarists. Genuine comfort for 3-hour sets.

Key Tone Tips

  • The Whammy pedal is central to the "Just" and "Planet Telex" guitar sounds — set to octave up or two octaves up, it creates the screaming harmonics
  • Jangly clean is equally important — "High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees" use clean Telecaster into AC30. Contrast between clean and extreme is the Radiohead guitar vocabulary
  • Prepared guitar techniques — sticking objects on strings, playing with a bow, tapping on the body. These textural elements appear throughout OK Computer and Kid A
  • Chord voicings avoid conventional root-position triads — inversions and suspended chords (sus2, sus4, add9) replace standard major and minor chords for a more ambiguous harmonic character
  • The tremolo arm is used for controlled noise, not melody — a sharp downward dive followed by a slow rise creates the wrenching effect on some tracks
  • Study "Just," "Lucky," "Karma Police" and "How to Disappear Completely" — four completely different approaches within the same band's catalogue
  • Layering guitar and orchestral elements is a Greenwood strength — in solo orchestral work, he understands how guitars interact with string instruments
  • Noise is composed, not spontaneous — the feedback and distortion are controlled and placed intentionally, not random
  • Do not try to copy Radiohead by sound; copy by intention — understand why each guitar choice was made and apply that decision-making to your own playing

About Jonny Greenwood's Sound

Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead is one of rock music's most creative guitarists — his approach draws from noise, classical music and jazz, building textures that are often unrecognisable as conventional guitar playing.

Jonny Greenwood's Tone Evolution

Jonny Greenwood is Radiohead's sonic architect — his guitar approach is deliberately anti-virtuosic, using texture, noise, and unconventional technique to create atmospheres rather than showcase technique. His tone ranges from Telecaster jangle to orchestrated feedback to ondes Martenot.

Full timeline: 3 eras →

Jonny Greenwood Song Rigs

All 6 song rigs →
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