Song Rig

How to Disappear Completely

Jonny Greenwood · Kid A · 2000

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Greenwood's most atmospheric guitar work — the tone almost completely loses its identity as a guitar, blending into the orchestral string arrangement. Heavily processed with the Korg Kaoss Pad and reverse reverb, the guitar becomes pure texture and emotion rather than a melodic instrument.

Signal Chain

1Fender Telecaster (neck pickup)
2Korg Kaoss Pad (real-time audio mangling)
3Eventide harmonizer with reverse reverb

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume2

Bass5

Mid5

Treble4

Reverb9

The guitar itself is barely audible as a guitar — the signal chain is primarily the Kaoss Pad's real-time manipulation and extreme reverb. The aim is to create "anti-guitar" textures that blend into Jonny's orchestral arrangements rather than sitting forward as a traditional guitar part.

Technique

How to Play It

Slow bowing technique with a cello bow (Greenwood studied and used bowing on various Radiohead recordings) — the notes are intentionally blurred and indistinct, creating sustained tones without the percussive attack of picking.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Any guitar → heavy reverb and reverse reverb (Strymon BigSky, Walrus Audio Slö) → Eventide Space (reverse reverb programs) → Korg Kaoss Pad for real-time manipulation. The goal is to make the guitar unrecognisable.

Your Gear