Song Rig
Karma Police
Jonny Greenwood · OK Computer · 1997
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Radiohead's most immediate melody — the guitar provides sparse, clean chord support beneath Thom Yorke's vocal until the outro, where Greenwood plays a slowly building, effects-drenched lead that gradually disintegrates into noise. The clean verse tone is warm and understated; the outro tone is increasingly abstract.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Telecaster or acoustic guitar
- 2Clean amp (verse)
- 3Eventide DSP4000 (outro effects processing)
Amp Settings
Primarily clean and supportive — the guitar's role in Karma Police is to provide harmonic context for the vocal without competing for attention. The outro uses effects to gradually dissolve the guitar signal.
Technique
How to Play It
Supportive chord voicing behind vocal — Greenwood uses simple chord voicings in positions that leave the upper register open for Yorke's melody. The guitar frames rather than fills.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Telecaster or acoustic → clean Fender amp → reverb → the musical skill is restraint: play chord shapes that support the vocal without competing with it melodically or rhythmically.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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