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Optimistic by Radiohead
Optimistic
Tuning (this tab): Drop D [ D A D G B E ]
THE TUNING IS ACTUALLY: DADGBD
RIFF A
MAIN RIFF 2x
VERSE 1 (MAIN RIFF 4x)
CHORUS (play riff 2x)
BREAKDOWN (4 MEASURES)
VERSE 2 (MAIN RIFF 4x)
CHORUS (play riff 2x)
MAIN RIFF 4x (sounds different because of the bass)
BRIDGE RIFF 2x
CHORUS (play riff 2x)
TAG (play second half of chorus riff 3x instead of once)
MAIN RIFF 4x (sounds different because of the bass)
RIFF A
OUTRO (this is just a mellower variation/breakdown of the main riff)
For the opening riff let the top string (tuned to D) ring out.
These are the chords, listen to the song for the rhythm
I borrowed this first riff from Mikhailo's Kid A album tab post because
he had this riff right (aside from the tuning)
RIFF A:
strum the following 2x, then the second half 1x:
D---0--------0-------0-------------0--------0----0----|
B--10-------12-------7-------------6--------8----7----|
G-----------------------------------------------------|
D--10-------12-------7-------------8-------10----9----|
A---0--------0-------0-------------0--------0----0----|
D---0--------0-------0-------------0--------0----0----|
MAIN RIFF and verses:
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
B ---------------------|-----------------------|
G -----7--77---5555555-|-----9--9--9---7777777-|
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
A -----8--88---7777777-|-----10-10-10--9999999-|
D -0-0-0--00---0000000-|-0-0-0--0--0---0000000-|
CHORUS:
D--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
B10--10--10-10-10 -10 10 10 10 10 10 10|10--10--10-10-10--7-7-7-7-7-7-7|
G--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D10--10--10-10-10 --9 -9-9 -9- 9 -9 -9|-8---8---8--8--8--7-7-7-7-7-7-7|
A-0---0---0--0--0 --0 -0-0 -0- 0 -0 -0|-0---0---0--0--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0|
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|
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
B ---------------------|-----------------------|
G -----7--77---5555555-|-----9--9--9---7777777-|
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
A -----8--88---7777777-|-----10-10-10--9999999-|
D -0-0-0--00---0000000-|-0-0-0--0--0---0000000-|
The other guitar plays this on the chorus:
D-------------------------------------------------------|
B-----------------------------------------3--5--8/7-----|
G-----------------------------2--3--5-------------------|
D-----------------2--3--5-------------------------------|
A--0--2--3--5-------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------------------|
FROM THE SECOND CHORUS ON THE SECOND GUITAR ALSO PLAYS THIS
AFTER THE ABOVE RIFF:
D--0------------------------------------0----------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G------5/3--2------0----3--2----------------5/3-2---0----3--2--------|
D---------------------------------------------------------------0----|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------|
After the first chorus there is a break down where a guitar is strumming with the fingers from
the left hand covering the strings to make a rhythmic sound. LISTEN TO THE RECORDING FOR
THE RHYTHM
THE NUMBERS LINE UP TO THE RHYTHM its a tough beat but listen close and you can get it.
The strings go from muted to open to create a beat:
BREAKDOWN:
-----1-------2-------3-------4------1------2-------3-------4-----
D --|------------------------------|------------------------------|
B --|------------------------------|------------------------------|
G X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|
D X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|
A X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|
D X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|X-X-0-X-X-0-X-X-X-X-0-X-X-0-X-|
THIS RIFF IS PLAYED OVER THE BREAKDOWN AND MAIN RIFF IN THE SECOND VERSE
AND THROUGHOUT THE SONG:
D--0------------------------------------0----------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G------5/3--2------0----3--2----------------5/3-2---0----3--2--------|
D---------------------------------------------------------------0----|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------|
BRIDGE: "I'd really like to help you man..." The main riff changes a little bit:
It repeats both parts of the riff twice:
D ---------------------|---------------------|
B ---------------------|---------------------|
G -----7--77---5555555-|-----7--77---5555555-|
D ---------------------|---------------------|
A -----8--88---7777777-|-----8--88---7777777-|
D -0-0-0--00---0000000-|-0-0-0--00---0000000-|
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
B ---------------------|-----------------------|
G -----9--9-9--7777777-|-----9--9--9---7777777-|
D ---------------------|-----------------------|
A -----10-1010-9999999-|-----10-10-10--9999999-|
D -0-0-0--0-0--0000000-|-0-0-0--0--0---0000000-|
--------------------
version 2
Tempo: 54bpm
Time Signature: 4/4
intro:
Am/D - Bm/D - Dadd9
Bb6/D - C/D - D6/9
Am/D - Bm/D - Dadd9
Bb6/D - C/D - D6/9
Bb6/D - C/D - D6/9
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
verse 1:
Dm C/D
flies are buzzing 'round my head
Em/D D
vultures circlin' the dead
Dm C/D
picking up every last
Em/D D
crumb the
Dm C/D
big fish eat the little ones
Em/D D
big fish eat the little ones
Dm C/D
not my problem give me some
Em/D D
you can try
chorus:
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D Em/D D
best you can is good enough you can try
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D Em/D D
best you can is good enough
bridge:
D - D - D - D
verse 2:
Dm C/D
this ones optimistic
Em/D D
this one went to market
Dm C/D
this one just came out of the
Em/D D
swamp
Dm C/D
this one drops a payload
Em/D D
fodder for the animals
Dm C/D
living on animal
Em/D D
farm
chorus:
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D Em/D D
best you can is good enough you can try
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D Dm C/D
best you can is good enough
bridge:
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
verse:
Dm C/D
i'd really like to help you man
Em/D D
i'd really like to help you man
Em/D D
Dm C/D
nesrous messed up marrionette
Dm C/D
float around on a prison ship
Em/D D
Em/D D
if you try
chorus:
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D Em/D D
best you can is good enough you can try
Am Asus2 Gm6/9 Gm D
the best you can if you try the best you can the
Dm C/D
dinosaurs roaming the earth
Em/D D
Dm C/D
dinosaurs roaming the earth
Em/D D
Dm C/D Em/D D
dinosaurs roaming the earth ah
outro:
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Am/D - Bm/D - Dadd9
Bb6 - C/D - D6/9
Bb6 - C/D - D6/9
Dm - C/E - Em/D - D
Dm - C/E - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
Dm - C/D - Em/D - D
------------