Weird Fishes / Arpeggi - Radiohead
----------------------------------
From the album "In Rainbows"
Transcribed by Howard Wright
hakwright (at) gmail (dot) com
This song is a great example of how a simple idea, slowly built up
as more rhythmic and harmonic complexity is added and brought to a
crescendo can give stunning results. Most of the song is based on
the same 4-chord sequence, picked out on the guitar in 3-note
arpeggios (hence the second part of the song's title), and this
arpeggio sequence is repeated over and over as the song builds.
More guitars enter using different arpeggios and subtly different
picking patterns and help bring the song to an exhilarating peak
before a sudden break leads into a different section that closes the
song.
The basic chord sequence repeated for the first half of the song
is: Em7 F#m7 A Gmaj7
(the bass part sometimes emphasises G for the last chord, other
times E, turning the Gmaj7 into an Em9)
The start of introduction is played on just one guitar, with a second
guitar entering near the end of the first sequence. These two guitars
continue during the first verses, and a third (then more) guitars join
in on later verses. All guitars are in standard tuning.
Each guitar follows a repeating pattern of arpeggios using its own
own rhythmic picking pattern, which is followed pretty strictly
throughout. The different arpeggios used and the different rhythmic
patterns give a varied and complex sound for what is, at its simplest,
a sequence of four chords/arpeggios.
In all the guitar parts the arpeggio notes are left to sustain.
h = hammer on
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
First guitar part
------------------
After a few bars of drums, the first guitar starts (stereo centre)
using four shapes for the arpeggios:
EADGBE EADGBE E A D G B E E A D G B E
x757xx x979xx x 12 11 14 x x x 10 9 11 x x
Em7 F#m7 A Gmaj7
This first guitar part uses a 3-note rhythmic picking pattern
shown in the tab below. All the notes for this part (and for all the
later arpeggio guitar parts) have the same duration (play them as 8th
notes).
Note that the pattern in which the strings are picked continues as the
arpeggios change, so your picking hand carries on with the same simple
3-string cycle throughout. Because there are 32 notes picked for each
line of tab (for one chord in the sequence) this means the string you
start on for each arpeggio changes throughout. It also means that by
the time you complete one whole cycle of four chords, you won't start
the x757xx arpeggio on the same string either!
This idea of following the same string order when picking the arpeggio
notes is followed fairly strictly throughout.
With a bit of practice it should be fairly easy to follow the same
3-string picking pattern automatically and get the arpeggio changes
in the right place (note that these arpeggio changes often come in
slightly *before* the end of each line of tab).
The implied chords are written in brackets above all tab for reference
(the final chord is written as Gmaj7 or Em9 depending on what the bass
plays).
(Em7)
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------
G-7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----9---
D---5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----7-
A-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(F#m7)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G---9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----14-
D-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7------
A-9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9----
E------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G-----14----14----14----14----14----14----14----14----14----14-----
D-11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11---
A---12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12-
E------------------------------------------------------------------
(Em9)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G-11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11-----7---
D---9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9------5-
A-----10----10----10----10----10----10----10----10----10----10-----
E------------------------------------------------------------------
A7/A6 variations
-----------------
This pattern continues for the first guitar throughout the first half
of the song. Most of the sequence is repeated exactly as above, but
there are a few variations used for the 3rd line of tab (over the A
chord). Here, the top note moves down from the 14th fret to the 12th
then the 11th to give an A7 and A6 flavour to the harmony. The second
time through this sequence, when the A7/A6 variations first appear,
the 3rd line of tab looks like this:
(A) (A7) (A6)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G-14----14----14----14----14----12----12----12----11----11----11---
D---11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----11----9--
A-----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12----12-----
E------------------------------------------------------------------
(as noted above, you end up starting with a different string each time
you come back to the same arpeggio; on the second time round you start
the "A chord" sequence on the G string as above)
Second guitar part
-------------------
The second guitar part (stereo left) joins in on the first time through
the basic 4-chord sequence, and enters on the last chord (Em9,
corresponds to the x 10 9 11 x x shape in the fourth line of the guitar
1 tab above).
The second guitar part uses these four arpeggio shapes:
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
xxx030 xxx252 xxx655 xxx780
It enters on the last chord of the 4-chord cycle (xxx780) and uses
a 5-note picking pattern (all notes are 8th notes), as shown below:
(Em9)
E---------0---------0---------0---------0---------0---------0-----
B---8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8-
G-7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
As with the guitar 1 part, the same picking pattern is continued
as the chord shapes change, so the string you start each new shape
on varies throughout the sequence.
The main sequence for the second guitar then starts from the beginning
(playing together with guitar 1):
(Em7)
E-----0---------0---------0---------0---------0---------0---------
B---3-----3---3-----3---3-----3---3-----3---3-----3---3-----3---5-
G-0-----0---0-----0---0-----0---0-----0---0-----0---0-----0---0---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(F#m7)
E-0---------2---------2---------2---------2---------2--------(2)--
B-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----
G---2---2-----2---2-----2---2-----2---2-----2---2-----2---2-----6-
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(A) (A7) (A6)
E-------5---------5---------5---------5---------5---------5-------
B-5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---5-----5---
G---6-----6---6-----6---6-----6---6-----6---6-----6---6-----6---6-
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Gmaj7)
E---0---------0---------0---------0---------0---------0---------0-
B-8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8---
G-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----7---7-----
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
As with the first guitar part, this sequence for guitar 2 continues
to repeat following the same 5-note picking pattern.
Verse 1-2
----------
The vocals enter just after the second guitar finishes its first
complete sequence over the four basic chords. The vocals continue with
the first two guitar parts playing. Two more complete cycles of
chords are played for verses 1 and 2:
Em7
In the deepest ocean
F#m7
The bottom of the sea
A A7 A6 Em9
Your eyes, they turn me
Em7
Why should I stay here?
F#m7 A Em9
Why should I stay?
Third guitar part
------------------
At this point (around 1:48, after "Why should I stay" and at the end
of the basic 4-chord sequence) the third guitar enters (stereo right).
It starts at the same time as the line "I'd be crazy not to follow".
Guitar 3 uses only 3 different arpeggio shapes as the 2nd shape is
used for two chords (F#m and A). The arpeggio shapes used are:
EADGBE E A D G B E E A D G B E
xxx987 x x x 11 10 9 x x x 12 12 10
Verse 3
--------
In verse 3 guitar 1 continues as before, guitar 2 carries on with
the same arpeggio shapes as before but uses a slightly different
picking pattern, shown below:
(Em7)
E-0---0-----0---0-----0---0-----0---0---0------
B---3---3-----3---3-----3---3-----3---3---3----
G---------0---------0---------0-------------0-- ... etc
D----------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------
Guitar 3 enters using a 5-note picking pattern shown below (lyrics and
chords shown above the tab for reference). Note: the picking pattern
uses all 8th notes and is the same one used by guitar 2 when it first
entered.
(Em7)
...crazy not to follow
E---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7---------7-----
B---8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8---8-----8-
G-9---9-----9---9-----9---9-----9---9-----9---9-----9---9-----9---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(F#m7)
follow where you lead your eyes...
E-----9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------
B---10----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10
G-11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11--
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(A) (A7) (A6)
.... they
E-9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9---------9---
B-----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10----10--10----
G---11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11--11----11
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Gmaj7)
turn me
E-------10--------10--------10--------10--------10--------10------
B-12--12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12--
G---12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12--12----12----
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
Verse 4-5
----------
At this point in the song (after the third guitar completes its first
cycle), the first three guitars continue repeating their parts and
more guitars enter to build up the sound further (it gets harder to
distinguish the separate guitar parts from here on...!).
Two more complete chord sequences are played over the words:
Em7
Turn me on to phantoms
F#m7 A
I follow to the edge of the earth
Gmaj7
And fall off
Em7
Yeah, everybody leaves
F#m7
If they get the chance
A Gmaj7
And this is my chance
Break
------
The song has a sudden change at this point, and only the first guitar
continues playing, together with the main vocals and a soft electric
piano. The arpeggio shapes used by the single guitar part are shown
below (with lyrics above for reference). The picking pattern used is
similar to the first guitar part above (shifted across one string).
But - the notes on the D string are very quiet so you can play just
the G and B strings if you prefer. This guitar part also fades in a
little after the vocal start.
Chord/arpeggio shapes used are:
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
xx798x xx797x xx977x
A7(no 3rd) A6(no 3rd) Bm
EADGBE EADGBE
xx767x xx577x
A6 Gmaj7(no 3rd)
A7(no 3rd) A6(no 3rd) Bm
I get eaten by the worms and weird fishes
A7(no 3rd) Bm
Picked over by the worms and weird fishes
A6 Gmaj7(no 3rd)
Weird fishes, weird fishes
Final section
--------------
After the drums enter again, a new section starts. One guitar uses
an envelope/volume effect, playing long sustained notes that gradually
fade in (these form the main bass notes of this section).
The sequence of notes is: B C B A G
(the implied harmony is Bm Cdim5 Bm A6 Gmaj7)
This sequence played by the "fade in" guitar part continues repeating
throughout this final section of the song.
Near the end of the first time through this sequence (before the change
to A) a second guitar part starts playing a low riff, shown below (the
implied chords are shown above in brackets):
(A6) (Gmaj7)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A----5--7--9\7---------5--7--9\7--------------------------------5-7
E--7------------5----7------------3------3-3-3-0-3--3-3--3--5-7----
(Bm) (Cdim5) (Bm) (A6)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A----------5-7-7h9---------5-7-9--------5-7-9--------5-7-7-7h9-----
E--7-----7----------7----7-------8----7-------7----7------------5--
(Gmaj7)
E------------------------------------------------------------------
B------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----5-7--------------5-7-----------------------------------------
E--/7-----7---3-----/7------3--------------------------------------
This riff continues, with ad lib variations, until the end of the song.
One guitar, using a delay pedal loop with high feedback, cuts in during
this riff playing a high-pitched mix of multiple parts (played into the
pedal and built up in layers during the preceding section). The output
from the delay loop is switched on at the start of the BCBAG sequence
(start of the second line of tab above).
Another guitar part enters at the end of the riff above, during the
Gmaj7 portion, playing arpeggios again. Again, the third note in each
group (on the G string) is very quiet - it's hard to tell if it's played
at all, so you can play it as a two-note part..
The notes of the main BCBAG sequence are written above the tab for
reference. As this guitar enters (on the Gmaj7 of the previous sequence)
it plays:
(Gmaj7)
E----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------2----
B------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0---------
G-------(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)------
D----------------------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------
Now the vocal enter and the main sequence starts again, with the new
"two-note arpeggio" guitar part continuing as shown below (lyrics and
chords shown for reference).
(Bm)
I'll hit the
E------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-------
B--3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----
G---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)----(4)-
D--------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Cdim5) (Bm)
bot - tom hit the bottom and escape
E--2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---
B----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-------
G-----(5)---(5)---(5)---(5)---(5)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)---(4)----
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------
(A6) (Gmaj7)
escape
E------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-
B--2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----
G---(2)---(2)---(2)---(2)---(2)---(2)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)--
D--------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------
E------2-----2-----2-----2-------------
B--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----------
G---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)---(0)--------
D--------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------
This "hit the bottom" sequence repeats once more with all the guitar parts
("fade in" bass line, riff, delay loop, two-note arpeggio) continuing as
before.
The song ends with all guitar parts stopping abruptly (bass plays B).
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Last updated: July 2020
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