Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead

Learn to play "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead with our in-depth, note-for-note guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com. This hauntingly beautiful ballad from the band’s seminal 1995 album The Bends showcases subtle textures, emotional expression, and smart use of tone and dynamics, making it a standout track for guitarists looking to expand their skills in both rhythm and melodic phrasing.

In this detailed lesson, we’ll guide you through every section of the song, covering all the unique guitar techniques used by Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien to bring the track to life. Whether you’re just learning how to capture emotion in your playing or refining your feel and control, this is a masterclass in musicality, space, and subtlety. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarists – Jonny Greenwood & Ed O’Brien

Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien are central to the distinct sound of Radiohead. Greenwood, often regarded as one of the most inventive guitarists of his generation, blends classical influences with unconventional technique and a deep knowledge of tone-shaping. O’Brien, meanwhile, is a master of ambient textures and rhythm guitar work, contributing atmospheric layers and supporting harmonies that make songs like Fake Plastic Trees so emotionally resonant.

Together, their interplay on Fake Plastic Trees exemplifies tasteful restraint and melodic nuance. Greenwood’s expressive phrasing and O’Brien’s use of open chords and ambient effects provide a rich sonic palette, ideal for learners wanting to explore how less can truly be more.

Guitar Techniques Covered in the Lesson

1. Finger-picking and Dynamics

One of the foundational techniques explored in this lesson is finger-picking. The intro and verse sections rely heavily on gentle, articulate finger-picking patterns, giving the song its vulnerable tone.

Why it’s useful: Finger-picking develops coordination between your picking-hand fingers and helps you play more expressively. It also enables you to execute chord melodies and quieter textures that are ideal for dynamic, emotional playing.

2. Barre Chords and Open Chord Shapes

The song makes extensive use of barre chords, as well as open chord shapes with subtle embellishments and transitions.

Why it’s useful: Mastering barre chords increases your fretboard mobility and allows you to play chord progressions in multiple positions and keys—key for any rhythm guitarist.

3. Slides and Chord Movement

Throughout the track, tasteful slides between chords and melodic notes are used to add fluidity and emotional impact to the performance.

Why it’s useful: Slides help guitarists connect phrases smoothly and enhance legato playing. They add a vocal-like quality to your leads and transitions.

4. Sustained Chord Progressions

The arrangement leans heavily on ringing, open chords and sustain to create a spacey, immersive soundscape.

Why it’s useful: Learning how to control and manipulate sustain helps guitarists shape tone and dynamics more effectively, which is essential for expressive playing.

5. Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

The verses feature delicate arpeggiated chord progressions that bring melodic content into the rhythm guitar role.

Why it’s useful: Arpeggios help you understand chord structure in a melodic context and are a great tool for both lead and rhythm playing.

6. Capo Use

A capo is employed to allow open chord voicings in a higher register, giving the song its bright, chiming quality.

Why it’s useful: Capos let you access different voicings and tonal ranges without changing fingerings, and are especially useful for singer-songwriters or guitarists arranging covers.

What You'll Learn in This Lesson

In our Fake Plastic Trees guitar tutorial, you'll gain a deep understanding of how to:

• Play emotionally rich finger-picked progressions
• Transition between barre and open chords seamlessly
• Apply subtle lead embellishments using slides and sustain
• Use a capo effectively to open up new voicings
• Arpeggiate chords for a more melodic rhythm style

The lesson also covers the structure of the song in detail—intro, verse, chorus, and outro—ensuring you can perform the piece in full. Every section is broken down slowly and clearly, with attention to timing, feel, and tone.

Whether you're a fan of Radiohead or a guitarist looking to enhance your dynamics and emotive playing, this lesson delivers powerful takeaways for musicians of all levels.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• Finger-picking
• Barre Chords
• Slides
• Sustain
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Capo

Ready to master the emotional guitar work behind Fake Plastic Trees? Head over to Licklibrary.com and start your journey with our complete breakdown and hands-on video lesson today.