Learn to Play "Karma Police" by Radiohead on the Acoustic Guitar!

In this easy tutorial, we'll learn how to play Karma Police on the acoustic guitar. If you're a Radiohead fan, you probably already love this song, but playing it on guitar is next-level fun!

💡 Is this song the right level for you? This lesson is perfect for Advancing Beginners and Early Intermediate Players already comfortable with B minor, the easiest barre chord ever, :) If you're following my free guitar course, you will make the best out of this tutorial if you're around Grade 4!

Before We Start

To play Karma Police, you'll need to know how to play a B Minor Barre Chord, which is tricky to get the hang of if you're a beginner. You'll also need to know how to play a G chord as an open or a barre chord. And finally, you'll need to know how to play an F#7 chord. But don't worry if you're not comfortable with these chords yet. We'll see how to simplify the versions if you need to, and we'll focus on how to play the song the way it is on the original Radiohead recording.

The Chord Progression

The chord progression for Karma Police is quite long, so memorizing it may take a few tries. It's an eight-bar sequence without too much repetition, so it can be tricky to remember. But it fits beautifully with the song's melody, so it's worth learning.

The first chord is an A minor, which you're probably already familiar with. The next chord is a D9/F#. To play this chord, you'll need to move your second finger down to the second fret of the thickest string to mute the first string. Then, you'll need A minor, E minor, and G chords.

💡 You can play the G chord differently depending on where you are in the song. What's your favorite way of playing the G chord? Let me know in the comments!

You'll also need the B minor chord and a D chord. The chord progression for this song is quite long, and the best way to memorize it is to write it down! If you're in a hurry, try JustinGuitarTabs to get the chord progression suggested in this tutorial with the lyrics of Karma Police. :)

Strumming Pattern and Embellishments

When it comes to strumming patterns, there are lots of variations that happen on the original recording. You can listen to it and use as many variations as you want.

As for embellishments, there are quite a few tasteful embellishments on the piano in the original recording that you can incorporate into the guitar part as well. You can hear Thom Yorke doing bass movements on the acoustic guitar quite clearly.

One interesting chord in the chorus is the D chord, played by moving a regular C chord up two frets. It's an embellishment for a D chord, but it sounds great in the song's context. The D chord then goes to a G, and you can play it as a G/D. Finally, you'll play an F#7 chord, the same shape moved down one fret.

Tips for Playing Karma Police

Learning to play this Radiohead classic can be challenging, but here are a few tips to help you.

First, ensure you get the chords right before adding any embellishments or steps between the chords. You want to get the timing down solidly first so the performance doesn't get thrown off.

Second, try writing the chord progression by hand, even when using tabs or sheet music. Writing it out can help you remember it more easily!

And finally, don't be afraid to make the song your own. While we're focusing on how it's played on the original recording, there's no reason you can't experiment with your interpretations and embellishments to make it sound unique.

⭐️ Up for a challenge? Learn to play Paranoid Android by Radiohead on guitar as well - it's more difficult than Karma Police but so much worth it!

Karma Police by Radiohead is a beautiful song with a unique chord progression and interesting embellishments. It's worth taking the time to learn how to play it! Watch and follow the steps outlined in this tutorial, and you'll be well on your way to mastering this classic tune.

👉 Learn more for free! I have hundreds of song tutorials available for you. :) See you soon!