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/ Radiohead / Kid A (2000) / Optimistic bass tab

OPTIMISTIC
Radiohead

Tabbed by Shor Bowman (abowman@sas.upenn.edu)
A splendid song with a splendid tab, I'm rather
curious as to why this has been absent for so long.
Nonetheless, here is my interpretation of the bass
line, IN DROPPED-D TUNING! I would like to also
mention that there is never any bass during the first
two times a verse is sung.

*RIFF #1 The bass comes in quietly at 1:07:
G----------------------------------------------|x2
D----------5-----------------------------------|
A--------------5---3h5-5-5-x-x-3h5-5-5--5-5--5-|
D--0---0---------------------------------------|

During the interim between the first refrain and second verse:
G---------------------------------|
D---------------------------------|
A-----5--3h5-5-5-----5--3h5-5-5---|
D--0--------------0---------------|Repeat until 2nd verse

Repeat Riff #1 during the second refrain. Then, at 2:32:
*RIFF #2
G--------------------------------------------|x4
D--------------------------------------------|
A--7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10h9-9--9/-|
D--------------------------------------------|

During the third semi-verse, just thumb the low D-string:
G--------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------|
D--0-0-----0-----0-0-----0-----0-0----0------|

Now, repeat Riff #1, then play Riff #2 with slight variation 
on the second repetition:
G--------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------|
A--7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10-10--9/12-12/5-|
D--------------------------------------------------|

On the fourth repetition, leading to the outro, play this:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D---------------------------------------------12h10------|
A--5-7-7h8-8-8--8h7-7--7--9h10-10-10--10h9-9-------12h10-|
D--------------------------------------------------------|

The first part of the outro features improv on high D:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D-0--12--0-10-0-10-10--12/0--12-0-10-12-12/0--3-/-5-5--4-|
A--------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
You can also hit the 7th fret and bend the 12th if you like.

The final part of the outro is light and jazzy, and goes:
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D-0-12-0-10-10-0-12--0-0-----10-0-12-0-10-10-0-12--0---0-|
A-------------------------10-----------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
It's just a matter of repeating this last riff until the song
ends. There's an odd time signature alteration at the end, so
just listen to the recording until you figure it out.
Thanks! If you have any questions, just email me and I'll check
it out. I'll also gladly listen to any and all corrections.

--Much love, Shor Bowman


Radiohead albums
2003 Hail to the Thief
2001 Amnesiac
2000 Kid A
1997 O.K. Computer
1995 The Bends
1994 My Iron Lung [EP]
1993 Pablo Honey
Kid A tabs
01Everything In Its Right Place tabbass tab
02Kid A tabbass tab
03The National Anthem tabbass tab
04How To Disappear Completely tabbass tab
06Optimistic tabbass tab
07In Limbo tabbass tab
08Idioteque tabbass tab
09Morning Bell tabbass tab
10Motion Picture Soundtrack tabbass tab

 

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