This is my version of Lotus Flower performed on an acoustic guitar that sounds closer to
the album version than Thom's original due to the proper bass notes. It sounds like a
groovy mix of the original acoustic version and the marvellous album version you just
got to use your pinky.
First you'll want to tune your "thickest" E string to C (two steps). Then you drop your
A string a full step down to G. You are now in what I call "Pavement Tuning" but you
have to go one step further by tuning your G half a step down to F#. Then you're good to go.
Tuning: CGDF#BE
-INTRO-
Now to get started you have your pointer on the C (E) for the bass note and your middle
and ring on the F# and B (G and B) and it starts like this
e|---------------------------------|
B|----------3---------3------3-----|
F#|---------3---------3------3-----|
D|--------0---------0--------------|
G|---------------------------------|
C|-----2---------2--------2--------|
So you continue to play around with those notes on the D, F#, and B in any order you
like (together or by themselves), its very loose considering the unique rhythm. Meanwhile
just switch the bass notes with your pointer and pinky. Here's the order"
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------0------------------0-------------------4-----------------|
C|--2-----5-0------5-----5-2---5-0----5-----5-2----5-0----5-----5-2---0-2-----|
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/r/radiohead/316725.html ]
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---4------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C|-5---------0-2---5-2----5-2-----5-------------------------------------------|
-MAIN VERSE-
"I will shape myself into your pockets"
e|-----------------------------|
B|--------3--------3------3----|
F#|-------3--------3------3----| Repeat until "do what you want" then
D|------0--------0-------------|
G|-----------------------------|
C|---2--------5---------0------|
e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
F#|----5------5-----5-----------| Repeat twice then go back into first part
D|---5------5-------------------|
G|-0----------------------------|
C|--------4-------5-------------|
End on this
e|------------|
B|--------3---|
F#|-------3---| Repeat a few times until chorus
D|------0-----|
G|------------|
C|---2--------|
-CHORUS Part 1-
"Theres an empty space inside my heart..."
The first part of the chorus is identical to the verses except you dont need to end on
that last bit.
-CHORUS Part 2-
"Slowly we unfurl..."
e|--------------|
B|----------3---|
F#|-------3-----|
D|--------------| x 5
G|----3---------|
C|--------------|
e|--------------|
B|--------------|
F#|------4------|
D|-----5--------| x5
G|--0-----------|
C|--------------|
So thats the whole song, basically the intro and those two parts repeated twice with
some differences in length but you guys are smart. Just remember to play around with the
higher notes to match the rhythm to your liking.
If you like this and want to see me tackle another song or see a place for improvement,
leave me a comment I'll try to work out something else out.
John K
