If you've spent any time in the rhythm gaming community, you know that Radiohead’s "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" isn't just a song. It’s a rite of passage. In the world of weird fishes clone hero charts, the experience moves away from the usual "shred-fest" of DragonForce and enters a territory that is much more subtle, rhythmic, and honestly, a bit of a nightmare for your stamina.
It’s weird.
✨ Don't miss: How to Master Free NY Times Games Without Paying a Cent
The song relies on these interlocking, cyclical guitar parts that sound beautiful on the album In Rainbows, but when translated to a plastic guitar controller, they become a hypnotic test of consistency. Most players think they can breeze through a 150 BPM indie track. Then they hit the three-minute mark and realize their forearm is on fire.
The Evolution of the Chart
Early versions of this song in the Guitar Hero custom scene were, frankly, pretty rough. We were dealing with mid-2000s charting standards where creators often prioritized difficulty over the actual feel of the music. But as the community transitioned to Clone Hero—the unity-based powerhouse that basically saved the hobby—the quality of weird fishes clone hero charts skyrocketed.
Professional charter groups like Carpal Tunnel Hero and individual legends in the Chorus database began focusing on the nuances of Ed O'Brien and Jonny Greenwood’s layering. You aren't just hitting notes. You’re mimicking the precise, staccato picking patterns that make the song breathe.
In a standard chart, you might have a mix of chords, slides, and solos. "Weird Fishes" is different. It is almost entirely arpeggio-driven. This means you are constantly moving your fingers in a "ladder" pattern—Green to Red to Yellow to Blue, then back again, over and over and over. It's repetitive. That's the point. The difficulty doesn't come from a sudden burst of notes, but from the fact that if you lose the rhythm for even a millisecond, the entire structure falls apart. You'll see your combo break not because you couldn't hit a fast part, but because your brain literally forgot how to count to four.
Why "In Rainbows" Works for Rhythm Games
There is something mathematical about the way Radiohead writes. On In Rainbows, the production is dry and crisp. For a charter, this is a dream. You can hear every single pick strike.
When you download a weird fishes clone hero file today, you’re likely getting a chart that maps multiple guitar layers. Some versions allow you to choose between the lead melody, the rhythmic arpeggios, or even a "full band" experience that combines the most interesting parts. The "lead" part usually follows the syncopated delay-heavy lines, while the "rhythm" part is the true test of endurance.
I’ve seen people who can 100% "Through the Fire and Flames" on Expert struggle with the timing of the transition halfway through the song. You know the part. The "I hit the bottom and escaped" section where the drums shift and the guitar becomes more aggressive. It catches you off guard because you’ve been lulled into a trance by the first three minutes.
Dealing with the Arpeggio Wall
So, how do you actually play this without failing?
First off, check your calibration. Seriously. Because the notes in weird fishes clone hero are so densely packed and consistent, even a 10ms offset will make the song feel "crunchy." You’ll feel like you’re hitting the notes, but the game will tell you you’re late.
- Anchor your pointer finger. Keep it on the Green fret. Don't let it wander.
- Focus on the "ghosting" technique. Since the song is mostly single-note runs, you don't need to press the frets with much force. Light taps are your friend.
- Watch the background. Most high-quality charts come with the official music video or custom background loops. It’s distracting. If you're going for a Full Combo (FC), turn those off.
The complexity here is deceptive. You aren't dealing with "HOPOs" (Hammer-ons and Pull-offs) as much as you are with constant strums. Your strumming hand is going to do more work than your fretting hand. It’s a steady 1/16th note rhythm that requires a relaxed wrist. If you tense up, you're done.
The Best Versions to Download
If you’re looking to add this to your library, don't just grab the first link you see on a random forum. You want the charts that are verified or "ranked."
- The Chorus Search Engine: This is the gold standard. Search for "Weird Fishes" and look for charters like Sideshow or Schmutz06. They tend to have the most accurate sync.
- Custom Content Blocks: Sometimes you’ll find this song tucked away in "Radiohead Discography" packs. These are usually better because the charter spent time ensuring the entire album has a consistent feel.
- The "Video Background" Versions: Some files include the visualizer from the In Rainbows era. It’s cool, but it can lag lower-end PCs.
A lot of players overlook the bass chart for weird fishes clone hero. That is a mistake. Colin Greenwood’s bass line in this song is legendary. It’s melodic, it carries the harmony, and on a plastic guitar, it feels incredibly satisfying to play. It’s actually more "fun" in a traditional sense than the guitar part, which is more of a technical exercise.
Why the Community Still Obsesses Over It
We like pain. That’s the short answer.
But the long answer is that Clone Hero has evolved past just being a "skill simulator." It’s a way to experience music differently. When you play "Weird Fishes," you start to notice the polyrhythms that you might miss just listening on Spotify. You realize that one guitar is playing in a slightly different time feel than the other, and they only align every few bars.
It makes you appreciate the songwriting.
There’s also the "vibe" factor. Not every song in your library has to be a metal anthem. Sometimes you just want to sit back, turn the lights down, and let the arpeggios wash over you. It’s a "zen" song. Until you miss a note at 98% completion. Then it’s a "throw your controller across the room" song.
Common Misconceptions About the Chart
One big myth is that you need a mechanical fret mod to play this well. You don't. While mechanical frets help with high-speed tapping, "Weird Fishes" is slow enough that a standard membrane controller works perfectly fine. What matters more is your strum bar's tension. If your strum bar is too "clicky" or stiff, your thumb is going to cramp before the song ends.
Another misconception is that the "Expert" difficulty is the only way to play. Actually, many mid-tier players find that the "Hard" difficulty on well-made weird fishes clone hero charts actually captures the vibe of the song better by stripping away some of the "over-charting" that happens to artificially inflate difficulty.
✨ Don't miss: Fallout 3 Crashing on Launch: Why Your Steam Copy is Still Broken and How to Fix It
How to Optimize Your Practice
If you are stuck at the 90% mark, use the Practice Mode. It sounds obvious, but people forget it exists in Clone Hero.
Slow the song down to 70%. Focus on the transition where the song builds up towards the end. There is a specific section where the notes shift from a descending pattern to a climbing one. That’s where most streaks die. Once you can hit that ten times in a row at 70%, move it up to 85%, then 100%.
Don't over-practice in one sitting. The repetitive motion in weird fishes clone hero is a prime candidate for causing strain. If your wrist starts to tingle, stop. The song will still be there tomorrow.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Download the "Radiohead Pack" from the spreadsheet linked in the Clone Hero Discord. It usually contains the most updated version of the chart with fixed timestamps.
- Adjust your "Note Jump Speed" (NJS). Because the song is atmospheric, a lower NJS can help you see the patterns more clearly without the notes flying at your face like a wall of plastic.
- Try the Bass track first. It’s a great way to learn the rhythm of the song before you tackle the relentless picking of the guitar part.
- Check your frame rate. If you're playing with a video background, ensure your PC isn't dropping frames during the "heavy" part of the song, as this will mess up your input window.
The beauty of the weird fishes clone hero experience is that it proves you don't need 20 notes per second to make a challenging and rewarding chart. It's about the pocket. It's about the flow. And most importantly, it's about not letting that final, fading arpeggio trick you into a miss right before the song ends.