Guitar Techniques – May 2023
English | 85 pages | pdf | 76.52 MB
WELCOME at Guitar Techniques Magazine Issue 347 May 2023
DAVID GILMOUR certainly excelled in the early days of Pink Floyd, taking over as he did from the departed Syd Barrett, and putting a strong guitar (and vocal) stamp on the band’s music. While GT loves his later work with the band – The Wall and Division Bell spring to mind – this issue we’re focusing on David’s playing for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon, which it’s hard to believe turns 50 this year, having been released 1st March 1973. Rewatching an old Classic Albums episode about Dark Side Of The Moon, I picked up from the interviews that the music was often considered simple, usually coming out of improvised jams. Melodies and arrangements then came afterwards. It’s an interesting notion; much can be made about the desire for space in the music (Roger Waters speaks of gaps during solos) and the tendency to lean towards Dorian progressions, such as Breathe’s repeating Em-A, the outro female vocals over Gm-C on Great Gig In The Sky. A degree of ‘less is more’ pervades the episode’s musings. So, armed with a guitar, paper and a pen, I jotted down song structures and chords while I watched.
Once done, I could easily see that simple was something of an understatement, certainly from a harmonic perspective. However, between the polyphonic playing of Richard
Wright and David Gilmour there are plenty of classy ideas as well as a broad gamut of chords: maj7, add#11, first and second inversions, non-diatonic changes (D7b9 -Em, or Cmaj7-Bm-Fmaj7) are all there to be heard. Add David’s acoustic and electric playing throughout the album and you come away with the notion that time (sic) has made the music uplifting and atmospheric, sophisticated but without excessive complications. For sure,
Roger knew how to present the 7/4 time signature so it would appeal to the masses!
If you’ve bought this issue on the back of the David Gilmour cover, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. The range and depth of focus that Jamie Humphries presents in the feature and bespoke video will certainly provide much music for you to learn and enjoy. From spacey chords to bluesy soloing, from acoustic picking to dynamic slide licks you’ll be immersed in David’s approach to music and technique in an informed way. Until the next issue, keep happy, keep listening and keep playing!
Jason Sidwell, Editor
Jason.sidwell@futurenet.com
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