Photos Phil Barker
David Gilmour’s lead style is a fusion of electric blues phrasing and rock guitar techniques, with an emphasis on string bending, whammy bar vibrato and a soulful touch, all delivered with unmatched taste and feel. To help you get inside his style, here we take a look at his playing techniques. Small details such as fret- and pick-hand position all contribute to his signature style. We’ve tabbed some Gilmour-style licks for you on p67, so treat this initial section as a primer for the music that follows. If you can mimic Gilmour’s technique, you’ll get closer to his trademark feel.