### Keyword Analysis
- Keyword: "tabs for wish you were here solo"
- Core Components:
- Occasion/Topic: This is not a traditional greeting card occasion. The "occasion" is a personal musical journey: the act of learning to play an iconic, emotionally resonant guitar solo. The topic is instructional, artistic, and technical.
- Tone: The tone must be helpful, encouraging, and reverent towards the source material (Pink Floyd and David Gilmour). It should be a blend of a technical guide and an inspirational coach, capturing the melancholic and soulful feel of the song.
- Recipient: The recipient is the guitar player—someone actively seeking guidance. They could be a beginner finding their footing or an intermediate player wanting to perfect the nuances of a legendary solo.
### Invented Categories
Based on the analysis, I will structure the "wishes" (which in this context are tab phrases and performance tips) into the following five creative categories that mirror the process of learning the solo:
1. Setting the Scene: The Opening Acoustic Licks
2. The Soulful Cry: Nailing the First Electric Solo Phrases
3. The Signature Run: Mastering the Solo's Rhythmic Heart
4. The Echoing Farewell: The Final, Sustained Outro Bends
5. Beyond the Notes: Capturing Gilmour's Feel & Tone
Learning to play David Gilmour’s solo from Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" is a rite of passage for so many guitarists. It’s more than just a collection of notes; it’s a masterclass in phrasing, emotion, and storytelling. The solo feels like a conversation—yearning, reflective, and full of space. It’s famous not for its speed, but for its soul.
This guide is here to help you on that journey. We've broken down the solo into its core emotional and technical parts, providing not just the tabs but the essential tips to help you capture its timeless magic. Forget just playing the notes—let's learn to speak the language of Gilmour.
Setting the Scene: The Opening Acoustic Licks
Before the electric guitar even enters, the acoustic sets a melancholic, reflective mood. These licks are your foundation. Focus on clean fingering and letting the notes ring out clearly.
1. The Opening Statement: The very first phrase that mimics the vocal melody.
`e|--3--5--3--0--|`
`B|--------------|`
`G|--------------|`
*Tip: Use a gentle touch and let the open G string resonate underneath.*
2. The Gentle Hammer-On: This adds a smooth, liquid feel to the line.
`e|--------------|`
`B|--0h1--1--0---|`
`G|--------------|`
*Tip: Make the hammer-on deliberate but not aggressive.*
3. The High-String Response: A classic G-major pentatonic lick to answer the main theme.
`e|--3--5--5/7--5--3--|`
`B|-------------------|`
`G|-------------------|`
*Tip: Focus on a clean slide for that expressive vocal quality.*
4. The Walk-Down: A simple, beautiful descent that resolves the phrase.
`e|--------------|`
`B|--------------|`
`G|--2--0--------|`
`D|--------2--0--|`
*Tip: Let each note have its own space; don't rush the timing.*
5. Adding the Double-Stop: This adds a touch of country/folk harmony.
`e|--3-----------|`
`B|--3--0h1--0---|`
`G|--0-----------|`
*Tip: Strum the G and B strings together lightly with your fingers or a pick.*
6. The Quick Pull-Off Lick: A faster phrase that adds a bit of flair.
`e|--------------------|`
`B|--3p1p0-------------|`
`G|---------2p0--------|`
*Tip: Practice this slowly to ensure every note is articulated clearly.*
7. The Final Acoustic Thought: The last phrase before the electric solo takes over.
`e|--------------|`
`B|--------------|`
`G|--0--2--4--2--0--|`
*Tip: Play this with a sense of finality, as if you're handing off the melody.*
The Soulful Cry: Nailing the First Electric Solo Phrases
This is where the magic happens. The electric guitar enters with a cry full of longing. These bends are everything. Listen to the original recording relentlessly to match the pitch and emotion.
1. The Iconic First Bend: The note that everyone recognizes. It has to sing.
`G|--12b14---|`
*Tip: This is a full-step bend. Hold it at the peak for a moment, letting it cry out before releasing.*
2. The Release and Resolve: The phrase that follows the opening bend.
`G|--12b14--12b14r12--11--|`
`D|-----------------------|`
*Tip: The bend, release, and pull to the 11th fret should be one fluid motion.*
3. The Slow, Bluesy Double Bend: A sequence dripping with feel.
`G|--11b12----11b12--11--9--|`
`D|-------------------------|`
*Tip: These are micro-bends; just a slight nudge in pitch for flavor.*
4. Connecting to the Low String: Bringing the melody down to the D string.
`G|-----------9-----------|`
`D|--12p11h12----12--|`
*Tip: Keep your timing relaxed, playing slightly behind the beat.*
5. The Two-String Bend: This creates a beautiful, shimmering dissonance.
`e|--15b17---|`
`B|--15------|`
*Tip: Fret both strings at the 15th fret, but only bend the G string. It’s tricky but sounds amazing.*
6. The "Sighing" Phrase: A descending line that feels like a heavy sigh.
`G|--12p11--9--7--9--7--|`
*Tip: Use pull-offs to make this phrase sound smooth and connected.*
7. The First Taste of Vibrato: Holding a note and making it live.
`G|--9vvvvvvv--|`
*Tip: Gilmour's vibrato is wide and controlled, not fast and nervous. Practice a slow, even oscillation.*
The Signature Run: Mastering the Solo's Rhythmic Heart
This is the most rhythmically complex part of the solo. The key here is to break it down, practice it slowly, and gradually build up speed. This is the phrase that makes other guitarists nod in appreciation.
1. The Entry Point: The short lick that kicks off the main run.
`G|--7--9--11--|`
`D|------------|`
*Tip: Pick each note with confidence to announce the start of the phrase.*
2. The First Rhythmic Burst: The start of the sixteenth-note pattern.
`G|--12-11-9----9-|`
`D|----------12---|`
*Tip: Use alternate picking and start at 50% speed. Accuracy over speed!*
3. The Ascending Climb: Moving the pattern up the neck.
`G|--11-12-11-9----11--|`
`D|-------------12-----|`
*Tip: This part is all about finger memory. Repeat it until it becomes automatic.*
4. The Rake into the Bend: A classic blues move to add grit.
`e|--x-------|`
`B|--x-12b13-|`
`G|--x-------|`
*Tip: Lightly drag your pick across the muted higher strings right before hitting the note on the B string.*
5. The Core Rhythmic Lick (Part 1): The meat of the phrase.
`G|--12-11-9----9------------------|`
`D|----------12---12-11-9----9-----|`
`A|-----------------------12---12--|`
*Tip: Think of this as one long musical sentence. Don’t pause between the string changes.*
6. The Core Rhythmic Lick (Part 2): The resolution.
`D|--11-12-11-9----11--|`
`A|-------------12-----|`
*Tip: This final piece leads perfectly into the next big bend.*
7. The Exit Bend: The powerful bend that concludes the run.
`G|--12b14---|`
*Tip: After the fast run, this sustained bend feels like a huge release of tension. Hold it!*
The Echoing Farewell: The Final, Sustained Outro Bends
The outro solo mirrors the intro, but with a sense of finality and space. It’s sparser, relying on long, perfectly executed bends and a ton of reverb and delay to create an echoing, ghostly feel.
1. The High, Crying Bend: An emotional peak for the outro.
`e|--15b17vvvvv--|`
*Tip: This needs to hang in the air. Use lots of vibrato to keep the note alive.*
2. The Double-Stop Weep: A harmonized phrase that sounds incredibly sad.
`B|--12----12----|`
`G|--12----12----|`
`D|-----14----14-|`
*Tip: Let the notes on the B and G strings ring together.*
3. The Slow Descending Scale: A simple, deliberate walk down.
`G|--12--11--9--7--|`
*Tip: Play this slower than you think you should. Let the delay effect do the work of filling the space.*
4. The Unison Bend: Bending one string to match the pitch of a fretted note on another.
`e|-----15-------|`
`B|--15b17-------|`
*Tip: This creates a powerful, chorus-like effect. Your ear is your best tool here.*
5. The Final "Question" Lick: A phrase that feels unresolved.
`G|--9--11--12--11h12p11--9--|`
*Tip: This is a quiet, contemplative phrase. Play it softly.*
6. The Fade Out Bend: The very last note you hear from the lead guitar.
`G|--9b11------(let fade)---|`
*Tip: As you hold this final, gentle bend, slowly roll back your guitar's volume knob for a smooth fade-out.*
7. The Tasteful Harmonic: A final touch of texture.
`B|--<12>--|`
`G|--<12>--|`
*Tip: Lightly touch the strings directly over the 12th fret wire and pick to produce a clear, bell-like harmonic.*
Beyond the Notes: Capturing Gilmour's Feel & Tone
Playing the right notes is only half the battle. To truly honor this solo, you need to capture the *feel*. Here are some tips to get you closer to that legendary Gilmour sound.
1. Dial in Your Tone: Start with your neck pickup. Add a bit of overdrive (not heavy distortion), some compression to help with sustain, and a healthy dose of delay/reverb.
2. Master the Vibrato: Gilmour's vibrato is his signature. It’s slow, wide, and perfectly controlled. Practice bending a note and applying a smooth, even vibrato with your wrist.
3. Phrasing is Everything: Don't rush. The space *between* the notes is just as important as the notes themselves. Let each phrase breathe.
4. Vary Your Picking Attack: Gilmour doesn't pick every note with the same intensity. He plays softly for tender moments and digs in for the aggressive bends. Experiment with dynamics.
5. Play Behind the Beat: For that soulful, relaxed feel, try to play the notes just a fraction of a second after the beat. This creates a "drag" that is central to blues and rock phrasing.
6. Use Your Volume Knob: Swell into notes by having your volume knob rolled off, picking the note, and then quickly rolling the volume up for a violin-like effect.
7. Listen, Listen, Listen: The best advice is to immerse yourself in the original recording. Listen until you can sing every note of the solo. Your fingers will have a much easier time following what your ear already knows.
### Personalize Your Performance
Now that you have the map, it's time to make the journey your own. Use these tabs and tips as a starting point, but don't be afraid to inject your own emotion into the phrases. The reason this solo has endured is because it speaks from the heart. Pick up your guitar, be patient with yourself, and play it with the feeling that inspired you to learn it in the first place. Good luck.