I just watched a video of David Gilmore play this and it reminded me how clean his playing is.
He makes it look effortless.
Is it?
Gilmour composes his leads - he works them out in advance and largely plays the note for note. Playing the same thing over and over - while staying inside it so it retains emotional impact - makes something feel effortless. But to be clear: from a craft standpoint, he busts his ass…
I think I understand. He wrote it, he plays it all the time. Can other talented guitar players cover it well?
Ultimately that’s a YMMV question. To me, yes. I mean Jeff Beck could take a Gilmour lead to whole new territory.
It’s all in the articulation. The notes are the same ones found anywhere, and there is precious little new in the phrasing. But the way he actually articulates the notes and string bends is perfection. Right from the way the solo starts. Hair rousingly beautiful. I’d love to hear him playing classical violin.
He is one of the absolute best guitarists alive.
Period.
And, after all, he did right the dang song.
So, effortless? Yes.
Heck, sometimes when I write software it is effortless. When you do something for 30+ years, it becomes easier. Not bragging. If I weren’t good at it by now, then I would be doing something else.
BTW, which video?
He has done this song many times.
In other words, cite? 
Here’s possibly the ultimate one, for emotional impact: his unexpected appearance at a Roger Waters performance of The Wall last year.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to be in that crowd? A friend of mine was. Sooooo jealous.
Not to take anything away from Gilmour but I have heard cover bands nail that song. There’s a local PF tribute band that is pretty impressive.
In a word, no. The effort is put in long before the performance with hours and hours and hours of practice.
Think of the hours that it took to makethis look so effortless.
.,
I saw it on cooltv and had Bob Geldof singing one verse.
Downloading it now.
Amazing!
Thanks so much.
That was an amazing performance.
Both by Gilmore and Waters.
Pink Floyd has always been in my top 3 favorite bands.
Thanks again.
It’s a good performance, and the only two times I’ve heard him play it on a Les Paul rather than a Strat are on that DVD. Very different from the Floyd versions!
Here’s another recent performance with a pretty well known guest vocalist.
Ooh, I really don’t like David #2’s interpretation of the tune there.
And by Les Paul I obviously meant Gretsch :smack:
If you didn’t like that, don’t listen to this version with Robert Wyatt…
Funny thing is the solo isn’t all that hard to play, given some basic delay effects and a little planning & practice. But if I played it, I wouldn’t sound quite like Gilmore, he’s got his own little touch that I wouldn’t have. But technically it’s not all that hard.
I still love the version in Berlin… with members of The Band, and where the surprise was Van Morrison growling his way through the chorus. Ahhh…
