On Practicing Guitar

The most memorable theme from Pink Floyd’s profound concept album, Wish You Were Here, makes a practical exercise for beginning guitarists. This lick enters the soundscape of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond" at 3:55, and it’s hard to imagine the rest of the work without it. It sounds simple, it sounds great, but what is it? Theorists have trouble classifying these four notes, but it’s not hard to play, and you can learn an important technical skill by doing so.

You need to be able to read guitar tab. In short, a six line (see example below) staff is used, with the six lines representing the six strings of the guitar. Line number one represents the high E string and is closest to the ceiling. Line two represents the B string, and so on. Yes, this is kind of upside down, as the low E string of the guitar is actually closest to the ceiling as far as the guitar in your hands is concerned. You’ll get used to it. The numbers represent the frets, with 0 for open, 1 for the first fret, and so on.

Place your third (ring) finger on the fourth string (D) at the eighth fret and hold down that note. Place your first (index) finger on the second string (B) at the sixth fret. The other two notes of the four note figure are played open, ie they are not fretted by the left hand. Now, play the four notes in order as shown in the tab by picking the following strings with your right hand: D string, B string, G string, E string. Be careful not to unintentionally mute the open strings (G & E). This is the important skill that is required to play this piece. It will probably be necessary to move the left hand fingers around a bit, no more than a millimeter or so, to get all the notes to ring clearly.

You should here a spooky, modernistic, and highly melodic sequence of notes that sort of maybe forms some kind of chord. The notes themselves are Bb, F, G and E. Most importantly, all the notes must ring clearly and sustain for a few seconds after you have picked them. If it’s impossible to get all four notes to ring at once, try for as long as you can and then come back to it in a couple of hours or the next day. You will be pleasantly surprised that it has become possible or at least easier and better. Before too long, you will get it. Stay with it! 

Wish You Were Here is one of my favorite albums. Its themes of loss, alienation, and music business machinations are universal, but its greatest achievement is the fabulous sound. David Gilmour's guitar plays a huge role throughout the record, with soulful bluesy solos, acoustic strumming and picking (the title cut), and coloristic flourishes wherever they are needed. There are also superb applications of modulation effects, such as phase shifting and flanging ("Have A Cigar"). By learning the guitar theme described above, you can be a part of it, which is the antithesis of alienation, isn’t it?