David Gilmour: Defining the 'Melodic' Guitarist

David Gilmour is frequently referred to by fans, journalists and musicians alike as the quintessential ‘melodic’ guitarist. His seamless interweaving of lyrical lines juxtaposed against edgy, raw, powerful outbursts provides an assortment to satisfy the most ardent guitar critic, and his voice on the instrument is arguably recognisable as one of Pink Floyd’s primary ‘calling cards’ – But what exactly do we mean by ascribing him the accolade ‘melodic’ guitarist? This chapter explores Gilmour’s guitar playing, from his initial musical influences through to his role within Pink Floyd, and contemplates how his highly individual style manifests itself within the milieu of the band. His use of sound/s and equipment, phrasing, note choice, playing technique and compositional strategies are examined in detail, with direct reference to studio recordings, live performances, documentaries, interviews, guitar magazines, tuition materials, and supplementary notated examples. To conclude, a musicological and aesthetic discussion – which is reinforced by an original analytical model – considers Gilmour’s guitar playing in terms of ‘melodic functionality’ to assess the ‘level of impact’ it has on the identity of the music; suggesting that his guitar-based contributions are inextricably connected to the work of Pink Floyd on an aesthetic, structural and compositional level; providing further insights as to why Gilmour is regarded by so many as the ultimate melodic guitarist.