The 50s and 60s really changed the whole music scene forever, the rock genre took over and raised many legendary music artists whose impact can still be seen. David Gilmour is one of the many music artists from the 60s who changed the definition of rock. His guitar skills are no joke, as the frontman of the psychedelic band Pink Floyd, his written and played melodies not only travel through your ears but also directly to your heart.
However, he did not get his skill on a platter, he had to work really hard to sharpen it. And starting out he tried to imitate several popular musicians like Lead Belly, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Pete Seeger, and more. Gilmour has always talked about how some of the musicians inspired him and how he copied those artists. Furthermore, he also suggests that trying to copy or imitate the musicians is probably the best way to start.
Gilmour said once in an interview that he wishes he could play like a certain guitar player however, he revealed that he can’t play like him, so who is the artist that Gilmour wishes to play like? find out more below in the article.
Who is the guitarist that David Gilmour wishes he could play like?
As mentioned above, Gilmour has been inspired by many guitarists, and one of the guitarists he really looked up to and wishes to play like is Eddie Van Halen. Gilmour said in an interview, “I can’t play like Eddie Van Halen, I wish I could, so I sat down to try some of those ideas and I can’t do it. I don’t know if I could ever get any of that stuff together. Sometimes I think I should work at the guitar more. I play every day but I don’t consciously practice scales or anything in particular.”
Moreover, there are other artists who were the biggest influences on Gilmour, back in 1985 he told Guitar Classics that even though he was a blues fan he loved to listen to all-around music and was really influenced by the musicians such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Roy Buchanan, and more.
However, it seems that no artists were big as the Beatles for Gilmour because, in October 2015, he told Mojo in an interview that he learned everything from the Fab Four and also said that he wished to be in the Beatles. He said, “I really wish I had been in the Beatles, [They] taught me how to play guitar; I learnt everything. The bass parts, the lead, the rhythm, everything. They were fantastic.”
Furthermore, Gilmour also learned some guitar techniques from his childhood and former bandmate Syd Barrett. Gilmour even listed Barrett as one of his favorite guitar players. As per the reports, Gilmour could master the vibrato and master the guitar with the help of Syd Barrett.
Today, Gilmour is recognized as a top-class music artist who has mastered playing the guitar. Some people even call him the Sinatra of the guitar. Undoubtedly his works will continue and remain even after we all end up being dust.
