Introducing my idea of David Gilmour sound
One of the main questions among all the fans and players is
"How to create his sound"?
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Now, I'm just one of the many, and indeed there are people, more qualified and informed than me, who share their theories
and knowledge: I read almost everything on the internet about
Gilmour's setup, but before following what they say or write about a pedal chain (for example), I listen to him directly. I listen to his playing, and I imagine what could sound quite right.
You're probably reading this, thinking "let's see what this other one says" and actually I don't pretend to be right.
Remember, I share my experience.
Since I've been playing guitar, I found I have a very developed ear, I never used tabs and never attended lessons. I learned all I know by listening or seeing.
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By the way, let's go to the point, David Gilmour: my guide and source of inspiration.
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He's not my life reason, I have my own music and many other passions, but this space is completely dedicated to what I learned from him and how he changed my way to play, understand music and analog systems.
Everyone of us, me the first, found "Gilmurish" as a bible to understand what to buy or how to set a pedal to sound like Gilmour. On this space I'm not posting all the pedals he used or deep explanations of his setup, just because it has been already done better on websites like that or Kit's tone building (which I prefer, time to time), and these people know what to say, better than me. All I can do is sharing the pedals I used and some tricks to let your setup sound better.
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Although I find the web very resourceful, I also have many conflicting opinions (..How God, he uses the OD before the Muff..!!) Yeah, something like that.
You don't have to do a thing just because Gilmour does, especially if it could not work with your setup. Some can, some not, it depend on how it sounds to you. Put your ear forward to everything, understand that the ear is the most important thing.
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Of course some pedals sound better, because the closer you go the better it sounds, but let your ear guide you.
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TONE IS IN THE FINGERS !!
People always ask me how to set pedals, amps, or eq and volume to play David Gilmour. I always try to give the best answer I can, but you have to know that behind the study of an artist, there's no pedal, no amp, no eq, no effects. There are hands. I realized that 40% of the tone is in your right hand and how you hold the pick and play the strings, 40% is in your left hand, and 20% is setup. The way you hold the pick, for example, implies the tone of your attack and especially the dynamic of your tone. You will surely improve your playing if you try to play like Gilmour (or other legends).
No one ever asked me about Gilmour's blue notes, main licks or picking that I learned during all these years.
Behind the study of an artist there's listening.