Guitar & Bass Tabs
Pink Floyd
Learn Pink Floyd's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Pink Floyd developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Pink Floyd emerged in London in 1965 as a psychedelic outfit anchored by Syd Barrett, with Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. They quickly became one of the era's most influential bands, prized for experimental studio techniques and immersive live shows that pushed rock into new sonic territory. After Barrett left in 1968, David Gilmour joined and the group evolved into a pioneering force in progressive rock, crafting concept albums and soundscapes that redefined popular music. The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) became a cultural milestone, while Wish You Were Here (1975) and The Wall (1979) solidified their reputation for emotionally charged storytelling and pristine textures. Their influence spans rock, electronic music, and soundtrack work, inspiring countless guitarists and producers around the world.
Over a career spanning the 1960s to the 2010s, Pink Floyd demonstrated an unmatched ear for tone, space, and atmosphere. From studio experiments with tape loops, found sounds, and synthesizers to stadium scale stage productions with lasers, giant props, and projections, they turned rock concerts into immersive, multi-sensory events. Their work yielded timeless milestones and remains among the best selling albums of all time, a testament to their enduring influence on rock and popular music.
🎸 Want to know what gear Pink Floyd used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Young Lust
Pink Floyd
Mother
Pink Floyd
Another Brick In The Wall
Pink Floyd
Money
Pink Floyd
Have A Cigar
Pink Floyd
When You're In
Pink Floyd
Free Four
Pink Floyd
Breathe
Pink Floyd
Time
Pink Floyd
Brain Damage / Eclipse
Pink Floyd
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
In The Flesh
Pink Floyd
Hey You
Pink Floyd
Run Like Hell
Pink Floyd
Waiting For The Worms
Pink Floyd
Not Now John
Pink Floyd
Learning To Fly
Pink Floyd
Young Lust
Pink Floyd
On The Turning Away
Pink Floyd
Sorrow
Pink Floyd
Echoes
Pink Floyd
On The turning Away
Pink Floyd
Money
Pink Floyd
Time
Pink Floyd
Have A Cigar
Pink Floyd
Breathe
Pink Floyd
Brain Damage / Eclipse
Pink Floyd
Poles Apart
Pink Floyd
In The Flesh
Pink Floyd
Hey You
Pink Floyd
Run Like Hell
Pink Floyd
Learning To Fly
Pink Floyd
Another Brick In The Wall
Pink Floyd
Marooned
Pink Floyd
What Do You Want From Me
Pink Floyd
Take It Back
Pink Floyd
Coming Back To Life
Pink Floyd
Keep Talking
Pink Floyd
Poles Apart
Pink Floyd
High Hopes
Pink Floyd
Echoes
Pink Floyd
Playing Style
David Gilmour's guitar voice defines Pink Floyd's sound: expressive, melodic, and deeply atmospheric. He favors singing tones, deft bends, and long, lyrical notes that ride over spacious arrangements. His tone often sits on a clean to lightly overdriven Fender Stratocaster, with generous use of delay and reverb to create sense of depth and space. The iconic solos from tracks like Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond showcase phrasing and dynamics over sheer speed, where silence and touch are as important as technique. Roger Waters on bass provides melodic anchors and counterpoint that braid with Richard Wright's shimmering keyboards to form the band’s signature textures. Together they cultivate a slow burning tension, building mood through restraint, dialogue between guitar and bass, and careful use of effects to sculpt soundscapes.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
David Gilmour is closely associated with the Fender Stratocaster, most famously the Black Strat that powered many of Pink Floyd's defining tones. Live and studio rigs historically featured Hiwatt amplifiers to push a clean, punchy stage sound, alongside a Binson Echorec tape delay that gave their guitars those lush, rolling echoes. The band also integrated Mellotron and Moog/ARPS synthesizers to craft their expansive textures, creating a sonic palette that could breathe, drone, and swell with cinematic impact.
Why Learn Pink Floyd Songs?
Learning Pink Floyd tunes gives you a proven path to building tone, phrasing, and musical storytelling. These songs range from accessible to challenging, but all teach core rock skills: expressive phrasing, dynamic control, precise timing, and the art of layering guitar with bass and keyboards to create atmospheric soundscapes. Long pieces like Echoes develop stamina and musical architecture, while tracks like What Do You Want From Me and Learning to Fly emphasize memorable hooks and solid rhythm guitar. Working through these tunes strengthens your sense of space, use of delay and reverb, and ability to craft emotive solos that serve the song and the mood.
Did You Know?
- 1The Dark Side of the Moon spent 741 weeks on the US Billboard 200, one of the longest chart runs in history.
- 2Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis designed the iconic prism cover for The Dark Side of the Moon.
- 3A giant inflatable pig named Algie floated above Battersea Power Station during the Animals era artwork and live tours.
- 4Echoes, a 23-minute suite from the album Meddle, became a landmark long-form piece that showcased Pink Floyd's studio and performance experimentation.
42 Pink Floyd lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Pink Floyd Guitar
Explore Pink Floyd guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.
Start Here
Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.
Techniques
Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.
Next Step
Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.
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