David Gilmour's Time Solo

For halloween this year, the Phish tribute I’m in, A Live One, will be covering another band's album as their musical costume. We still haven't announced which album it will be, but Dark Side of The Moon has been a top 5, possibly #1 album of mine, for a long time.

David Gilmour is one of the greatest guitar player’s of all time. His solo’s are incredibly melodic and beautiful. David is the master of using exactly the right amount of notes for what he is trying to express on the guitar. This is very challenging to do!

I find myself, often, over playing, to fill the space, and increase the energy. When I catch myself doing this, I remember to breath, breath in the air, and let that channel open up between myself and the source, from which the magic, and the notes reveal themselves. I will often pick a spot, any spot, sometimes a tree leaf, or street lamp, if outside, or a rafter intersection, or an LED light hanging from the ceiling, if inside, and allow myself to focus on that point, surrendering to moment.

As my guitar playing and taste’s evolve, I have learned that sometimes less is more. I used to want to be able to play super fast… well, I still want to play super fast:), but I realize it’s not the speed that matters, but rather the message or story that one tells. I often compare it to having a conversation with a group of people. Am I listening? Am I leaving enough space for others to talk? Am I speaking in an accepting or uplifting tone? The more I comprehensibly converse with the other band members and the audience, the more we’ll be on the same page:)