The underrated guitarist who can best David Gilmour: “Things I just cannot do”
Ask any guitar player, and they’d probably rank David Gilmour high on a list of the best or most influential players in the world. At the helm of Pink Floyd, crafting some of their most iconic and timelessly epic rock songs, his own playing feels uniquely and singularly inspiring, with generations since trying to replicate it. But when it comes to one of the players that inspires him, his choice is a left-field one that isn’t often brought up in the realm of guitar.
There is no denying or arguing that Gilmour is one of the most talented musicians around. His playing as part of Pink Floyd, from when he joined in 1967 to cover for the increasingly unreliable Syd Barrett through to the band’s split, set the tone of the group. He joined at an incredibly tumultuous time. Previously, the band was made in Barrett’s image, led by his songwriting and his various psychedelic inspirations. So when he became more and more erratic and less productive, Gilmour’s task to take over wasn’t an easy one.
But he not only managed it, but managed to push the band into newer and bigger places. For most listeners, the songs they most commonly associate with Pink Floyd are Gilmour’s creations, not Barrett, as his new leadership launched them into the vast, conception progressive rock sound they’re best known for. It was under his leadership that tracks like ‘Comfortably Numb’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ and more were created, and adventurous albums like The Dark Side Of The Moon were created.
Over the years, Gilmour has cited many musicians as vital inspirations. He’s talked about the impact of the classics like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and more. But one of his favourite players is one that is rarely given his flowers as a guitarist, but is most commonly just associated with songwriting.
Gilmour said that anyone who has played a Leonard Cohen song live comes to realise that actually, the folk star was an incredible player. “One thing I did learn is how bloody good he is as a guitar player,” he said. He continued, “You tend to think of singer-songwriters as people who are just using the guitar accompaniment to carry the words that they’re doing, but Leonard was an absolutely brilliantly accomplished guitar player in fingerstyle things that I just cannot do.” Obviously, he added on the classic Cohen compliment at the end, stating, “And of course, he’s about the best lyricist that I know of”, but his comments on his guitar skills are interesting.
Gilmour is right. People rarely consider Cohen’s guitar playing. Instead, he’s celebrated for his lyricism and poetry, considered to be words man above all else, with the actual musical build of his songs coming second. But, especially back in his early folk days, Cohen’s fingerpicking is impressive. It’s almost a testament to his talent that people don’t often mention his playing, as he managed to create instrumentals that were so in-keeping with the atmosphere of the song and so perfectly connected to the story it was telling that all the parts move as one rather than the guitar sticking out and stealing the spotlight.
While Gilmour is obviously no stranger to a big, epic guitar solo that grabs attention for a while, he clearly understands the power of more understated playing too, and of Cohen’s ability to use his guitar skills for the greater good of a song.
