Guitar Lesson - Octopus (Syd Barrett)

[@LonePigsyAndCub]

Neil, that was one of the best lessons I've seen. Thank you.

[@MrNikkiNoo]

Nice one - much easier than open chords. Thanks, fella!

[@Hummingbirdlostinthemorning]

Thanks man! This song and whole album is so rad. Its great to get out of just using a major or minor key.

[@eggman1732]

Love it! Greatness. So many of Syd’s songs are predominantly comprised of major chords which is so wild as the lyrics and (to my sensibilities) the mood they evoke are never quite ‘happy’. Syd was so very unique - Thank you for posting this! Love too how on Octopus, during the lead section, one can plainly hear the Bo Diddley influence that is uniformly ascribed to Syd.

[@neilstephens92570]

Great comment, it's nice to hear from someone who knows their stuff about his music. I definitely hear the Bo Diddley rhythm during that break too.

[@chrisconneally5626]

Great lesson of a fantastic song. I have never got either of my kids to like any songs I listen to except this. A nine year old and a thirteen year old singing Syd Barrett as they are going to bed.

[@neilstephens92570]

Nice, I imagine they would also like effervescent elephant.

[@A-Slug-Person]

Thanks so much! Ive wanted to learn this for a while :D

[@johnnythunder9268]

The t shirt is INSANE!!!

[@CrankingBots]

Best Syd Barrett song, thanks so much man!

[@neilstephens92570]

It is a great song. Definitely an acquired taste with the strange chord combination and even weirder lyrics. Just don't ask me to interpret their meaning!

[@CrankingBots]

If you ever get around to baby lemonade, gigolo aunt, or effervescing elephant it would be much appreciated.

[@frankrizzo5710]

@@neilstephens92570 I love the whimsical poetic qualities.

[@davidmarshall414]

Brill - thanks for doing this. I particularly love the bit at 3:57 where you say that it makes more sense when you hear the lyrics!

[@neilstephens92570]

Appreciate the comment I'm glad you're getting some good out of it

[@MrNikkiNoo]

Underrated comment.😊

[@DC180]

Thanks Neil

[@lemon2735]

don't ever stop

[@adamconnors1884]

Hey love your lessons. Could you Please do baby lemonade when you have the time please

[@agustinpadilla7385]

Cool

[@jefferysweaty6028]

Great lesson, any idea of the solo part?

[@neilstephens92570]

I would imagine just using the F sharp pentatonic scale will get you most of the way there. It doesn't strike me as being a meticulously crafted solo so I think you can just wing it.

[@pablotorresgarcia7700]

Really love it

[@neilstephens92570]

Syd's rhythm is notoriously hard to nail down. It's great on one hand because he's not restricted by conventional methods. But in a band setting it's kinda weird to work with because he often doesn't play consistently from one take to the next. If you listen to the version of this song on The Madcap Laughs, during the vocal "Isn't it good to be lost in the wood..." he loses the beat momentarily causing the other musicians providing overdubs (members of Soft Machine who are top notch players) to scramble.

[@mikelindell9784]

2:05