Pink Floyd's Iconic Chord - let's analyse it!

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This might be the best chord of all time.
I always get goosebumps when David Gilmour plays this chord on ''Shine on You Crazy Diamond''.
There is so much to talk about:
- How it builds up to a Dorian substitution that brightens up the climax part.
- The timbre and voicing chosen for the chord.
- That open E string, a natural 13th extension, meticulously chosen to foreshadow what was coming after.
- What emotion does this chord make you feel?
- The order in which the notes are played and the inversion of the chord which supports the mood chosen for the part.
So today let's nerd out on that chord for 10 minutes!
Hope you'll like it!
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This is the Ambient Guitar youtube channel of Canadian multi-instrumentist Antoine Michaud. Through original ambient music, chordal guitar lessons and tips on guitar pedals, Antoine is looking to educate and inspire aspiring ambient musicians to learn everything about the world of ambient guitar and chordal voicings on guitar.

[@carpballet]

It’s a psychedelics chord. And when you’re “there” it’s just beautiful how it opens a new way to see.

[@59sharmanalin]

David Gilmour is a genius!!

[@batphink2655]

Yes he is and why so few here haven't also given you more thumbls up likes...I've no idea :)

[@variascoisas8777]

For Me ,He is the best guitarist !

[@Beizeiten78]

Absolutely, but even he (and Roger) have said it was just completely by accident and dumb luck that (intro) chord came out.

[@tjmac6191]

It’s the Existential Crisis chord.

[@judsonwright]

I just say these are the most perfect 4 notes ever played on guitar. But it is all about context and you summed it up for me!

[@scottmatznick3140]

I could hear it in my head before I clicked, and I thought "I really hope he just opens right with that chord" You did, it was incredibly satisfying, and I thank you for doing so.

[@vw3610]

Foreboding. Ethereal. Gorgeous.

[@gabrielpetric5707]

This is not Am-biEnt, this is Gm-biEnt guitar! Excellent explanation, Antoine!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Good one :-)

[@lefthandluke8923]

Something that we pick up on the subconscious level but (even musicians) have trouble describing. Beautifully articulated. Thank you!

[@batphink2655]

This song is possibly ther gretest prog rock song ever written. Like millins of others I want this played at my funeral because people think I'm a lifelong dreamer and have accomplished very little(mostly due to health).Thanks for you amazing vids Antoine you're an amazing player yourself!

[@davemish4163]

I would describe that chord as "unsettling." It definitely resembles Syd's state of mind.

[@jimjames8660]

don't overthink it....it's like you are walking down a foggy nighttime street alone and you softly , wistfully whistle those 4 notes.....loneliness, regret, lament.....calling out to someone no longer there. Those notes perfectly describe the band's feelings about Syd.....

[@RedGodofWar]

Thank you. That was an excellent, heartfelt examination of the chord. I just watched part of Pulse (how many times now?) and am in awe of Gilmore. I was a practice 8-hour a day shredder back in the day, but even then, Gilmore was one of my favorite guitarists. Shredding days are behind and I am more interested in theory and composition and musicality not just technicality. Your enthusiasm is contagious and I appreciate how you appreciate the brilliance of this piece.

[@douglaschristine8387]

Hello Antoine, came back to play some David Gilmore chords and discovered this video also, thank you 🙏. Have a wonderful Christmas my friend.

[@jeffreygrantsr4525]

Really good interpretation Antoine, and very thorough.

[@Pauler23]

Thanks Antoine, you really analysed that perfectly and made it interesting and informative. I enjoyed it and learned some useful theory too, great stuff!

[@michaelmendillo7513]

Glad I stoped by Bro,, you made me a subscriber ! Like the way you teach and explain everything,,, 😎✌️🎸🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@gretasstolendreams2154]

It’s just the perfect sequences of notes for thinking about what happened to Syd. It’s a bit haunting, a bit sad, bittersweet and can’t help but linger.

[@coastercraziness]

That’s what I love so much about it. The context makes the chord that much more emotional as well as more striking

[@homeskillet64]

Great explanation Antoine. Thank you!

[@ryebread7224]

It's the coolest chord one can play! Love that chord!

[@johanneshock3508]

thank you Antoine, like your explanation so much !

[@softpillow9596]

Great Pink Floyd tutorial!

[@louka1332]

very great video about a very great chord full of tension

[@robertclarkguitar]

Excellent job!!!!

[@hg7240]

Sweeeetness , and just enough to work on. cheers

[@jefffuhr2393]

I could listen to the first 28 sec of this video all day! The remaining 10+ min is pretty good too.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

A great break down of this song.

[@ericstoecker2096]

Dude your tone is gorgeous!!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Thanks :-)

[@thedocisin3204]

I personally have a crush on the B7 chord. Just love to hear it. Although anything PF is just pure genius.

[@braedondurfee7056]

I love a minor root chord with a Lydian chord stacked starting on its 3rd :) Lydian bringing the brightness. Great video

[@cfibanez]

This is very nice, thanks! This type of analysis helps to explain why great songs are so amazing to our ears. Though I suspect Gilmour and Co. came up with this intuitively, while fooling around over a Gm drone.

[@trevormatthews6005]

I watched an interview with David and that pretty much sums up what happened he said they they were throwing ideas to get some inspiration these 4 notes fell out of the guitar

[@classicraceruk1337]

Why I play those 4 notes or even listen to them my stomach churns as you know something is about to blow you away… The next part does not disappoint.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

when i first heard that chord, it was like i was born at that moment.

[@FuzzyJohn]

Greatness!

[@nebpublic]

Superb explanation, Antoine. BTW Your sound is superb. What effects/settings are you using?

[@ThePedalboardOrchestra]

Hey, I enjoyed this lesson very much, Antoine. (Despite just scratching on the surface of music/harmonic theory) My association with this chord: If Stanley Kubrick would have known this in 1968, he would have used it for "2001: A Space Odyssey"; just when the scene switches from earth to spaceship ;-) But I love the Strauss waltz too :-))

[@lapelcelery42]

Unlikely that he would have had the option. The Floyd turned him down when he asked to use Atom Heart Mother in A Clockwork Orange because (according to Roger Waters) he wanted license to use it however and whenever he wanted in the film, but hadn't decided exactly yet. He was denied because they, like he, exercised intense control over their work.

[@paulteller3734]

Haunting - atmospheric

[@smokingjazz5067]

Pink Floyd ... lovely

[@garethevans2650]

1980 played bass for Face on gtr and Benbow kbds on this. Still get chills

[@eightballsidepocket9467]

Interesting, I never thought of these 4 notes as a chord, more like an uncomfortable warning of things to come…and they come!

[@robertclarkguitar]

Yes!!!!! I do this often. Hahahaha I love that chord !!

[@59sharmanalin]

Gm is tonality in Aeolian mode, Gm6 is a dorian chord, so there is a switch to lesser darker sound

[@Apexjuha]

”Haunting”

[@SilverParatrooper]

I felt that passage was to build some tension and mystery to resolve it with the big Dorian push (I didn’t know this until I watched the video so I’m not that smart on theory really)

[@danielgray8053]

so if you don't want to think in terms of modes, you can also interpret this as being in G melodic minor. For those who dont know, the G melodic minor has a raised 6th and 7th degree, which makes the 4 chord major(C) and also makes the 5 chord major(D). Remember, if it was just regular G minor, the 4 and 5 chords would be minor. Just another way to think about it.

[@jeremyacton4569]

Thank you for these insights. I would appreciate more insights into David Gilmour's work, and similar insights about other guitarists too.

[@donotwantahandle1111]

I would describe it as 'uncertain tension' that that is resolved via the C to F to G#m.

[@terryandrews7271]

He's a musical angel, His stuff isn't really heavy it's light Bright light.☮☮☮

[@ouodo]

The next part of this some is interesting too, since it adds F# into the mix. I would love to hear what is going on in theory for the verse/chorus

[@whatarefriends4]

That is a beautiful clean tone Fender?

[@Spinz99]

Opening Gmin13 (no 5th) on a tasty open string guitar voicing.

[@eraldylli]

Hate to be THAT guy, but it's "Shine on, you crazy diamond", not "Shine on you, crazy diamond". Anyways, another great video! Yours is a fantastic channel.

[@ezerlab1]

Gilmouresque chord if you like it.

[@mathewhale3581]

Spectral

[@AIainMConnachie]

Descriptions for that chord “Unresolved” Or “BeethovenIan”

[@deathoftheendless001]

6:46 opeth chord in my time of need

[@realwinchester7134]

G min does have a E in the ascending G minor melodic scale,or?

[@matthewstarkey7665]

yes E in the ascending and Eb in the descending

[@whatarefriends4]

Oh yeah this guy is also a genius talking about the whole matter

[@hafer88]

🌿🍒🌿

[@TheHesseJames]

When I first heard this chord some 40 years ago I hated it. I hated the sound, I hated the voicing, I hated the overall feeling. I called it the sound of a “Strandkapelle” (German). Now, 40 years later, I love it.

[@bluesmaster9896]

Gilmour said he mis fretted .He was noodling in A originally

[@J101191514]

I believe it!

[@RandyBakkelund]

Excellent! I didn't know about this voicing. Taking notes on this one :) Does this chord have a name?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Gm7add13/Bb would be its name :-)

[@RandyBakkelund]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar awesome, thanks for that!

[@sadman5916]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar It would just be Gm6. Not '/Bb' becuase the root of the chord is still the lowest. The notes just voiced in a strange order on the guitar.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

@Sad Man You are very right about the bass note, I missed that, thanks!

[@giovannianzalone9991]

I think it’s a Gm7(6)Bb

[@RobertMurphy-wm3ge]

G Dorian

[@FrozenFactoryMusic]

Just another reason to lose yourself in their huge soundscape. Like many others, may just go lose myself there now!

[@esparka]

Not to diminish this chord in any way, but, J.S. Bach literally composed 100's of chord moments which, imho, are unparalleled, by anyone... The volume of his works is stunning.

[@Michael-mm3fm]

We’re talking Gilmour here. Not Bach. Not doubting you but…it’s not relevant.

[@johningham1880]

Don’t worry, you will not diminish it. (Not without a D flat anyway)

[@esparka]

@@Michael-mm3fm Bach becomes relevant when a phrase such as, “best chord of all time” is uttered.

[@joep7210]

@@esparka who said best of all time. the video is titled with "iconic"

[@thedudeabides3058]

4 notes and the truth

[@maskof]

Forensic evidence in a court of law that proves that Shine on you Crazy Diamond was the killer. 😀

[@kakarotz9296]

Like many others are sayingf he is not a good guitar polayer. pink flloyd is not a very interesting band and the solo is not very fast. at all. it is much more interesting to look at chords from parkway drive or attila.

[@robertodangelo5137]

Too much delay.

[@robertodangelo5137]

@kev butterworth i was talking about the delay, not reverb.

[@onurji4311]

For a beginner you explain waaaay too fast. Waaaay too fast.

[@Mo_Taser]

Is this a joke? Not even close. The best chord of all time opens A Hard Day's Night.