Coming Back To Life Guitar Lesson – Pink Floyd
In this video lesson I am gonna show you how to play the intro guitar solo to "Coming Back to Life" by Pink Floyd.
This has been one of my favorite guitar solos ever since it was released on Pink Floyd's The Division Bell album in 1994. No matter what your opinion of later era Pink Floyd is, there is no denying that David Gilmour has never lost his touch for writing incredibly melodic and moving guitar solos.
This particular guitar solo is over a chordal synth bed that helps develop the dreamlike setting David Gilmour creates within the solo.
On a technical level, playing this solo will require great control with bending since a lot of the essential melodic content is generated from perfectly in tune bends in a couple different areas of the fretboard.
However, learning this solo would also be a great exercise for anyone who has difficulty keeping their bends in tune while also getting to play a beautiful guitar solo by one of the most influential players of all-time.
If you are still learning how to bend properly on the guitar, pay close attention to how my hand is positioned on the fretboard in order to perform the bends well. It is all about proper positioning and supporting the bending finger with other fingers in the hand. Remember, it is the most observant people that make the best musicians because they learn so much by simply paying close attention to what other players are doing.
Besides the physical act of bending the strings you will of course need to listen closely to make sure those bends are in tune. Learning this Coming Back to Life guitar lesson is a great workout in that regard since the bends are creating actual melodies that are much easier to hear whether they are out of tune or not.
The is truly one of my favorite if not THE favorite solo that I have ever heard David Gilmour do. I am glad I have finally been getting some requests for it since it is one that I have always wanted to teach. So enjoy!!
Carl...
If these free lessons help you, please donate to keep new ones coming daily. Thanks!! 🙂
Coming Back to Life Guitar Lesson - Solo - Pink Floyd
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Thank you Carl, That particular solo is everything that guitar should be to me. Beautiful bends and timing, it truely is packed with emotion.
Yes definitely one of my all-time favs. Now if they would only tour again so I can hear it live!!!
Carl..
Carl,
Really nice solo! Sounds exactly like David Gilmour, if not better. Thanks again for all of your free lessons. I’ve learned a lot more than I used to know on the guitar from you and your site. Take care, MH.
Thanks a bunch for the kind comment. David Gilmour is in my opinion the most musical guitarist to ever live.
I am simply trying to do his great work justice.. 🙂 Thanks for watching!!
Carl..
Hey Carl –
I think you’ve outdone yourself with this one. You never cease to amaze me with your ability to consistently produce the highest quality instructional videos on the internet. When I say the highest quality, I not only mean in regard to video and sound but most importantly the actual content of the material that you’re covering. Your ability to convey what sounds like “the impossible to explain” into clear and concise segments in such a calm, patient and confident tone distinguishes you as a true teacher. I, for one, believing that credit must be given where credit is due, sincerely appreciate all that you’ve done with your work. I know that you’re work is not easy and that from time to time, you may have your moments of doubt, but please know that there are people out there that truly recognize what you are offering those who really want to learn.
I had every intention of writing you a few weeks ago when I stumbled across your instructional video on The Beatles, “I Feel Fine”. I’m in my late 40’s and growing up listening to The Beatles, they were one of my first influences. It wasn’t until I started playing guitar at 18 that I started to realize just what an amazing player George Harrison really was. So, even though I’ve been playing all this time, some songs just sound so magical that I can’t wrap my brain or my ears around them enough to break them down. “I Feel Fine” is one of those songs. When I saw how you broke it down into syncopated chord arpeggiation, it was like seeing a complicated locking mechanism being unlocked with the simple turn of a hand. I never would have imagined that such an incredible song was now within my reach. I sincerely thank you for giving me that song.
I don’t know if you recall, but a few years ago I sent you a message. I had just discovered your work on Youtube and I was a little concerned that some of the belligerent and insensitive comments might discourage you from continuing. I didn’t anticipate receiving a response, but you took the time to write back assuring me that any form of negativity wasn’t going to have any effect on your endeavors.
So I wanted to thank you for this video. When I was first learning to play, I had a very hard time and a lot of discouragement. I couldn’t afford lessons and I really had no natural musical ability. This was in the mid to late 80’s when metal and speed playing seemed to dominate. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t develop speed. I consistently got so frustrated that I wanted to give up playing because I felt like I just wasn’t good enough. In 1987, while I was at college, a classmate gave me his extra copy of Pink Floyd’s, “The Wall”. It was also the year that “Momentary Lapse of Reason” was released and they were touring extensively and getting media coverage on MTV. I had heard of Pink Floyd but I never really “listened” to them. That year I started listening. What I realized was that I was never meant to play fast. I realized that I did have a natural ability to accurately bend notes, producing a very lyrical, vocal quality to my playing. I learned every Pink Floyd song I could find, note for note. In a few short years I was able to learn how to play really well with a style that always sounds reminiscent of Dave Gilmour. So, in essence, I really learned how to play by listening to Gilmour. I might be in the minority of Pink Floyd fans, but “The Division Bell” is by far, my favorite album. I learned it note for note, backwards and forwards, up and down, inside and out.
I hadn’t intended to write on this long, but I did want to thank you for taking the time to make this video. And I will thank you again for all the work you’ve done. It is deeply appreciated. Thank You !
I always thought that if I wrote you again, I would request for you to do an instructional video for a song. Here’s my request. The Outfield’s 1985 album, “Play Deep” had a track called “All The Love”. Like all the songs on that album, it was a hit and a really well written song, very reminiscent of The Beatles. I figured most of it out but I just can’t seem to “hear” the second part of the guitar solo where it sounds like he’s playing partial chords and single note lines. If you ever have time, give it a listen and see what you think.
Thanks again for everything you do and I’ll be looking for you soon.
Rich
Beach Lake, Pennsylvania
Wow Rich, I really appreciate the kind message. I certainly don’t worry about any negativity I may hear from time to time after I receive a nice message like this one. 🙂
It’s funny you should mention The Division Bell. That album was actually my very first exposure to Pink Floyd since I had never really listened to them before that. It quickly became one of my favorite albums of all-time and still is to this day. People can say what they will but it is probably their most beautiful album which I am always a sucker for. Since then of course, I have gone back and listened to the remainder of their extensive catalog and love pretty much all of it.
That is great that you enjoyed the “I Feel Fine” lesson. I am also a HUGE Beatles fan. In fact, I get to finally see a Beatle perform live when I go see Paul McCartney on Oct. 30th. It is going to be a very very surreal experience I am sure.
In any case, I really appreciate that you have been watching my lessons all these years. In the past 6 months or so we have been really ramping up the new lessons with a new free one every single day. I plan on continuing that trend as well. It will enable me to cover practically everything on the site eventually. I will check out “All The Love” as well. Maybe it will be a good one for the site.
By the way, there is going to be a completely new version of GL365 going live in a week or two. It is gonna be a BIG upgrade and I hope like it!
Talk to you soon! Carl…
Thanks Carl,this is my favorite solo by Gilmour too. Great job. I will donate.
Thanks a bunch for the support Peter!
Carl, great lesson! The Division Bell is my favorite Pink Floyd album. I love em’ all, David Gilmour’s methodic and melodic guitar work is mesmerizing. Could you please complete the outro solo for coming back to life? Thank you for all you do for us/me, I have learned plenty from you and I am a beginner, only weeks into it and because of you, I know 6 Pink Floyd songs. “Additional request, Poles Apart” amazing work! Thanks again, Greg
The only element more inspiring than the solo lesson itself is Rich’s comment above. Well put on all counts! Thank you both.
Tom
Hi Carl ,
Thank you for the lesson ! I am truly enjoying some of free classes on you tube . Are you doing any instructional’s on the second and third solo’s ?? I would like to join as a full time member as well .
Thank you !
Hey Eddie, I would be happy to do the rest if I get enough requests for it. Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands so I am always down to do their music.
As for the membership, please let me know if you have any questions at all about the different subscription levels. 🙂
Thanks!
Carl…
All set , I joined the prem plus . Thank you !
And I would agree on the Pink Floyd response .
I would love like to add the rest of coming back to life and of course “Marooned” as an official request . 😎 BTW , I have not come across any tutorials for marooned on you tube yet . 🤔😏
Been thinking about doing Marooned for a while. Just need to get my head around all that whammy pedal work.. Haha
Please do. One of my favorite songs.
Is there a link for the rest of the song ?
When are you going to teach the whole song? You’ve reached over 600 likes.
Would REALLY love to see lessons for the rest of the song!! Great work
I learned the mechanics of it but still have a long way to go with handling the timing and subtleties. I would also like to see the rest of this song, especially the second solo.