Take It Back - Pink Floyd

Introduction

"Take It Back" by Pink Floyd is a beautifully atmospheric track from their 1994 album The Division Bell. Known for its shimmering guitar tones and layered textures, the song showcases a mix of classic Pink Floyd elements with a modern touch. This note-for-note guitar lesson from Licklibrary.com dives into the essential techniques used in the song, breaking them down in detail to help you capture the signature David Gilmour sound.

By learning this song, you'll improve your ability to craft expressive solos, enhance your rhythmic precision, and develop a better understanding of how to use effects and dynamics to create mood in your playing. Let’s explore the key techniques that define this song and how mastering them will elevate your guitar skills. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in "Take It Back"

String Bending

Bending is a hallmark of David Gilmour’s style, and "Take It Back" features multiple expressive bends that give the lead lines a vocal-like quality. Learning to bend accurately to pitch enhances both your lead guitar skills and overall ear training, making your solos more emotive.

Vibrato

Used frequently in Gilmour’s playing, vibrato adds depth and sustain to notes, making them sing with emotion. Developing a smooth and controlled vibrato technique will help you add personality to your playing, much like Gilmour does throughout Pink Floyd’s catalog.

Slides

Sliding between notes contributes to the fluid and smooth sound of the song’s guitar parts. Mastering slides improves your fretboard navigation and allows you to transition between notes seamlessly, making your solos feel more expressive and connected.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

The rhythm guitar in "Take It Back" features arpeggiated chord progressions that give the song its ambient and hypnotic feel. Playing arpeggios cleanly strengthens your finger control and picking accuracy while improving your ability to break chords into melodic elements.

Alternate Picking

The song’s rhythm sections require consistent alternate picking to maintain clarity and timing. Practicing alternate picking enhances speed and precision, ensuring fluidity in both lead and rhythm playing.

Chord Progressions

Understanding and mastering the chord progressions in "Take It Back" provides insight into Pink Floyd’s unique songwriting approach. Learning these progressions helps you expand your harmonic knowledge and compose more interesting chord sequences in your own music.

Sustain

Gilmour’s playing style relies heavily on sustain to make single notes last longer, especially during solos. Learning how to control sustain through finger pressure and amp settings will allow you to craft more dramatic and expressive lead lines.

Harmonics

Subtle use of natural harmonics adds sparkle and brightness to the track’s ethereal guitar tones. Learning to execute harmonics cleanly gives your playing a more nuanced and textural quality.

David Gilmour’s Influence on "Take It Back"

David Gilmour’s influence on Pink Floyd’s sound is undeniable, and "Take It Back" highlights his ability to blend expressive lead playing with atmospheric textures. His approach to guitar is deeply emotional, favouring melody over speed while integrating effects like delay, reverb, and modulation to enhance his sound.

By studying Gilmour’s techniques, you'll gain insight into his masterful control of tone, phrasing, and dynamics. His influence extends beyond progressive rock, inspiring countless guitarists across genres to focus on the feel of their playing rather than just technical prowess.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

Here is a list of the techniques covered in the "Take It Back" lesson, along with links to in-depth explanations and exercises to further develop your skills:

• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Alternate Picking
• Chord Progressions
• Sustain
• Harmonics

By mastering these techniques, you’ll be able to capture the spirit of "Take It Back" and apply its expressive playing style to your own guitar work. Dive into the lesson and start developing the touch, feel, and precision that make David Gilmour’s playing so legendary.