Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” just hit the big 5-0, yet guitarists still debate whether David Gilmour’s work on this landmark album represents the pinnacle of rock guitar achievement. Released in March 1973, this record didn’t just sell 45 million copies worldwide—it fundamentally changed how many guitarists approached their instrument.

But let’s cut through the hype: Is it truly the greatest guitar album ever made? Grab your favorite axe, pour a drink, and let’s dive into what makes Gilmour’s playing on this record so special—and whether it deserves the ultimate crown in guitar history.

Beyond the Rainbow Prism: The Making of a Masterpiece

Before Pink Floyd entered Abbey Road Studios in 1972, they’d already been road-testing much of what would become “The Dark Side of the Moon” during live performances. This wasn’t some rushed studio experiment—it was a carefully crafted statement honed in front of audiences.

Engineer Alan Parsons (who later formed The Alan Parsons Project) helped capture the band’s evolving sound using advanced 16-track technology. The result was a meticulously crafted 43-minute journey that forever changed how many of us think about guitar in a band context.

The Gear That Built The Dark Side of the Moon

For gear nerds, Gilmour’s setup on this album is the stuff of legend. Let’s break down the essentials without falling into the usual boring gear list:

Guitars That Made History

• The Black Strat: While this ’69 Fender would become Gilmour’s most famous instrument, it was still evolving during these sessions. As Gilmour himself noted in a 2006 interview with Guitar World: “That guitar went through a lot of changes… I’d been modifying it constantly to get the sound I wanted.”

• Bill Lewis Custom 24-Fret: This guitar provided extended range for the solos on “Money.” Gilmour told Guitar Player magazine: “I remember needing those extra frets. That guitar came into my life when we were touring America and allowed me to reach notes I simply couldn’t access before.”

Amps and Effects: The Secret Weapons

Rather than just listing Gilmour’s gear, here’s how he actually used key pieces:

The Parts Other Guitarists Keep Trying to Copy

Ask 100 guitarists to name their favorite Gilmour moment on the album, and these four tracks will dominate the conversation:

“Time” – The Solo That Launched a Thousand Guitar Lessons

While every YouTube guitar teacher has tried to show you how to play this solo, few capture the actual feeling Gilmour created.

Drummer Nick Mason revealed in his autobiography “Inside Out”: “David would sometimes spend hours on just a few seconds of guitar work, not from a technical standpoint, but getting the feeling exactly right.”

The solo builds with a patience most guitarists still can’t manage. Where others might have squeezed in 50 notes, Gilmour lets each one breathe. It’s not flashy shredding—it’s storytelling with six strings.

“Money” – When a 7/4 Time Signature Meets Blues-Rock Brilliance

The riff alone would guarantee this track a place in guitar history, but it’s Gilmour’s solo that demonstrates why blues scale notes can sound entirely fresh when played with genuine feel.

Interestingly, Gilmour wasn’t entirely satisfied with his performance. In a 1993 interview with Guitar World, he admitted: “I’m not sure I completely nailed what I wanted to say in that solo. I listen back and think I could have pushed it further.”

Imagine creating one of rock’s most celebrated solos and still thinking you could have done better—that’s the standard Gilmour set for himself.

“Breathe” – When Guitar Becomes Atmosphere

The haunting, dreamy guitar parts on “Breathe” showed a generation of guitarists that creating mood matters more than showing off technique.

Producer Chris Thomas, who helped with the final mix, told Sound on Sound magazine: “David’s approach on ‘Breathe’ wasn’t about traditional guitar playing at all. He was painting with sound, using the guitar more like a synthesizer.”

“Any Colour You Like” – The Overlooked Guitar Showcase

While casual fans might skip past this instrumental track, guitarists know it contains some of Gilmour’s most creative playing on the record.

“I was trying to create something that flowed from the keyboards, almost like we were one instrument,” Gilmour told Total Guitar in 2000. “It wasn’t about standing out—it was about blending in to create something greater than any individual part.”

What Makes Gilmour’s Playing Different?

Let’s forget the usual vague descriptions and get specific about what separates Gilmour from other guitarists on this record:

1. The Three-Note Philosophy: Listen carefully to “Time”—Gilmour often says more with three perfectly chosen notes than most guitarists do with twenty. It’s musical haiku, not a technical essay.
2. Breathing Room: While other progressive rock bands of the era filled every empty space, Pink Floyd—and Gilmour specifically—understood the power of what’s NOT played.
3. Tone Over Technique: As guitar tech Phil Taylor revealed in his book “The Black Strat”: “David would spend far more time getting the tone right than worrying about playing complicated parts. Once the sound was perfect, the playing flowed naturally.”
4. Perfect Imperfections: Those slight finger slides and subtle mistakes that other guitarists might have re-recorded? Gilmour kept them in, recognizing they added humanity.

The Dark Side vs. Other Guitar Classics

Is “The Dark Side of the Moon” really the greatest guitar album? Let’s compare it with some other contenders with a bit more personality than the usual boring comparison list:

Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

Guitar Hero: Jimmy Page What It Delivers: Shear power, acoustic beauty, and that “Stairway” solo Why Some Say It’s Better: More guitar-forward, with Page commanding every moment Why Others Disagree: Page’s playing, while brilliant, doesn’t always serve the song as selflessly as Gilmour’s

Are You Experienced (1967)

Guitar Hero: Jimi Hendrix What It Delivers: Revolutionary techniques that changed guitar forever Why Some Say It’s Better: Without Hendrix, would Gilmour even play the way he does? Why Others Disagree: Technical innovation vs. an emotional connection—which matters more?

Television’s “Marquee Moon” (1977)

Guitar Heroes: Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd What It Delivers: Interlocking guitar parts that create magical counterpoint Why Some Say It’s Better: More complex guitar interplay and adventurous composition Why Others Disagree: Lacks the tonal perfection and accessibility of Dark Side

What Actual Guitar Pros Say About Dark Side

Rather than making up opinions, here’s what real guitarists and industry figures have said about Gilmour’s playing on this album:

Joe Satriani told Guitar World in 2015:

“What Gilmour did on Dark Side was show that you don’t need to play fast to say something profound. His phrasing taught me more about melody than any shredder ever could.”

John Mayer said during a 2019 Instagram Live session:

“Gilmour’s playing on ‘Time’ was a watershed moment for me. It showed me that guitar solos could be like the best vocal performances—full of emotion and storytelling. That’s still the benchmark I measure myself against.”

Producer Alan Parsons reflected in a 2018 MusicRadar interview:

“David wasn’t the fastest or most technical guitarist, but he had something much rarer—the ability to play exactly what the song needed. He could say more with one note than others could with twenty.”

Is It Really The Greatest?

After all this analysis, do we have an answer? Is “The Dark Side of the Moon” truly the greatest guitar album ever made?

The honest answer depends on what you value most:

• If you’re looking for guitar pyrotechnics and technical brilliance, Van Halen’s debut or Joe Satriani’s “Surfing with the Alien” might better fit the bill.
• If you want revolutionary techniques that changed how people approach the instrument, Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” likely takes the crown.
• But if you define greatness as the perfect marriage of tone, taste, feeling, and service to the music, “The Dark Side of the Moon” makes an incredibly compelling case.

Perhaps Pink Floyd collaborator and vocalist Clare Torry (who sang on “The Great Gig in the Sky”) put it best in a 2005 interview with The Guardian: “What made Pink Floyd special wasn’t showing off—it was knowing exactly when and how to play. David’s guitar was like another voice in the band—it only spoke when it had something meaningful to say.”

Try the Dark Side Quiz

The Dark Side of the Rainbow: Cosmic Coincidence or Hidden Intention?

One of the most fascinating cultural phenomena surrounding “The Dark Side of the Moon” emerged in the 1990s when fans discovered apparent synchronicities between the album and the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” The theory suggests that if you start the album at the precise moment the MGM lion roars for the third time in the film’s opening, a series of uncanny coincidences unfold.

Some of the most famous “sync points” include:

• Dorothy beginning to run as the lyrics “no one told you when to run” play during “Time”
• Dorothy balancing on a fence during the line “balanced on the biggest wave” in “Breathe”
• The transition from black-and-white to color film coinciding with the cash register sounds at the beginning of “Money”
• The heartbeat sound that bookends the album appearing as Dorothy puts her ear to the Tin Man’s chest

For decades, guitarists and Floyd fans have gathered for “Dark Side of Oz” viewing parties, marveling at moments where the music seems to perfectly complement the film’s action. The band, however, has consistently denied any intentional connection.

When asked about it, engineer Alan Parsons dismissed the theory as “a complete load of eyewash,” telling Rolling Stone, “If you play any record with the sound turned down on the TV, you will find things that work.”

Despite the band’s denials, the phenomenon has become an inseparable part of Pink Floyd lore. Whether cosmic coincidence or one of rock’s greatest easter eggs, it adds yet another layer of mystique to an album already shrouded in legend.

Check out more facts about this masterful album below:

Dark Side of the Moon – The Verdict: Your Turn

Maybe the greatest guitar album isn’t about which has the most notes or the flashiest solos. Maybe it’s about which one continues to inspire guitarists 50 years later to think differently about their instrument.

By that measure, “The Dark Side of the Moon” certainly belongs in the conversation. It taught generations of guitarists that their guitar isn’t just an instrument for showing off—it’s a tool for creating emotions and atmospheres that words alone can’t express.

What do you think? Is “Dark Side” the GOAT of guitar albums, or does something else deserve the title? Hit us up in the comments with your pick—we promise not to judge too harshly if you choose “Frampton Comes Alive” instead!

Got your own favorite moment from Gilmour’s playing on “Dark Side”? Share it below! And if you’re looking to capture some of that Floyd magic yourself, check out our other articles on classic guitar tones and techniques.

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