Introduction
When Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour was once crowned “the greatest Fender guitarist of all time,” topping icons like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, he met the honor with characteristic humility. “The best Fender player ever will come around again—Eric or Jimi or someone else,” he laughed. “I’d love to believe I’m number one, but it just doesn’t add up.”
That down-to-earth reply captures Gilmour’s spirit perfectly. Decades under the spotlight haven’t changed his instincts: he never rests on accolades and always credits the masters who taught him the ropes. So who lit the spark in one of rock’s most revered players? Let’s explore the guitarists Gilmour himself holds dearest.
“When You Start Out, You Copy”
Gilmour has never hidden his approach: imitation first, innovation later. “Trying to be too original when you’re young can backfire,” he told Uncut. “I learned by copying Pete Seeger, Lead Belly, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix—so many players.” Without formal lessons or the ability to read sheet music, he taught himself from Pete Seeger’s folk guitar manual, tracing the pictures until chords and riffs clicked in his head.
Clapton, Hendrix, and London’s Blues Boom
By the time Syd Barrett’s health forced his exit in 1968, Gilmour was already steeped in the sounds of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Clapton’s Cream-era fire lit the way, but it was Hendrix’s arrival that blew the roof off London’s music scene. “When Hendrix and Clapton shared the stage at Regent Street Polytechnic, everything changed,” Gilmour recalls. That raw energy pointed Pink Floyd toward new sonic frontiers—even if some, like Keith Richards, wondered if it might have challenged Gilmour’s own growth.
Rock ’n’ Roll’s Pioneers: Berry and Marvin
Chuck Berry’s rollicking riffs lie at the heart of rock guitar, and Gilmour absorbed every lick he could. “Those same roots pulse through everything I do,” he once said. Equally formative was Hank Marvin of The Shadows, whose clean, tremolo-soaked lines showed Gilmour the power of melody and restraint.
The Beatles’ Magic Touch
Like many of his generation, Gilmour fell hard for The Beatles. “I wish I’d been in The Beatles,” he admitted. “They taught me guitar—from bass parts to lead lines to rhythm.” While his friendship with Paul McCartney grew over the years, it was George Harrison’s subtle, song-serving solos that left a lasting imprint on his playing style.
The Guitarist’s Guitarist: Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck’s innovative blend of blues, rock, and futuristic sounds captivated Gilmour early on. As a Yardbirds alum, Beck showed what guitar could be when you dared to stretch boundaries—something Gilmour took deeply to heart.
Folk and Blues Mentors
Beyond electric guitar heroes, folk icons like Pete Seeger and Lead Belly showed Gilmour the art of storytelling through fingerpicking. And John Fahey’s intricate acoustic textures opened his ears to new melodic possibilities.
Unconventional Voices: Joni Mitchell & Roy Buchanan
Joni Mitchell may not be the first name you hear in rock guitar lore, but her adventurous tunings and poetic approach impressed Gilmour. Likewise, Telecaster virtuoso Roy Buchanan taught him how to wring pure emotion from every note.
The Most Personal Influence: Syd Barrett
Above all, it was Syd Barrett—the friend Gilmour replaced in Pink Floyd—who shaped his musical journey. They’d busked together across Europe, experimenting with sounds and effects. Barrett’s fearless creativity and unique vibrato left an indelible mark on Gilmour’s style, a legacy he’s honored ever since.
Finding His Own Voice
Despite this galaxy of influences, Gilmour’s tone remains unmistakably his own. “You copy from Pete Seeger, Hank Marvin, Lead Belly, Joni Mitchell, John Fahey, Roy Buchanan, Jeff [Beck], Eric [Clapton], and dozens more,” he once said. “Then, if you’re lucky, something emerges that’s uniquely you.” For Gilmour, the guitar isn’t just an instrument—it’s his truest form of expression. “I struggle to put feelings into words,” he admits. “But when I play, the guitar does the talking.”
David Gilmour’s Top 12 Guitar Heroes
- Eric Clapton
- Jimi Hendrix
- Jeff Beck
- Chuck Berry
- George Harrison
- Joni Mitchell
- Hank Marvin
- Pete Seeger
- John Fahey
- Roy Buchanan
- Lead Belly
- Syd Barrett