David Gilmour’s Comfortably Numb solo is one of the most iconic in rock history — but do you know why it sounds so emotional and powerful?
In this lesson, I break down the theory and techniques behind the first solo — covering:
⦿ Suspended 4th (sus4) arpeggios
⦿ Target notes
⦿ How Gilmour builds tension and melody
⦿ Using scales vs. arpeggios in your solos
You’ll not only understand this solo — you’ll learn how to build your own melodic lead lines using the same approach.
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0:00 Why This Solo Deserves a Deeper Look
2:00 Comfortably Numb Chord Progression
3:39 What Are sus4 Arpeggios?
6:06 D sus4 Arpeggio Example
8:14 A sus4 Arpeggio & Target Notes
10:46 Gilmour’s Note Choices Explained
12:33 Scale Notes vs. Arpeggio Notes
14:52 Full sus4 Arpeggio Walkthrough
15:40 Final Thoughts: Learn from the Magic