Guitar legend David Gilmour has shed light on his signature "swell" technique, a multi-delay effect that gives his solos a distinctive, almost orchestral quality. In a new video, Gilmour breaks down the technique, revealing how he achieves the expansive sound that has become synonymous with his playing.
"It's a sound I call 'swell', because it's a swelling sort of sound. A sound I've used many times on all sorts of tracks going back years and years and years," Gilmour explains in the video, adding that the technique is "slightly orchestral" and created using delays. The key, he reveals, is that "you don't hear the impact note in theory".
While Gilmour doesn't disclose the specific delay pedals used to create the "swell", the video showcases his technique using a Fender Strat's tremolo arm and an Ernie Ball volume/expression pedal to enhance the effect. He utilises a Strat reminiscent of his iconic "Black Strat", further solidifying his signature sound.
In a 1993 interview with Guitar World, Gilmour discussed his reliance on the Binson Echorec machine as his primary delay unit until the Animals era in 1977. This unique device, he explained, employed a metal recording wheel instead of tape loops to produce "wonderful delay effects that aren't attainable on anything that's been made since".
Gilmour credits the Binson for the iconic delay sounds in Pink Floyd's "One of these Days" and "Echoes", both from the Meddle album. "One day, Roger decided to take some of the techniques that I was developing and try them out himself on bass," Gilmour recounted. "And he came up with that basic riff that we all worked on and turned into 'One of these Days'."
The new video not only reveals Gilmour's "swell" technique but also confirms its continued presence on his latest album, "Luck and Strange". He specifically mentions using the effect on the tracks "Scattered" and "Black Cat".
"Luck and Strange" marks Gilmour's first new material in nine years and features a fresh approach to production. It is set for release on 6 September via Sony Music, offering fans a chance to experience the "swell" effect in all its glory.
