High Hopes
Pink Floyd, 1994, from The Division Bell. Solo by David Gilmour.
David Gilmour's closing slide solo on 'High Hopes' is one of the most emotional moments of Pink Floyd's later years. After a song steeped in nostalgia and regret, he steps forward with long, singing slide phrases that soar over a grand arrangement. The tone is warm and expansive, and each note seems to hang in the air before gliding to the next. It's a perfect example of Gilmour's melodic restraint, choosing space and emotion over speed. Listen for how the slide lets him bend between pitches smoothly, giving the solo a voice-like quality that feels both mournful and hopeful as the song fades into its final moments.
High Hopes by Pink Floyd is ranked #136 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by David Gilmour and the song was released in 1994. It appears on 4 lists, placing as high as #17 (TheTopTens).
In our lists
- The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #51
- The Modern Canon: Best Since 1990 — #33
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #16
- Slide Guitar — #5
- Best of David Gilmour — #5
- The Best Pink Floyd Guitar Solos — #12
Sources
- TheTopTens: Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #17
- Radio Beat: 88 kytarových sól na Beatu — #34
- Ranker: The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #36
- Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #128
Who played the guitar solo on High Hopes?
David Gilmour played the solo on Pink Floyd's High Hopes (1994).
What guitar was used on the High Hopes solo?
A fender stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does High Hopes rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#136 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 4 of them.