Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The challenge in playing the acoustic guitar part on Welcome to the Machine by Pink Floyd, is not in the fingering, the strumming or even the chording (especially if you use an E-Drone tuning). The challenge is in the timing and the counting. The song sounds like it is in 4/4 time sometimes, but in 3/4 time others. I’ve counted out the beats for each chord for each segment, so you can count it as you wish. I usually count in 4s if the section is divisible by 4, such as where there are 16 beats; but count in 3s if the section is divisible by 3, such as where there are 6 beats.
For the chording, I’ve included the tuning I use, where simply tune the D-string up to E. You could also tune the A-string up to a B for an even more open tuning rendition. If you use a standard tuning, you can still chord everything as normal, but you’ll have to deaden the D-string for the solo 6-beat runs.
Click here to hear my full version, including the guitar parts … youtu.be/Z3R5qisFbBg
Click here to hear a Karaoke version … youtu.be/7KHMGdZK9Us
The challenge in playing the acoustic guitar part on Welcome to the Machine by Pink Floyd, is not in the fingering, the strumming or even the chording (especially if you use an E-Drone tuning). The challenge is in the timing and the counting. The song sounds like it is in 4/4 time sometimes, but in 3/4 time others. I’ve counted out the beats for each chord for each segment, so you can count it as you wish. I usually count in 4s if the section is divisible by 4, such as where there are 16 beats; but count in 3s if the section is divisible by 3, such as where there are 6 beats.
For the chording, I’ve included the tuning I use, where simply tune the D-string up to E. You could also tune the A-string up to a B for an even more open tuning rendition. If you use a standard tuning, you can still chord everything as normal, but you’ll have to deaden the D-string for the solo 6-beat runs.
Click here to hear my full version, including the guitar parts … youtu.be/Z3R5qisFbBg
Click here to hear a Karaoke version … youtu.be/7KHMGdZK9Us
