Unit 20: Wish You Were Here

This tune uses Em7,C/G, and D/F# among other chords. It has a very popular riff, and is easy to play. The objective here is that you realize the difference changing one note in a chord can make in the overall sound of the tune- a Pink Floyd trademark.

The main riff switches between Em7 (Say "E minor seven") and G5 (which is a G chord with no third. Just a root and a 5th. Here's Em7:
---3---G (fifth)
---3---D (minor 7)
---0---G (minor 3rd)
---2---E (root)
-------
-------

G5 is the next chord, and we usually play these with the root on the low E or A strings as they have a dense, heavy sound which is perfect for rock music. In this case, we are not using the low strings, and all of the notes are the same as the Em7 chord above except for one.
---3---G (root)
---3---D (fifth)
---0---G (root)
---0---D (fifth)
-------
-------
Notice how in the absence of the E, the chord loses it's tonality. Practice switching between these two chords before we connect them with the notes that make up the riff.

Here's the riff leading up to the first chord (Em7), strum the chord for one measure before going on to the next part:
------------3---
------------3---
------------0---
--------0-2-2---
----0-2---------
--3-------------

Going to the G5 chord:
--------3--
--------3--
--0-----0--
----2-0-0--
-----------
-----------

Put them together and you have the first 5 measures of the tune- Em7, G5, Em7, G5, Em7. The next chord is A7sus4. This chord is an A triad with the 3rd replaced (suspended) with the fourth (D) and with a G (the minor 7th) added. The chord is spelled A,D,E,G (1,4,5,b7). Here it is with it's lead in notes coming from the Em7:

-------------3-
-------------3-
-------------0-
----2-0------2-
--------2-0--0-
---------------

This sequence (Em7 to A7sus4) goes twice making the whole chord progression to the intro and solo section as follows:Em7, G5, Em7, G5, Em7, A7sus4, Em7, A7sus4.
Between the verses, is two measures of a G major chord, which you already know:

--3--
--3--
--0--
--0--
--2--
--3--

Note that throughout the whole progression, the notes on the E,B and G strings do not change.

The chords for the 8 measure verse are as follows:
C/G D/F# Am G D/F# C/G Am G

The only chord you don't know out of these is C/G. It's a C triad with a G in the bass. Easily played like this:

-----
--1--
--0--
--2--
--3--
--3--

Use your third finger on the low E string and your pinky on the A string.

Your assessment on this unit will be to record yourself playing the intro riff and the chords to one of the verses. Good luck!