Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd | Guitar Chords & Strumming Pattern

Wish You Were Here is one of Pink Floyd's most recognizable songs and one of the most popular acoustic-guitar songs from the 1970s. Released in 1975 as the title track of the album Wish You Were Here, the song has become a classic for guitar players around the world.

Its memorable acoustic intro and relatively simple chord progression make it an excellent song for beginner and intermediate guitar players.

Song Information

Song: Wish You Were Here
Artist: Pink Floyd
Album: Wish You Were Here
Year: 1975
Genre: Progressive Rock / Acoustic Rock
Guitar: David Gilmour

Chords Used

For a simplified acoustic version, use:

G – C – D – Am – Em

Tuning: Standard EADGBE
Capo: Not required

The original recording uses additional guitar voicings and embellishments, but these open chords work very well for a simplified acoustic arrangement.

Intro

The intro is the most recognizable part of the song.

A simplified progression is:

Em → G → Em → G

followed by:

Em → A7 → Em → A7

Then move into the main chord progression.

For the characteristic intro sound, try picking individual strings rather than strumming the chords.

Let the notes ring into each other.

Strumming Pattern

For the main song, try:

D – D U – U D U

Where:

D = Down
U = Up

You can also use a simple:

D – D – D – D

during the quieter verses.

The song works best when the strumming is relaxed and not too loud.

Main Chord Progression

A simple acoustic progression is:

G → C → D

with:

Am → Em

used during the verses and transitions.

Don't worry about reproducing every small guitar embellishment from the original recording. The basic progression already gives the song its recognizable feel.

Lyrics with Chords

Verse 1

[G] So, so you think you can [C] tell
[D] Heaven from Hell
[Am] Blue skies from [Em] pain

[G] Can you tell a green [C] field
[D] From a cold steel rail?
[Am] A smile from a [Em] veil?

[G] Do you think you can [C] tell?

Verse 2

[G] Did they get you to [C] trade
[D] Your heroes for ghosts?
[Am] Hot ashes for [Em] trees?

[G] Hot air for a cool [C] breeze?
[D] Cold comfort for change?

[Am] And did you [Em] exchange
[G] A walk on part in a [C] war
[D] For a lead role in a [Am] cage?

Chorus

[C] How I wish, how I wish you were [G] here

[Am] We're just two lost souls
[C] Swimming in a fish bowl
[G] Year after year

[Am] Running over the same old ground
[C] What have we found?

[G] The same old fears

[C] Wish you were [G] here

Ending

For the ending, slow down the strumming:

[C] Wish you were [G] here

Let the final G chord ring.

You can also return to the intro-style picking for the ending.

Easy Chord Version

If you're a beginner, concentrate on these chords first:

G – C – D – Am – Em

Practice:

G → C → D → G

and:

Am → C → G

Once these changes are comfortable, add the intro picking.

Guitar Tip

The biggest attraction for guitar players is the intro.

Don't rush through it.

The acoustic guitars in the original recording have a warm, spacious sound. Try using a clean tone and letting each note ring.

For an acoustic performance, a good arrangement is:

Intro: Fingerpicking
Verse: Light fingerpicking or soft strumming
Chorus: Gentle D-DU-UDU
Ending: Return to fingerpicking

You can also add small hammer-ons and pull-offs later to make the arrangement closer to the original.

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate

The chords are relatively straightforward. The intro requires a little more practice because the timing and individual notes need to be clean.

🎸 Happy playing!