SPECIAL: Celebrate 50 Years Of Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd gave me the coolest invitation of the season. To celebrate 50 years of Wish You Were Here, I teamed up with Sony and the Pink Floyd team for the Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge:

You learn the intro.
Record and upload your take.
Win rare 50th Anniversary merch.

You can take home a limited-edition fire extinguisher (only 150 exist), an anniversary tee, a diver's mug, and the huge 50th Anniversary box set, packed with incredible extras. 😮 This isn’t a competition—it’s a sweepstake. All you need to do is give it a try and cross your fingers!

🎁 Prizes: Official Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary Merch Bundle:

WYWH50 Fire Extinguisher (an ultra-rare collector’s item; only 150 exist worldwide!

50th Anniversary T-Shirt (official Pink Floyd merch created for the WYWH50 celebration.)

WYWH Diver Mug (a limited-edition mug featuring the iconic diver artwork.)

50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set (unreleased mixes, restored concert footage, vinyl, and more.)

👉 How to enter: Record your performance, and upload it via the Performances tab on this page.

⏰ Deadline: Upload your performance before December 11, 2025.

🆓 You must be a registered student at JustinGuitar.com; creating an account is free and easy!

About The Lesson: Wish You Were Here In 5 Levels

In this lesson, we learn ‘Wish You Were Here’ by Pink Floyd from the ground up in five progressive levels, along with the full song chords and strumming patterns.

The goal is simple: help you play one of the most loved acoustic intros of all time in a way that fits your current level, then level up your skills until you can play the intro, solo, and full song with confidence.

You can start at Level 1 as a beginner or drop in at a higher level if you are more experienced.

Level 1 – Beginner Intro: Chords, Riff, And Timing

In Level 1, we learn:

The three main intro chords: Em7, G (or G5), A7sus4
The “stuck 3 and 4” grip, where the 3rd and 4th fingers stay on the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings
The main lead lines using hammer-ons.
How to play the riff with the right rhythm - ear and/or 16th note counting.

Level 1 is about clean chords, clear hammer-ons, and solid timing. Once this feels natural, the next levels become much easier.

Level 2 – Strumming Pattern And Groove

In Level 2, we focus on the strumming hand and build a groove that sounds close to the original recording.

We learn:

The core pattern: down up up down as part of a 16th-note flow
How to keep the picking hand moving in continuous 16th notes
Solidify the use of downstrokes on the beats and offbeats (’ ands’). Ups in between!
How to keep the intro recognizable even at slower practice tempos

Your fretting hand stays pretty much the same as Level 1. This level trains you to lock into the groove and stay in time without your fretting hand getting tangled.

Level 3 – Ghost Strums And Fine Rhythmic Detail

Level 3 adds the subtle rhythmic details that make the intro really feel like the record.

We explore:

Ghost strums: light, almost muted strokes that add movement without adding full-volume chords
Where these ghost notes typically appear in the bar
How to keep the main accents from Level 2 while “sprinkling” extra strums around them
Why it’s more important to keep your hand relaxed and moving than to copy every ghost strum exactly

If you want to go forensic, you can, but most players will use Level 3 as a way to add feel, not stress. The idea is to sound musical rather than mathematical.

Level 4 – Full Intro Solo

In Level 4, we learn the iconic acoustic intro solo in detail. We cover:

Slides, ghost bends, and regular bends on an acoustic
Timing of each phrase using 8th notes, 16th notes, and 16th-note triplets
Workarounds if some of the bends feel too heavy on your acoustic
How to hear the phrases clearly and match the feel of the original recording

By the end of Level 4, you can play both the picked intro and the melodic intro solo, not just strum the chords.

Level 5 – Playing The Intro On A 12-String Guitar

In Level 5, we look at how the intro works on a 12-string acoustic.

We learn:

How 12-string guitars are set up in pairs (courses)
Which pairs are tuned in unison, and which use octave pairs
Why many players tune a 12-string down a whole tone and use a capo at the 2nd fret
How to adjust your dynamics so ghost strums and accents sit nicely in the mix

You do not need a 12-string for this lesson. Level 5 is there to help you understand and enjoy the sound if you have access to one.

Full Song Chords And Strumming

After the intro and solo, we learn the verse and chorus progression. The main progression cycles like this:

C → D → Am → G
D → C → Am → G

So in words, we have:

First time: C to D to A minor to G

Second time: D to C to A minor to G

It stays that way through the verses and the chorus.

We also work on:

A practical down down up based strumming feel
Keeping the hand moving in 8th and 16th notes for a natural groove
Optional details like:
- C with a G bass (C/G)
- D with an F♯ bass (D/F♯)

This helps you progress from “I can play the intro” to “I can play the whole song and lead a singalong.”

👉 Need extra help? Play this song along with the JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs App.

🚨 FAQ: Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge

Is this challenge suitable for beginners?

Yes. Level 1 is designed for early beginners who can play simple open chords. We start with just three shapes (Em7, G, A7sus4), a simple lead line, and clear rhythm guidance before moving into more advanced strumming and solo work. And if you find you have to play it super slow, or you miss some stuff, it doesn’t matter - your entry will still count. We want you to give it a try!

How do I join the Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge?

Learn the intro using this lesson.
Record a video of yourself playing the intro.
Go to the Student Performances tab on this page.
Add your performance link (a YouTube URL) and submit it.

All valid submissions received before December 11, 2025, will be entered into the prize draw on December 12, 2025.

What can I win in the WYWH50 Challenge?

The prize bundle includes official Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary merchandise. It is a special set of collector items created for the album’s 50th anniversary, offered in collaboration with the Pink Floyd team and Sony Music.

Is the giveaway open worldwide? Who ships the prizes?

Yes, the Wish You Were Here at 50 Intro Challenge is open worldwide. The prize will be processed and shipped directly by Sony Music.

ℹ️ By entering this challenge, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.

ℹ️ The winner must share their full name, phone number, and shipping address with JustinGuitar and Sony.