Is There Anybody Out There? is on Pink Floyd's hugely successful album 'The Wall'. It's a beautiful, haunting song that's fantastic for fingerstyle players to learn. In this lesson we're going to be learning this fine song from start to finish.
Is There Anybody Out There? was played on a nylon strung guitar for the recording, which gives it a smooth and warm tone, but it works just as well on a steel strung guitar.
Let's start learning how to play Is There Anybody Out There?
Song Details:
- Key - A minor
- Tuning - standard
- Tempo - 119 bpm
- Difficulty - beginner-intermediate
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Is There Anybody Out There? Guitar Lesson
The entire of the first section of Is There Anybody Out There? is based around an A minor chord. The higher notes are constantly being arpeggiated and the bass notes are frequently changing on the bottom. Due to the moving bass line, some of the chords can be a little hard to grip, just hang in there and you'll get it!
Want to learn more fingerpicking songs of a similar standard?
Want to learn some fun fingerstyle arrangements of famous songs?: Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley), Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver), Don't Look Back In Anger (Oasis), Ticket to Ride (The Beatles), Have You Ever Seen The Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival).
Alternatively you can browse the whole song catalogue: Song Lesson Library
Let me know what you thought of the lesson in the comments section below. Say what you found hard/easy, what level you're at and what your fingerpicking goals are.
Cracking track…..cracking solo guitar!!
Clear n easy step by step lesson.
Keep it up n thanks!!
Thanks a lot! Really glad you’ve enjoyed it. New song lessons every Thursday.
Still remember hearing this track for the first time and repeating it over and over again! It was one of the first more complex fingerpicking songs I learnt… beautifully played as are all of your videos.
During the second part playing the 4th measure on the 2nd line, aren’t the two strings swapped? I think when I listen to you play the G string comes first but in the tab the B string comes first. I’m really confused!
Hi Michael, yeah that part is tricky but I am playing it exactly as the score says.
My version of Is There Anybody Out There inspired by your version. Thank you so much! (added a little Led Zep coda for good measure).
Great song, great teacher. Thank you so much! You really helped me a lot. It is not an easy song to play (for me).
Thanks a lot, really glad you enjoyed it.
I’m a bit confused about the 4th note in the 32nd measure — I’m referring to your sheet music which I purchased. Is it the 4th fret (which finger do you use) or the 2nd fret?
Thanks.
Hi Jon, thanks for the purchase. Yeah that part is tricky, play the fourth fret with your second finger a very quickly slide to the 2nd fret.