He taught himself.

Yes, that’s David Gilmour playing the steel guitar part on “High Hopes” — and he learned it specifically for that song.

The instrument is actually a pedal steel, not a lap steel. Gilmour had never played one before, but he borrowed one, spent time figuring it out, and laid down the part in a few takes. It’s a surprisingly raw, emotional solo for someone who didn’t really know what he was doing.

It works because it sounds like a beginner’s honest attempt — which is exactly what the song needed. The slightly wobbly, crying tone fits the nostalgic, bittersweet feel of the album’s closer.

Gilmour has said in interviews that he never really got comfortable with pedal steel and hasn