What a 12-string was invented for

I always remember the guitar shop in Wayne's World that has a strict "No Stairway To Heaven" policy. I do wish that ban could now be extended to a "No Blackbird" policy. If you go to a jazz jam, they often have an "Anything but Summertime" policy. I suppose it is the mark of a good song that everybody knows it and wants to play it, but sometimes I am inclined to agree with the stance of the shopkeeper/landlord.

If there was a ban on songs to be played on a 12-string, then this song would be a potential casualty. I don't know if the original version has any 12-string on it, but the live versions usually do.

I think Wish You Were Here is one of the greatest songs ever written, and given the number of people that seemed to have covered it, it seems I am in good company.

When I bought a 12-string, even though I clearly couldn't play it (and still can't, really), I worked out the chords and run up to this tune and it sounded oh-so sweet.

A couple of years ago, I saw David Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall. Me and my brother had the privilege of sitting slap, bang in the middle of the very front row. Probably the first and only time that will happen. Anyway, Phil thingymajig from Roxy Music played guitar with Mr. Gilmour - and the 12-string on this track. During the opening guitar phrase to this song, he well and truly fluffed it. The band laughed and I laughed too - yes he had temporarily ruined one of my favourite songs, but it also gave me hope that I too could one day play a duff note at the Albert Hall and still receive a standing ovation.