Pink Floyd – “Us and Them” Chords & Guitar Lesson

“Us and Them” from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is an almost 8-minute-long sonic masterpiece. 

It segues straight out of the iconic tune, “Money”, and takes you on a journey.

Below, I’m going to share some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “Us and Them” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote Us and Them?

The music for “Us and Them” was originally written by the keyboard player for Pink Floyd, Richard Wright. He composed the chord progression and basic structure of the tune for a film called Zabriskie Point. The song was ultimately rejected from the film’s soundtrack, and then later, when Pink Floyd was recording Dark Side of the Moon, they revisited it.

At that point, Roger Waters wrote new lyrics, and “Us and Them” was created.

So the music was written by Richard Wright and the lyrics by Roger Waters.

The song almost has a film score kind of feel to it. It’s very hypnotic with one main progression and then a Bridge. The song’s total length clocks in just under 8 minutes.

The lyrics for “Us and Them” are quite action-packed. The verses evoke scenes of soldiers and generals at battle. This creates the us vs. them battle. The song is very metaphorical.

“Us and Them” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios between 1972 and 1973, with engineer Alan Parsons alongside the band. The dynamics of the song are huge. This is a big key to being able to pull off the song, with so much of it being the same musical idea over and over. The track also features a memorable saxophone solo by Dick Parry. He has a smooth and soothing sound. 

Although “Us and Them” was released as a single in some territories, it is most celebrated as part of The Dark Side of the Moon, one of the most successful and influential albums in music history. The album spent an unprecedented number of weeks on the Billboard charts and has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. “Us and Them” contributes significantly to the album’s overarching concept and vibe.

One last thing I want to point out is how cool the chords are in the song. I’m going to dive more into this below, but the progression is definitely NOT a typical rock chord progression. It’s very piano-style – meaning as a guitar player, it feels like a song written by a keyboard player. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Us and Them?

The tuning for "Us and Them” as recorded by the Pink Floyd is standard tuning. David Gilmour kept things simple. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

All right! 

Now that you know the tuning for “Us and Them,” let’s next talk about… 

Us and Them Chords

To play “Us and Them”, as recorded by Pink Floyd, you need to know 7 main chords they are Dsus2, Esus2/D, Dm(maj7), G/D, Bm, Gmaj7, and C. These chords are a combination of bar and non-bar chord shapes. 

If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/barchords 

Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes might show up on the fretboard.

Dsus2 is a beautiful and open-sounding chord. I play it in the 5th position with a little bar like this:

Gmaj7/D is another bar chord here played in 7th position like this:

Dm(maj7) is an stark color to use in the song. I play it in 9th position like so:

G/D moves back down the neck to the 7th position like this:

Bm is played as a bar chord in 2nd position like this:

Gmaj7 is another variation on the above Gmaj7/D chord like so:

Finally, C is played in a typical (campfire) style like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is Us and Them hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “Us and Them” on guitar, as recorded by Pink Floyd, is going to require an intermediate skill level. The song itself is primarily one section repeated over and over. However, the trickiest parts are getting a clean sound with all the arpeggio picking, the sophisticated chord progression, and the bar chords. So, take your time with this one.

What key is Us and Them in?

“Us and Them”, as recorded by Pink Floyd, is in the key of D major. The primary scale for the song would be the D major scale, which is built using the notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#.

Let’s take a look at how the main chords all function in the key of D major. 

Dsus2

Notes: D, E, A

Function: This is a suspended version of the tonic chord (I) in D major. The third (F#) is replaced by the second (E), which removes the traditional major/minor quality and creates an open, airy sound. This is the “home” chord for the song.

Gmaj7

Notes: G, B, D, F#

Function: Gmaj7 is the IV chord in D major with a major seventh added. The F# comes directly from the key and adds a dreamy, lush quality to the subdominant chord. It gives you movement away from the tonic while maintaining consonance and still in the key.

Dm(maj7)

Notes: D, F, A, C#

Function: This chord is not diatonic to D major and creates an immediate tension. The minor third (F) combined with the major seventh (C#) gives it a stark sound. It’s also the parallel minor i chord.

Bm

Notes: B, D, F#

Function: Bm is the vi chord in D major, the relative minor. It shares two notes with the tonic (D and F#), making movement transitions between the two smooth. This chord is played on the downbeat of the bridge section.

C

Notes: C, E, G

Function: C major is a flat VII chord in the key of D major. It is non-diatonic, borrowing from the mixolydian mode or acting as a modal or bluesy mixture.

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown. 

Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for Us and Them?

The main underlying groove for “Us and Them” is a floaty, almost cinematic 8th note rock. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a driving, steady rhythm like this:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like: 

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and." 

However, instead of strumming all of these 8th notes, what I would do is use a technique called arpeggio picking. Here’s an example of this in the style of “Us and Them”: 

Conclusion

Bottom line, The Dark Side of the Moon would not be the same without “Us and Them”. It’s a legendary song that’s one piece of the giant arc of the album. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard for lead and rhythm, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan