Mark Knopfler

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:05 am

Picks with his fingers, disregards the plectrum. Technically one of the best guitarists of his generation.

Also rumoured to be the signing which will give Burnley the creative spark it needs.

Discuss.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:07 am

For a moment there I was picturing Burnley coming out to ‘Local Hero’ but that’s very much reserved for Newcastle United. Awesome musician.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:08 am

When someone puts a thread title like that, you always fear thats its going to be an RIP.

Maybe we could come out to "Romeo and Juliet"?

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:09 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote: Also rumoured to be the signing which will give Burnley the creative spark it needs

wouldn't be picked!

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:10 am

Lancasterclaret wrote:When someone puts a thread title like that, you always fear thats its going to be an RIP.

Maybe we could come out to "Romeo and Juliet"?

Ah **** man I didn't think of that!!! No I think there are a few fans of his around here, and he is (speaking as a far less skilled guitarist) a true great, but he was never as flashy as Hendrix, Clapton etc.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:12 am

I've also spelt it wrong.

Oh dear.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:21 am

Think it works now, but he is a very good guitarist in a band I don't particularly like. His style is quite unusual, I also play with my fingers on electric but most people prefer a plectrum. Most classical guitarists pick with their fingers - perhaps this is how Knopfler was trained. Regardless, it's much trickier, guitarists who master it can play both bass and treble lines simulatenously as a pianist does. Nick Drake is the most well-known example of a guitarist who does this, but I've usually heard him on an acoustic. That said, he is exceptional: what he can do is play the bass notes at a different rhythm to the treble. I've tried to pull the same trick for many years but have never quite managed.

And yes, I am very drunk.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:23 am

Great guitarist. Used to listen to a lot of Dire Straits as a youngster but it was only later when I understood his playing more that I realised it was full of country licks. Probably down to the influence of Chet Atkins on his style.
https://youtu.be/5wTVLIZaxMk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:27 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:Think it works now, but he is a very good guitarist in a band I don't particularly like. His style is quite unusual, I also play with my fingers on electric but most people prefer a plectrum. Conversely, most classical guitarists pick with their fingers - don't know if he was trained that way. Regardless, it's much trickier, guitarists who master it can play both bass and treble lines simulatenously as a pianist does. Nick Drake is the most well-known guitarist who does this with an acoustic and he is exceptional: what he can do is play the bass notes at a different rhythm to the treble. I've tried for many years but never done it. And yes, I am very drunk.

This style of picking he uses is a lot more like the finger style techniques used by folk and country players rather than classical guitar which is a totally different technique altogether.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:27 am

BFCmaj wrote:Great guitarist. Used to listen to a lot of Dire Straits as a youngster but it was only later when I understood his playing more that I realised it was full of country licks. Probably down to the influence of Chet Atkins on his style.
https://youtu.be/5wTVLIZaxMk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is wonderful, thank you!

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:29 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:Picks with his fingers, disregards the plectrum. Technically one of the best guitarists of his generation.

Also rumoured to be the signing which will give Burnley the creative spark it needs.

Discuss.

Good name , have you watched the series?

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:29 am

There are a lot of Jazz guitarists who play using lots of voices at once. I love this video of Joe Pass.
https://youtu.be/p_kUJa1PueM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:31 am

BFCmaj wrote:This style of picking he uses is a lot more like the finger style techniques used by folk and country players rather than classical guitar which is a totally different technique altogether.

That makes sense, I got into playing with fingers through playing with folkies but it works really well on electric, but is slightly trickier due to the mechanics I find, and I think this is why I like Knopfler. Have you ever listened to Bert Jansch or, stretching a bit, Pavement (I think the guitarist for them also finger picks on electric sometimes)?

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:32 am

Chef Atkins and Jerry Reed. Amazing playing. Took na a while to learn this one!
https://youtu.be/Ni8KBhnebwE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:37 am

BFCmaj wrote:There are a lot of Jazz guitarists who play using lots of voices at once. I love this video of Joe Pass.
https://youtu.be/p_kUJa1PueM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I should have titled this thread 'Great Guitarists Who Finger Pick on Electric Guitar' lol!

claretabroad · Post by **claretabroad** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:37 am

I'm not his biggest fan but acknowledge how talented he is. Anyone learning guitar should pay close attention to sultans of swing as it has lots of different skills, styles and shapes.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:39 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:That makes sense, I got into playing with fingers through playing with folkies but it works really well on electric, but is slightly trickier due to the mechanics I find, and I think this is why I like Knopfler. Have you ever listened to Bert Jansch or, stretching a bit, Pavement (I think the guitarist for them also finger picks on electric sometimes)?

I’ve taught quite a bit of Bert Jansch stuff. Coincidentally my guitar teacher from college Gary Boyle worked with Jansch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Boyle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CharlieinNewMexico · Post by **CharlieinNewMexico** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:39 am

Jackson Browne started as a finger picker. I hear a lot of his style in Knopfler. Or is it Knopfler's in his? Must be the same age thereabouts.

Although I'm not a musician in the slightest. Don't like either personally, but the bluegrass musicians of the 50s and 60s were all finger pickers. Great stuff.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:42 am

BFCmaj wrote:I’ve taught quite a bit of Bert Jansch stuff. Coincidentally my guitar teacher from college Gary Boyle worked with Jansch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Boyle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Crikey it's a small world, you don't live in Hebden do you?

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:43 am

No I’m in Rossendale. Gary taught at Nelson and Colne during the 90s.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:46 am

There's still a good scene there, I'm back in Burnley after some time away but it's getting going again in Tod and Hebden because musicians can't afford rent in the cities! I mainly play synths these days but saw a Senegalese guy on Late Night at the Proms on BBC which reminded me of my first love (guitar

)

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:53 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:Have you ever listened to Bert Jansch or, stretching a bit, Pavement (I think the guitarist for them also finger picks on electric sometimes)?

I'm not a fan of Dire Straits, but I can appreciate how good Knopfler is, but it's not for me.

Pavement were great - I saw them a couple of times. Malkmus's new album is well worth a listen. BTW: I didn't know who Bert Jansch was until last year when we were at a NYE party and someone played a couple of Pentangle tracks for the oldies

. I've since picked up some CDs of his. Good stuff.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:54 am

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:There's still a good scene there, I'm back in Burnley after some time away but it's getting going again in Tod and Hebden because musicians can't afford rent in the cities! I mainly play synths these days but saw a Senegalese guy on Late Night at the Proms on BBC which reminded me of my first love (guitar )

Gary plays at the Bare Arts in Tod occasionally.

HieronymousBoschHobs · Post by **HieronymousBoschHobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 10:03 am

Billy Balfour wrote:I'm not a fan of Dire Straits, but I can appreciate how good Knopfler is, but it's not for me.

Pavement were great - I saw them a couple of times. Malkmus's new album is well worth a listen. BTW: I didn't know who Bert Jansch was until last year when we were at a NYE party and someone played a couple of Pentangle tracks for the oldies . I've since picked up some CDs of his. Good stuff.

So I saw Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks play in London on the date of Bert Jansch's death and half-way through he gave a shout-out. Pavement, Built to Spill etc. right through to Deerhunter and Kurt Vile owe a lot to the Pentangle stuff. It's like loose and jazzy but coming in on the beat - great style, but I'm flying the flag for Mark Knopfler, he was quite tight but plays with the fingers and it makes the notes more dynamic

All IMO obviously!

Guitargeorge · Post by **Guitargeorge** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 10:58 am

Awesome and one of my favourite guitarists for his genre. Some of his stuff takes a lot of learning

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 11:36 am

Learning to play Sultans of Swing was the pinnacle of my guitar playing days.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:03 pm

I once read Knopfler was entirely self taught in the confines of his teenage bedroom

and never had a guitar lesson in his life.

italianclaret88 · Post by **italianclaret88** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:11 pm

Best 3 guitars in history...I was a kid when my father during car trip put on sultans of swing or waterline...proper car songs and rock 100%....gutted that I never see dire straits....even cause i was born in 1988...

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:20 pm

italianclaret88 wrote:Best 3 guitars in history...I was a kid when my father during car trip put on sultans of swing or waterline...proper car songs and rock 100%....gutted that I never see dire straits....even cause i was born in 1988...

Still time maybe...do they tour?

italianclaret88 · Post by **italianclaret88** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:31 pm

I think only knopfler....but i ll search about tour..

TurfyMoore · Post by **TurfyMoore** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:00 pm

Cant beat a bit of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jSFPygl4jg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Enclosure · Post by **The Enclosure** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:07 pm

My favourite guitarist along with Clapton ,such a talent.
Think i have every track of Dire Straits and Knoffler on his own.Never tire of listening to him.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:29 pm

HieronymousBoschHobs wrote:Picks with his fingers, disregards the plectrum.

I eat my bogies.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:33 pm

Hipper wrote:I eat my bogies.

That fits with the bathroom design

bfcfan1882 · Post by **bfcfan1882** » Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:38 pm

italianclaret88 wrote:I think only knopfler....but i ll search about tour..

New album due this year, hopefully with a tour to follow.

MK and band - not DS.

bfcfan1882 · Post by **bfcfan1882** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:06 pm

bfcfan1882 wrote:New album due this year, hopefully with a tour to follow.

MK and band - not DS.

First teaser for the new album released.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ni8qqb7o1xy8a ... n.mp3?dl=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

7decades · Post by **7decades** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:57 am

Perhaps we should run out to Dire Straits..........

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:25 pm

Lancasterclaret wrote:When someone puts a thread title like that, you always fear thats its going to be an RIP.

Maybe we could come out to "Romeo and Juliet"?

I thought that, it was a case of oh no, another one gone.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:36 pm

BFCmaj wrote:Great guitarist. Used to listen to a lot of Dire Straits as a youngster but it was only later when I understood his playing more that I realised it was full of country licks. Probably down to the influence of Chet Atkins on his style.
https://youtu.be/5wTVLIZaxMk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dire Straights were a fantastic band and played with a fluency rarely seen in most bands. Yes they always had a slightly 'American' feel to them because it sounded much like West Coast rock but his voice (a classic case of a crap singer sounding good in the context in a Dylanesque way) made it quintisentially English. Incidentally for anyone who hasn't heard it (and I'm certain most will have) get a listen to Sailing to Philadelphia, his solo album. Absolute magic and the title track with James Taylor is just so atmospheric and haunting I still get the hairs on my neck standing up.

Just an aside: if anyone wants to start a thread like this (and I love 'em) just add at the end of the title 'he's not dead'. That way it will cause a little less concern when looking at it. Ha ha.

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:20 pm

Forget sultans of swing, we need a sultan of either wing.

Flat Stanley · Post by **Flat Stanley** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:13 pm

It seems that we had all that premier league ‘money for nothing’ in the summer!

Great guitarist, the solo on Tunnel of Love is out of this world.

Their first album is my favourite. not over produced, just great music cut back without anything unnecessary. In my top 10 albums definitely.

BFCmaj · Post by **BFCmaj** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:21 pm

houseboy wrote:Dire Straights were a fantastic band and played with a fluency rarely seen in most bands. Yes they always had a slightly 'American' feel to them because it sounded much like West Coast rock but his voice (a classic case of a crap singer sounding good in the context in a Dylanesque way) made it quintisentially English. Incidentally for anyone who hasn't heard it (and I'm certain most will have) get a listen to Sailing to Philadelphia, his solo album. Absolute magic and the title track with James Taylor is just so atmospheric and haunting I still get the hairs on my neck standing up.

Just an aside: if anyone wants to start a thread like this (and I love 'em) just add at the end of the title 'he's not dead'. That way it will cause a little less concern when looking at it. Ha ha.

Interestingly, have you heard Bob Dylan's 1979 album Slow Train Coming which features Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers from Dire Straits?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Train_Coming" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:02 pm

A mate of mine asked me to play with him at the Cardigan arms in Leeds, sometime in the 80s. He wrote his own songs, kind of folky blues, and I'd joined him plenty of times at the Cardigan.

What he failed to mention is that he had also invited another one of his mates to play, a certain Mr Knopfler.

icu81b4 · Post by **icu81b4** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:08 pm

For fingerstyle acoustic, Tommy Emmanuel (CGP) is one of the best IMO, and Leo Kottke on 12 string is just ridiculously talented. I do like MK's easy style (So much so I bought a Pensa Suhr in New York many years ago) but for sheer musical brilliance on electric I'd have vote for Joe Satriani, and a very nice man he is too.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:16 am

BFCmaj wrote:Interestingly, have you heard Bob Dylan's 1979 album Slow Train Coming which features Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers from Dire Straits?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Train_Coming" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Must admit to only hearing snippets of that album. The article about it mentions Street Legal from around that time which is one of my favourite Dylan albums.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:20 am

icu81b4 wrote:For fingerstyle acoustic, Tommy Emmanuel (CGP) is one of the best IMO, and Leo Kottke on 12 string is just ridiculously talented. I do like MK's easy style (So much so I bought a Pensa Suhr in New York many years ago) but for sheer musical brilliance on electric I'd have vote for Joe Satriani, and a very nice man he is too.

Just been listening to David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk in the car on the way to work this morning. The amazing second solo on Comfortably Numb - just sublime. It is my favourite piece of guitar work ever. It shows just how good the guitar can sound without being flash - beautiful.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:59 pm

Got a great touch and a sound blues background Mr Gilmour.

icu81b4 · Post by **icu81b4** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:05 pm

houseboy wrote:Just been listening to David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk in the car on the way to work this morning. The amazing second solo on Comfortably Numb - just sublime. It is my favourite piece of guitar work ever. It shows just how good the guitar can sound without being flash - beautiful.

Have you seen his guitar rig? So many effects it needs a fork lift truck to get in on stage! But yes, he gets a nice sound out of them.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:22 pm

I heard him play direct into an AC30 (Gilmour) and it still sounded good - away from all that grandiose pomposity of Floyd he still has a great touch.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 9:30 am

icu81b4 wrote:Have you seen his guitar rig? So many effects it needs a fork lift truck to get in on stage! But yes, he gets a nice sound out of them.

Absolutely. Guitarists are famous for different things and with Gilmour it is his almost unique sound, which I suppose comes from his background with Floyd. The early days of experimenting with sound as much as actually playing music gave him a grounding in 'effects' that most players never have. The 'soundscape' in the middle of Echoes (which is also on the Gdansk album done brilliantly) makes the whole piece still one of my favourite pieces of music ever. Apparently the guitar sound in that section he discovered by accident by plugging an effects pedal in the wrong way in the studio.