As lead guitarist and singer with Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler has been one of the world’s most high-profile artists since Sultans Of Swing captivated listeners back in 1977. A few years later in 1985, the group’s Brothers In Arms album became a colossal hit, coinciding with its release on the new music format, CD. The iconic song Money For Nothing, with its reference to MTV, and a video featuring computer generated animation, caught the wave of enthusiasm for music television featuring artist videos.
Knopfler’s approach is based around a rootsy fingerpicked way of playing (mostly thumb, first finger, and second finger). This gives a varied texture and warm tone to solos , comping, and riffs . Some of his parts would be much more difficult to execute without at least using hybrid picking , where the pick and fingers are used together.
This approach is particularly appropriate for country, folk, and roots styles. I once did a session with Straits’ bassist John Illsley, who told me that Little Feat were a big influence on the band’s sound. If you listen to the grooves they were purveying at the time, you might hear some kinship with that great American group, despite the fact that Knopfler’s guitar style is quite different.
Knopfler has been working as a solo artist since Dire Straits stopped working, and has amassed a fine body of work that capitalizes on his playing, songwriting, and singing. In addition to his work as a solo artist, Knopfler has lent his talents t.