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TEB

(12,841 posts)
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 06:22 AM Aug 2017

Figuring out sultans of swing

Last edited Sun Aug 13, 2017, 09:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Hey all been up since 0400 I just could not sleep. Yesterday my boys came to me dad have you ever heard of dire straits. I said yes I have boys , and I added I really like mark knopfler guitar work. For forty years I been exploring fretboard from Jeff beck willie Nelson Hubert sumlin Hendrix srv mr gibbons and many other awesome guitarists you all get what I'm saying, on Not just to learn their music but to tear it apart and study their nuances how they brought out awesome notes from a guitar. Of late I have been really into Django Reinhardt how he played with three fingers and I'm struggling studying Django with five. So now the boys and dad will note for note sultans of swing today and start a study of mark Knopfler. I told my wife in bed last night I wonder why it has taken me fourty years to get around to mark knoplfer.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Figuring out sultans of swing (Original Post) TEB Aug 2017 OP
a study of mark Knopfler Goonch Aug 2017 #1
Don't let a piece of plastic get in the way OxQQme Aug 2017 #2
Hello friend TEB Aug 2017 #3
Freddy King also used finger picks. thucythucy Aug 2017 #4
He was awesome I love hideaway TEB Aug 2017 #5
Yes.....Mark Knopfler Heartstrings Aug 2017 #6
Why worry TEB Aug 2017 #7
Thank you! Heartstrings Aug 2017 #9
Hey all TEB Aug 2017 #8

OxQQme

(2,550 posts)
2. Don't let a piece of plastic get in the way
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 08:09 AM
Aug 2017

of the notes.
I'm a bass player in a band that covers Sultans of Swing.
Our guitar player can't 'finger pick' the strings.
We've got the song down and are pretty good at it.
But, the resulting 'voice' of the guitar is way different than Mark's.

TEB

(12,841 posts)
3. Hello friend
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 08:57 AM
Aug 2017

Yes I agree on pick I am type player that uses my fingers. Tone wise I use tone and volume pots and I have taught that you do not have to play full dime. As for a pick I will use it for a sharper tone but majority of time I palm pick as I play. I credit my father for my style of playing because he was awesome finger picking player , Thank you for posting.

thucythucy

(8,045 posts)
4. Freddy King also used finger picks.
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 09:33 AM
Aug 2017

One of my all time favorite guitar players (his voice was awesome too).

He was Eric Clapton's mentor, and wrote "Hideaway," "Pulpwood," "Goin' Down" and lots of other great tunes.

Check him out, if you haven't already.

Sadly, he died young, in the 1970s.

One of the greats.

Heartstrings

(7,349 posts)
6. Yes.....Mark Knopfler
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 10:19 AM
Aug 2017

Hard to explain his "draw".....the incredibly smooth finger picking, his ultra-mellow voice, his captivating lyrics (that aren't consistently about love, or lost love), or just his uncockiness about being one of the all time greats....I tend to think he likes to "fly under the radar", just doing and living what obviously comes naturally.....

I've always been a Clapton freak, but lately I've swung over to Knopfler. I get severe migraines and to "settle" my head, I put in my earbuds and need to listen to something less edgy....Knopfler fits that bill to a tee!

Have fun with your sons learning Sultans!

TEB

(12,841 posts)
7. Why worry
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 03:42 PM
Aug 2017

Is also another beautiful song by dire straits. Have you found any relief for your migraines , my wife's uncle suffers as you do. Try SRV two songs when you go to escape with your ear buds. Riviera paradise and Lenny , not sure if I'm correct but I think I read years ago that he wrote Lenny for his wife lenora.

Heartstrings

(7,349 posts)
9. Thank you!
Mon Aug 14, 2017, 09:06 AM
Aug 2017

Will try those SRV tunes!

My favorite go to song by Knopfler for my migraines is "Silvertown Blues", especially verse 3.....

My regards to your wife's uncle, migraine's suck!

TEB

(12,841 posts)
8. Hey all
Sun Aug 13, 2017, 04:09 PM
Aug 2017

It was awesome afternoon figuring out sultans of swing. My boys have a decent understanding of the core chord work of the song. We made it as far as studying the lead where he starts with harmonics in with the A major arpeggio but we hung it up for a bit the boys and their uncle my son in law and I played some hoops in drive way. I absolutely love sitting on back deck and the three of us jam. It excites me and brings me joy to see the happiness they feel when they get it wright on fretboard. I always tell them just have fun this is just a piece of wood with six strings that we run electric thru. . we always go off on tangents like today bridge of sighs or showing them pinch harmonics think billy gibbons ZZ Top on pinched harmonics.

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