Mark Knopfler - Tech Session
Lessons Included in this Course
Course Content Overview
This course offers a deep dive into the essential elements of Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing. You will learn to deconstruct and replicate his most famous techniques, gaining the skills to infuse your own playing with his signature style. The lessons are structured to provide a clear and practical path to mastering these techniques.
Here’s a breakdown of the lesson contents:
- Finger-picking: Master Knopfler’s unique clawhammer-esque fingerstyle approach, the foundation of his sound.
- Alternate Picking: Develop precision and speed with alternate picking exercises, crucial for Knopfler’s faster passages.
- Vibrato: Learn to apply subtle and expressive vibrato to add character and sustain to your notes.
- Legato: Achieve smooth, flowing melodic lines with hammer-ons and pull-offs, a key component of Knopfler’s fluid solos.
- String Bending: Execute soulful and accurate string bends, a hallmark of Knopfler’s expressive phrasing.
- Slides: Incorporate smooth and lyrical slides to connect notes and create seamless melodic transitions.
- Hybrid Picking: Explore the versatility of combining a pick and fingers to tackle complex passages.
- Double Stops: Add harmonic richness to your playing with Knopfler’s signature use of two-note chords.
This Course is Ideal for Players Who...
This course is perfectly suited for intermediate to advanced guitarists who are looking to expand their technical and expressive capabilities. It is particularly beneficial for those who want to:
- Learn the authentic techniques behind Mark Knopfler’s iconic guitar style.
- Develop a sophisticated fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique.
- Improve their phrasing, dynamics, and overall musicality.
- Master the solos and riffs from classic Dire Straits songs.
- Incorporate a more melodic and expressive approach into their own playing.
What will I achieve from completing this course?
The ‘Mark Knopfler - Tech Session’ provides a structured and effective learning experience that goes beyond simple tablature. Jamie Humphries, a world-renowned guitarist and educator, breaks down each technique with clear, concise instruction and high-quality video demonstrations. The course focuses on the “how” and “why” behind Knopfler’s playing, giving you a deeper understanding of the musical concepts at play. With detailed note-for-note breakdowns of iconic riffs and solos, you’ll have all the tools you need to master this legendary style. This Lick Library course will empower you to not only play like Mark Knopfler but also to integrate his techniques into your own unique musical voice, taking your guitar playing to a new level of sophistication and expression.
WE CAN HELP...
1-ON-1 COACHING
Access to thousands of lessons is great, but without a plan you can feel like you’re practicing in circles. Book your FREE 1-on-1 video call with a Licklibrary pro to fix your technique, build a practice plan, get motivated, or overcome any challenge. It's all included in your membership!
** Disclaimer **
*This product is not endorsed by or made in association with
Mark Knopfler
nor does
Mark Knopfler
perform or appear on this course.*
Mark Knopfler - Tech Session by Jamie Humphries
Introduction
Welcome to Licklibrary.com's "Mark Knopfler - Tech Session" by Jamie Humphries, an exceptional guitar lesson series designed to immerse you in the iconic techniques of Mark Knopfler. This comprehensive course is meticulously crafted to provide note-for-note guitar lessons, focusing on the intricate playing style of the legendary Dire Straits guitarist. Each lesson is structured to offer detailed insights into various guitar techniques, enhancing your playing skills and musical understanding. Additionally, Jamie Humphries' performances of the lessons allow you to see these techniques in a real-world context, demonstrating their application in a musical setting.
Lesson Breakdown
Lesson 1: Finger-picking
In this lesson, Jamie delves into Mark Knopfler's distinctive finger-picking technique. Unlike traditional picking, finger-picking involves using your fingers instead of a plectrum to pluck the strings, creating a softer, more nuanced sound. This technique is essential for replicating the unique tonal quality that defines Knopfler's style.
Benefits: Learning finger-picking enhances your dexterity and control, allowing you to play more complex and dynamic pieces with greater precision.
Lesson 2: Alternate Picking
Alternate picking is a fundamental technique in guitar playing, involving the consistent alternation between downstrokes and upstrokes. Jamie shows how Knopfler utilises this method to achieve smooth, fast passages and articulate note separation.
Benefits: Mastering alternate picking improves your speed and accuracy, crucial for playing fast solos and intricate riffs with ease.
Lesson 3: Vibrato
Jamie explains how Knopfler employs vibrato to add expressiveness and sustain to his notes. Vibrato involves oscillating the pitch of a note by bending the string back and forth.
Benefits: Vibrato enhances your musical expressiveness, giving your playing an emotional and professional edge.
Lesson 4: Legato
Legato playing focuses on creating smooth transitions between notes using hammer-ons and pull-offs without picking each note. Jamie demonstrates how this technique contributes to the fluidity of Knopfler's solos.
Benefits: Learning legato helps in developing a smooth, flowing playing style, reducing hand fatigue, and increasing your playing speed.
Lesson 5: String Bending
String bending involves pushing or pulling a string to change its pitch. Jamie illustrates how Knopfler uses bends to add soul and character to his solos.
Benefits: String bending enhances your ability to add emotional depth to your solos, making your playing more expressive.
Lesson 6: Slides
Slides are used to transition between notes by gliding a finger along the string. Jamie shows how Knopfler incorporates slides into his melodies to create smooth, lyrical passages.
Benefits: Mastering slides improves your ability to connect notes seamlessly, adding fluidity to your playing.
Lesson 7: Hybrid Picking
Hybrid picking combines the use of a pick and fingers to pluck the strings, allowing for more versatile and intricate playing. Jamie demonstrates this technique in the context of Knopfler's work.
Benefits: Hybrid picking expands your picking options, enabling you to tackle more complex pieces and play with greater versatility.
Lesson 8: Double Stops
Double stops involve playing two notes simultaneously. Jamie explains how Knopfler uses double stops to create rich, harmonic textures in his playing.
Benefits: Learning double stops enhances your harmonic knowledge and adds fullness to your sound.
Performance Context
Each lesson in this series is complemented by a performance from Jamie Humphries, showcasing the techniques in action. Seeing these techniques performed in a musical context is incredibly beneficial for several reasons:
- Application: Watching the techniques applied in a performance helps you understand how they fit into actual songs and solos, making it easier to incorporate them into your own playing.
- Musicality: Performances highlight the musicality and expression behind each technique, showing not just how to play the notes, but how to make them sing.
- Inspiration: Observing a skilled guitarist perform can be incredibly inspiring, motivating you to practice and improve your own skills.
Guitar Techniques Covered
Embark on your journey to master Mark Knopfler's iconic guitar techniques with Jamie Humphries at Licklibrary.com. Each lesson is designed to help you develop your skills and musicality, bringing you one step closer to playing like a true guitar legend.
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Jamie Humphries
Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...