Quick Licks - In The Style of Mark Knopfler

Discover the distinctive and articulate guitar style of a true master with Quick Licks - In the Style of Mark Knopfler, a premier online guitar course from LickLibrary. Guided by the expert instruction of Jamie Humphries, this course is an essential resource for guitarists wanting to learn the nuanced fingerpicking techniques and melodic phrasing that defined the sound of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler’s solo career. If you’re searching for comprehensive Mark Knopfler guitar lessons that go beyond simple tabs, this course offers a deep dive into the techniques that make his playing so unique. Learn to blend rock, blues, and folk with a clean, expressive touch, and add a new layer of sophistication to your guitar playing.
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Jamie Humphries Tutor, Professional Guitarist
Image of tutor: Jamie Humphries

Course Content Overview

This course features an impressive collection of great licks in the style of Mark Knopfler, along with a high-quality backing track to help you apply what you’ve learned in a musical context. You will explore the core techniques that are fundamental to Knopfler’s signature sound, from his unique finger-style approach to his classic Stratocaster tone.

What You Will Learn:

  • Classic Strat Tone Guide: Learn how to dial in the iconic, clean tones of a Fender Stratocaster.
  • Finger Picking: Master Knopfler’s unique clawhammer-like fingerpicking style for both rhythm and lead.
  • Lead Guitar Work: Develop your ability to craft tasteful, melodic solos that tell a story.
  • Pentatonic Bending: Learn to use subtle and expressive string bends within the pentatonic scale.
  • D Natural Minor Scale Soloing: Explore the melancholic and beautiful sounds of the natural minor scale.
  • Double and Triple Stops: Add harmonic richness to your playing with classic double and triple stop licks.

Technique Breakdown

Instructor Jamie Humphries provides a detailed breakdown of each essential technique. The Mark Knopfler fingerpicking style lessons will develop your finger independence and control, allowing you to play intricate rhythms and melodies simultaneously. You’ll also receive a classic Strat tone guide, helping you achieve that coveted bell-like clarity. The course delves into Knopfler’s approach to melodic lead guitar, teaching you how to build solos with space, dynamics, and a strong sense of melody. You’ll master the art of pentatonic bending guitar lessons and learn how to apply the D natural minor scale to create emotive and memorable solos. Finally, the sections on double stops guitar technique and triple stops will give you the tools to create the rich, layered guitar parts that are a hallmark of the Dire Straits sound.

This Course is Ideal for Players Who...

This course is perfect for intermediate guitarists who appreciate tasteful, melodic playing and want to develop their fingerstyle technique. If you’re a fan of Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler’s solo work and have always wanted to understand the mechanics behind his unique sound, this is the course for you. It’s also an excellent choice for any player looking to move beyond pick-based playing and explore the expressive possibilities of fingerstyle rock guitar. If you’ve been searching for “fingerstyle rock guitar lessons online” or “learn Mark Knopfler fingerpicking style,” this course provides the structured, in-depth instruction you need.

What will I achieve from completing this course?

Quick Licks - In the Style of Mark Knopfler is a practical and effective way to learn the intricacies of this legendary guitarist’s style. By the end of this course, you will have:

  • Mastered Fingerstyle Technique: Develop the dexterity and control to play complex fingerstyle patterns with ease.
  • Achieved a Classic Tone: Understand how to get the most out of your guitar and amp to achieve a clean, professional sound.
  • Enhanced Your Melodic Phrasing: Learn to create solos that are both technically impressive and emotionally resonant.
  • Expanded Your Harmonic Vocabulary: Incorporate double and triple stops to add a new level of sophistication to your playing.

With the included backing track, you can immediately apply these new skills in a real musical setting, solidifying your learning and boosting your confidence. LickLibrary is a trusted name in online guitar education, and this course is another example of our commitment to providing high-quality, engaging, and effective guitar lessons for players of all levels. Take the next step in your guitar journey and learn to play with the elegance and artistry of Mark Knopfler.

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Quick Licks for Guitar: Soloing in D Minor - In The Style of Mark Knopfler

This extensive collection of lessons is designed to help guitarists of all levels explore the unique techniques of one of rock's most distinctive players. Let's examine the core techniques featured in this series and understand their importance for any aspiring guitarist. This course is taught by Jamie Humphries.

What You Will Learn In This Course

35 great licks in the style of Joe Satriani. This course also includes a backing track to play over. The techniques you will learn include:

  • Classic Strat tone guide
  • Finger picking
  • Lead guitar work
  • Pentatonic bending 
  • D natural minor scale soloing 
  • Double and triple stops

Technique Breakdown

Classic Strat Tone Guide

The Classic Strat tone, synonymous with Knopfler's sound, is a focus of our lessons. You'll learn how to achieve that renowned crisp, bell-like Stratocaster sound, including the right EQ settings and pickup choices. This tone is fundamental for various music styles and is a vital element in replicating Knopfler's sound.

Finger Picking

Knopfler's unconventional approach to guitar involves prominent finger-picking, which allows for nuanced string interaction. Our tutorials emphasize developing finger independence, enabling the simultaneous articulation of complex rhythmic patterns and melodies. This technique not only adds textural richness to your playing but also ensures a fluid transition between notes.

Lead Guitar Work

Explore the essence of Knopfler’s melodic lead guitar techniques. Our lessons break down how he constructs emotionally resonant solos with a narrative quality. They emphasize developing a story-like progression in your solos, integrating his signature legato style and dynamic expressiveness.

Pentatonic Bending

Learn to master pentatonic bends, a key feature of Knopfler's expressive style. Our lessons focus on executing these bends with precision and emotion, vital for adding depth and feeling to your playing. This technique is essential for bringing life to simple pentatonic scales.

D Natural Minor Scale Soloing

Knopfler often employs the D natural minor scale for its somber, rich tones. Our tutorials guide you through utilizing this scale in your solos, allowing you to add a moodier, more introspective quality to your improvisations and compositions.

Double and Triple Stops

The lessons also delve into double and triple stops, where you play two or three strings simultaneously, often with bends to create a fuller sound. This technique enriches your riffs and is a potent way to craft memorable musical phrases.

Benefits of Practicing with a Backing Track

Incorporating these techniques with a backing track, as featured in our lessons, is crucial. Practicing with backing tracks helps integrate the licks into musical scenarios, enhancing your timing, rhythm, and adaptability to different harmonic contexts. It’s an effective way to prepare for live playing and jam sessions.

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Style

Mark Knopfler, celebrated for his role in Dire Straits, is known for his fluid finger-picking style, blending rock with jazz and blues elements. His distinctive approach, characterized by a clear, articulate touch on the strings, is a study in expressive, narrative-driven guitar playing. Learning his style teaches the importance of selective note use, dynamics, and the guitar's expressive range.

Technique List

Here's a list of techniques that you will explore in the "Quick Licks - Mark Knopfler" series:

Whether you're just starting your guitar journey or are a seasoned player looking to delve deeper into Mark Knopfler's unique style, the "Quick Licks - Mark Knopfler" series has something to offer. These lessons are tailored to enhance your technical skills while immersing you in the stylistic nuances of a guitar legend.

* THIS PRODUCT IS NOT ENDORSED BY OR MADE IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARK KNOPFLER, NOR DOES MARK KNOPFLER PERFORM OR APPEAR ON THIS COURSE *

Jamie Humphries playing the guitar.

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...

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