Knopfler is a totally unique guitarist - you know its him in just a few notes. Smooth and elegant and effortlessly slinky. Great phrasing, tone, and musicality - he is always understated and classy while creating wonderful emotionality. He gives little glimpses of the ferocious speed he COULD play with, but always plays the right note at the right time. While he never really got the glory of a Clapton, Allman, or SRV, he is every bit their equal in his own way. Theres a reason hes always on THEIR best guitarists lists.
Probably the only guy who could share the stage with Clapton on the same level of precision , playing only the notes needed , Eric plays that way as well. I know there is some stuff they've done together and for good reason. Mark Knopfler being such a humble guy makes him all that much better.
LOL That made me laugh, as I saw Clapton back in '88 (with Phil Collins on drums!) and Knopfler came out and played a set with him. To ROARING applause. They played back and forth so well, set each other up, supported each other's leads... It was absolutely gorgeous and I remember it still 35 years later. Thanks for pulling up that old memory. Peace to you!
Such an understated and humble man. Even his melodies are subtle and unassuming. His whole vibe is very unpretentious and genuine. It looks like he's using about 11% of his skill level. True masters don't need to scream and shout for validation.
I allways say DS are the best band ever and best music ever Not because there are no greather or better or also good but that is music gor every day for every feelg. You can listen to ds no matter how you feel and no matter how hard you listen. If you want just background music...if you want to listen to musical genius and intricat details,if you want groovie hits you can pick anny one song DS and you get ALl
The best part of Mark’s attitude is that he’s never boasted about or of being a great guitar player or about his music. He’s too humble,to my eyes. I love his style in and off musical world. He just let his music speak. Let it speak for itself..and such a music. Man. Thank you for the music you make.
Interesting Fact - When asked about how he started playing he said he wasn't naturally gifted AT ALL. It would take him 3 months to learn one Chord. He practised and practised non stop - learning one Chord then another. Considering he admits he had NO natural talent, his guitar playing is even more impressive !!!
He's definitely the smoothest and soothing guitarist I ever heard. Love his style since I heard him on first album. Never get enough of his music. Always been very good
And you. Me as well. It blows my fucking mind. Soooooo comfortable with his instrument. He rarely gets quick and flashy. This was dope and he barely breaks a sweat.
I first came across Dire Straits in 1978 when I watched them on BBC 2 and was blown away by the virtuosity of the the lead guitar. They were not famous then and shortly afterwards were booked to play a small university venue in my home town. I managed to get tickets, took my then fiancée, and since then, attending a number of gigs, have lived my life to the music and songs of Mark Knopfler. The years have flown by, accompanied by his artistry. They have been good years.
He has class and taste. Playing a million miles an hour is not what it's about. It's about how your soul feels after. Mine feels great after this song.
I was always told that playing an instrument quietly was the mark of a good player. The quiet gentle playing here proves it. Never flashy, never ‘gilds the lily’ just pure class.
I agree. That's something I liked about the Doors band. Maranzek, Krieger and Densmore really knew when to play quietly or even not at all. The SOUND is what's important.
Interesting Fact - When asked about how he started playing he said he wasn't naturally gifted AT ALL. It would take him 3 months to learn one Chord. He practised and practised non stop - learning one Chord then another. Considering he admits he had NO natural talent, his guitar playing is even more impressive !!!
Not many guitarists can make you cry with joy like Mark does. He is simply, THE Greatest, forget the rest. The emotions he stirs up in a few simple chords is unreal, add to that his amazing storytelling in the lyrics of his songs and you have a master at work. Thank you for the music and the memories Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler.
One of the most distinctive sounds. You always know when it's Mark Knopfler playing. I've loved Sultans' solo since it first came out. Hearing it always takes me back.
Amen, he already knows the sound, when it is supposed to emerge, how it is supposed to happen, and he lets it happen. Only the best let it happen. The rest try to make it happen.
Genius? Maybe. Great guitar player for sure. Bob Dylan was a genius long ago. So was captain Beefheart. Zappa wasn't. Mark doesn't care about labels like that.
Mark never gets enough mainstream credit. Best guitar player of all time. No one can make a guitar sing like he can. When you can make a guitar sound like a violin and so many other string instruments like Knopfler could get back to me!
I sort of think of him as a fine whiskey (maybe just because I didn’t really understand how amazing he was till I got older). He may not be as flashy or crazy as guys like Eddie VanHalen or Slash, but he has a subtle refinement that feels like all the beauty and all the burn of life are washing over you in a single sip.
Dear God in Heaven, thank you for giving the world this man and all of his being! A TRUE GIANT, in the realm of music! I hope his life has been as good as the blood of life he brought to the field of music and audience's around the world, for what, forty-three years now! Bravo, to Mr. MK, always and forever! Thank you from all who have been in your presence!
To me he is up there alongside David Gilmour as the two greatest guitar players of all time. They have this sheer elegance in common, and a ability to deliver the message with fewer notes, but always well placed. Their solos can always be sung, and that speaks volumes.
I fell in love with the man through this solo ... How he holds the guitar, how he plays it, how he stands there, how he looks with his mouth open... It's all a piece of cake for him. Hands free orga....
Some think that speed is the most important factor in guitar solos. In my opinion the soul and atmosphere it creates is far more important. Like Knopfler does it ;)
Only people who think soul and atmosphere is what's important in a guitar solo say that some think that speed is the most important. Really, very few people actually think so
You look at some guitarists and the parts that some people get excited about and it's just speed. Remember Yngwei Malmsteen? Blazingly fast. But he's a technician, not an artist. The true artists can play pretty fast. They just don't do it all the time. They know that they can speak with one note, one bend or a flurry of notes. If all you do is play a flurry of notes, it starts to become noise. You can admire the proficiency with which that speed is executed, how clean the notes are, etc, but it lacks the fell and ability to speak to you like true art. If you consider the guitarists that are widely revered as the greatest, all of them know when to hold back. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Knopfler, Eric Johnson, all of them have moments in their work that are memorable for one wailing note, or a bend that takes on its own life. They know that ripping scale runs are dull by themselves.
You "might" be wrong? Haha. Have you ever seen them live? If so then please comment on what it is. If not, then please just continue to comment on how great he is. This has always been Dire Straits staple solo for Sultans. lmgtfy.com/?q=Sultans+of+Swing+live
Yes, Michael, I was wrong initially but I did not know how to edit my post. I have seen Dire Straits / Mark Knopfler in concert 6 or 7 times. But when you get to my old age, you have heard a lot of great music, and it is easy to get mixed up occasionally. I wish that he would do another tour as Dire Straits.
I had the honor to hear him + Dire Straits play at Royal Albert Hall in the late 90's....so incredible. Unforgettable! He is amazing! So glad I saw him.
In my opinion, Mark Knopfler is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He may not be a technical wizard or play lightning fast, blistering solos, or create music which is nearly impossible to replicate and learn to play, all of which seems to be the criteria to be a "great guitarist" by most people's standards.. But Knopfler is an amazing songwriter and in general, he has a profound musical sense. He knows what to play, when to play it, and makes his guitar sing with such gentle elegance that it allows him to communicate so many emotions to his listeners with so few notes. Some of his guitar licks are so beautiful it makes me want to weep. It's a shame he is so underrated when it comes to most people's lists of the greatest guitarists.
The Hemingway of guitarists. Hemingway was a master of saying in ten words or less what others needed a hundred for. Knopfler is a genius of the well placed note... Letting it hang out in the open, sometimes surrounded even by silence. I do not play, but from a listener of many guitarists, he strikes me as among the best at "expression of feeling." Even listening to many of his old classics, I am in awe...
+Saba Qat - Well said. His style of playing, self taught, is absolutely unique, phrasing second to none. And, tm50210 is also spot on about well placed notes. He pauses, has a delayed entrance, spaces ended with a perfect note sustained forever. He mentioned his admiration for country guitar players and one of his close friends was Chet Atkins. Knoepfler is a student of the instrument and Atkins was a valuable teacher and colleague.
+tm502010 Well, I thought I played guitar, until I heard Knopfler play Sultans of swing. It caused me to lose my drive to ever be a good guitar player, much less a great player. I just feel like selling mine.
+F. Chris Stewart Plus, his propensity to literally bounce around the stage while soloing is endearing and looks like he's having a ton of fun. I don't even really care for their music overall, but I just love watching this dude play.
Quite possibly the best self taught guitarist ever ... consummate natural talent and soul ... music played for the love of playing good music, not just for commercial success ... awesome :)
the alchemy live version is probably better, but is it just me or is every one of his songs just really good in its own special way on different live versions?
imo cooperation between whole band in alchemy version is that which always gives me shivers down my spine listening this song. solo was great, no doubt. but whole edit and "on the go" teamworking between dire straits were unbelivebly incredibly awesome and crucial for that excat live record to become iconic in rock history
+deegeeooh Yeah! They all, each and every one have something unique! Enjoy it your own way! They are all the best in their own way! Lyndsey Buckingham and Gary Moore are certainly up there in the mix too! But you are so so right, forget comparisons, just enjoy each one, your own way!
At last, an intelligent, mature opinion. Someone should frame this shit, that comment was too good for this toilet. ;) 9.9 (high marks for originality and difficulty tarriff of comment, but 0.1 knocked off for being nice on youtube which as we all know, is against the law)
Yes. It's fantastic. I think the whole song, live from the very beginning when it can be mistaken for Telegraph Road, right through to the final 4 minutes instrumental is just awesome.
@@gerryodonnell4554 That's not true, if you watch his face during his concerts, particularly the old one, you can see sometimes he concentrates so hard and closes his eyes, sometimes he sticks out his tongue - very funny!
Truly one of the greatest guitarist of all time. I listen to this solo of his he played in the Alchemy Sultan of Swings as well it just takes my soul to another dimension or world all alone,this is is beyond amazing
@@alfredvincent6150 I'm jealous lol. It is so sad that seeing live music by the aritst from our time are so expensive tho. The closest venue to me is in PA and the cheapest tickest are $306. So sad that live classic rock has become a thing for the elites.
We were lucky to find some reasonably priced tickets. I hope the same happens for you! I'm listening to the "Privateering" CD as we speak. Not a weak cut on the CD!
DOES THIS GUY JAM OR WHAT!!! JUST BEAUTIFUL ❤️ I LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC ALL THE TIME,. PLEASE ALL YOU FANS OUT THERE, PLAY THIS SONG ALOT, IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL WONDERFUL!!! AND ALSO PLAY REMIX... ONCE UPON A TIME. THE BEST REMIX AND DON'T FORGET REMIX.. WHAT IT IS.. YOU FOLKS OUT THERE, PLAY THESE SONGS ALOT, AND YOU WILL FEEL HAPPY AND STRESS FREE.. . YOUR FAN OF 30 YRS. KEEP THE NEW SONGS COMING OUR WAY FOR YEAR'S TO COME... LOVE YOU MARK ❤️☺️💙
I think with no video to see who is playing guitar, Mark could pluck one note on his guitar and you would already know it was him,such a distinct sound. I've been playing 50 years and my favorite guitarist are the ones that I can't replicate their playing style very well and Mark is one of them and definitely one of my favorites.
