Knopfler has a humility to his style of playing that gives his music an effortless, very listenable quality. It's not simply that he's good technically, which he is, but that he's aware of himself and his playing as he's playing. This informs how he plays, I think. People connect to that sort of thing. This aspect is missing from music in general a lot these days - soul, genuine sensitivity. Most music these days wants to bang us over the head. Mark Knopfler teaches us that you don't need to to be affective. P.S. I believe people in the comments are being over hard on the three playing. Easy to criticise this side of the camera, guys. Behind your keyboards playing with your Twinkies.
I was just thinking how nervous they must have been, being asked to play with Mark!? It took more balls to do that than most people possess. Good on them!
I've watched thid video many times over the years. As my playing had progressed, the more I appreciate the talent of all of the guitarists here. Just wonderful to experience. Namaste x
I like how so many of the comments make the assumption that Mark was somehow begrudgingly doing this against his will. The three guys were competent players, and seeing how nobody feinted, or vomited on their shoes...they managed to be in the moment. Mark is such a humble guy, I remember when he was asked about being a Guitar Master, he chuckled a bit and responded "after all of these years, I may know 5% of the guitar, but someday
'yeah, Jim try to end the phra- *YYYEEEEWWYEEWW* - 'that's nice but try not to keep goi- *WYYYEEEEEEW* lol someone take that whammy bar and beat him with it
@@savvageorge The left-handed guy was much better. His tune near the end of part 2 was fresh and harmonically inventive. His solo on Local Hero is by far the most developed and actually addresses the harmony (which makes sense given his interest in jazz), even if he isn't totally successful in his second chorus. Jim is alright, but his reliance on gimmicks and canned licks makes for very poorly built solos--lots of meandering and not much development. His noodling over Mark's intro also muddled the melody and contributed nothing to the overall texture.
All 3 chaps are pretty good, just eager to show their own styles!!! But listen to the end when Mark and Alan Clark kick in. It's magic, pure talent!!! I wish Mark and Alan would work together again👍👍👍
I would not want to meet mark like this, because no matter what you play ,he is a perfectionist and nothing is good enough even for him, I mean his own work. IV been playing guitar and drums and bass and piano and anything I can get for 37 years, my focus has been more on songwriting than being a wiz guitar player. When I was a teen I got into all that lead and scales and playing like hendrix.but it felt wrong because you just copy other guitarist. I studied hard on Hendrix to the point I allmost went mad trying to understand how he thought. His style was so weird to me but I learnt it, then I gave up on trying and just on songwriting. Mark is a guitar player that I love to hear and he is a great songwriter as well. I love his song about the war the Falklands I think it's brothers in arms ,that makes me cry because it's a beautiful song. He captured the sadness and the loss of young men in a very emotional but clever poetical kind of way. I would not want to meet the people that I like there songs. IV met one of my favourite guitar players but he's different from this but he's just as good, Steve albini and it was just weird because I'm such a nerd. Meeting yr idols is not recommended.
As a guitarist all my life off and on and many flavors of music I'd love at 60 now to sit down with Mark knopfler and play some for sheer enjoyment and inspiration, he's top notch with me and always has been, cheers to Mark a humble man maybe one day , Bobby in Tennessee
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. It's great when all three of the masterclass students start riffing from the same tune foundation and make it their own while blending with the others as well. The jazz guitarist is so soft and subtle that he almost disappears in the wind, but there's a lovely quality to it anyway.
Wow... been there. Students who don't hear a freaking word you are saying. These guys are sitting with one of the great innovators -- yet they seem to have been coerced to attend this session and could care less! They just want to jam, I guess? What a gracious guy.
I actually think Alan is a fantastic keyboardist too. Just have a listen to him playing that same part over and over. He puts so much expression into it.
Just musically brilliant. Knopfler IS definitely the best guitarist ever..Loved him from the very first time I heard him. That finger style, soooo smooth. Seen him 3 times in concert over the years and he never failed to impress.
The greatest lesson I take is Mark is very economical with his movements and all along he was trying to tell that less is more in the musical feel. The jazz guy was outstanding in his phrasing while the seafoam guy gelled the best with Mark. The crimson guy was trying to do too much with his skills but didn't know how to conclude his phrases. Mark said as much. Not to rundown the three guitarists, Mark was being less than 5% of what he's capable of.
I don't know what everybody's complaining about... I think the 3 of them did a great job, each in their own style, and I'd be happy to see if the "music critics" we have here in the comments could do it better! Please go ahead, sit in front of Knopfler and do your best, then wait and see the reactions on youtube. Also, I think the stress they must feel there, playing in front of MK, has to be taken into consideration as well.
+Sacha Baptista You clearly dont understand whats going on. People are complaining because not because they are bad but mainly because the one guy refused to take the advice given to him by a legend
Apparently, they were highly respected musicians in their own right to those in the industry, with their own established style and body of work. I imagine they thought this would be a meeting of equals (technically) but where they would learn about Mark's specific style and approach.
+Sacha, I see what you're saying. I think what happened here is that basically these guys are not really listening to MK's advice because they're so stunned to be even sitting there getting a lesson from him. They're like in shock and have no idea what's going on in the present moment. It probably only hit them a week later.."Um.. huh?? We were playing guitar with Mark Knopfler? Wha?"
Mark knopfler makes solos that sound like a real melody. Which you can actually sing. That’s the difference between soloing and making a solo sing. It’s like a whole song that you can remember and sing back. When he stars a bit of a melody you can guess which tune it is before he actually vocalises the song. That’s what is so special about his playing. It’s like his second voice.
Well, I think this was improvisation. I've been listening to it twenty or thirty times today. Nice class, Mark. By the way, the student in the middle is the best of all, and gets the most "yeah" responses from MK!
Date : 4th May 2023 This time next year NUFC will be riding high in the Champions League . And Local Hero will be played . A fitting anthem to the club and more importantly , to Mr Knopfler.
I love all these maestors in the comments complaining about how these dudes are playing wrong. That was some solid soloing between the three of them. Obviously Knopfler would sound better, it's _his_ song. But the lads were no slouches either. I'm only disappointed that there isn't enough 'class' in this master class.
When I'm in a guitar class, I often find that I need time to practice and process what the teacher is saying to me. Even if I can do it technically right away, I usualy have to go away and get to know it properly. Implementing things takes time
5:30. "You have this thing in you that wants to keep going" (trying to get him to pause in his phrasing)..And what does he do? He keeps on playing, riffing, noodling.
alot of people in here ripping the 3 guys. You go back 20 years and find video of yourselves not sounding like an idiot. These gentlemen also have had YEARS and YEARS for this lesson to resonate in their brains. Perhaps they have also learned from it. It's hard to learn in the moment, and almost all learning happens during reflection. Open your brains.
I love Mark. He sayng I’m doing a little twitle ??? Haaa That litle twitle his doing my frends will take you years to do it right. So hold your horses. Boys
It’s more that Knopfler isn’t a very good technical guitar player. Fortunately! He’s awesome. Even Chet Atkins appreciation for his atypical approach to chord and melody development throws the technical out the window; Knopfler’s artistry comes through because he just makes the guitar smooth, precise, and do what he wants. Sorta the guitar version of voices like Jim Reeves, Allison Krauss, or David Draiman
If we're perfectly honest with ourselves, what makes Knopfler unique is his songwriting abilities. They're arguably even better than his guitar playing.
+Rock 'n Roll Daddio wat?! not at all! he's more like jeff beck's bad parody)) it takes at least more than one life to be able to play like David Gilmour(not gilmore!)
The 3rd bloke Chris seems receptive and have a nice style similar to Marks. Jimmy was a bit too wammy enthusiastic. Must have been daunting to play to Mark to be fair to all of them!
Thank you to whoever highlighted my comment. I play drums and keyboards/piano and have just started to learn guitar. I'm 57 now so maybe a bit late lol
