Evolution, from strumming to finger picking

In a very relaxed and conversational interview Mark Knopfler takes us through the stages of his evolving acoustic style, from strumming to finger picking.

[@michaelelliott1212]

The gift isn't having the talent. The gift is having a desire to play/get better.

[@johnmiller2132]

The fact that he's not playing "the way it's meant to be done", as he says, is what makes him one of the best guitarists in my opinion. It makes him stand out with a unique style

[@superfluppe]

That's right ! Every guitarist worth mentioning doesn't play "the way it's meant to be done". You can't be innovative or become an artist if you stick to the teacher's rule.

[@tokiyakillsinsight160]

My experience, play whatever is most comfortable for you

[@Gilmour3]

If only Mark was my guitar teacher...He seems so relaxed and so patient with the learning process its amazing to me!!Thank for the music sir!!!

[@stgodards]

This is probably the most enjoyable interview with a musician I've ever watched. He cuts through all the BS and makes it so relatable.

[@stonethecrow80]

James Whelan I agree, but what actually BS means?

[@karlfarren]

@@stonethecrow80 BS = bullshit

[@-l-segret9554]

​@@stonethecrow80bullshit

[@2beinteresting]

Knopfler was a teacher, so that makes sense.

[@TheAxelrod]

i love how he starts the sentence with words and finishes with notes..

[@jasper_north]

And then says; you know

[@kiwitihi4606]

@@jasper_north and then he says; "the pick is really the biggest amplifier that there is." 🤣

[@yootubebill1]

Wish I had youtube 45 years ago when starting to play guitar. This sort of video is a real help to youngsters starting to learn. Who better to watch than Mark as well, proving that you don,t have to thrash yer axe to be cool!

[@naasdyksterhuis6496]

Me to,

[@jasper_north]

Yes. Same here

[@xyhmo]

I wonder how often he sits down and plays some great improvisation and just goes "fuck yeah, im mark knopfler, this shit is brilliant." I'm mean why not, that shit's brilliant, and he's mark knopfler.

[@sunonthewindow]

He could make an album of just him playing around on an acoustic and I'd still listen to it a thousand times.

[@erichemard7066]

Ive watched countless videos of Mr. Knopfler's interviews and courses, and it never ceases to amaze me the look in his eyes when he gets into the zone (3:29)he just stares through the interviewer. Almost like he shuts out the world around him and pulls each note from his soul...simply amazing.

[@knopfler720]

My only wish before I die is to have a guitar lesson with Mark Knopfler.

[@phreak761]

@@jasper_north Yes.

[@Mcqlfc]

Simply one of the best guitarists ever. So unique and a great songwriter!

[@sudhindrakopalle7071]

It is magical how some of the most fascinating melodies just leap out of the instrument just as he is discussing the weather and the coffee.

[@somatder]

"you gotta really wanna be able to play" Quoted for the truth. That is pretty much the single most important thing when trying to learn to play an instrument. Without motivation...no way

[@jasper_north]

True!!!

[@JohnMcintosh-dm1gn]

This is where I'm at, I've developed an obsession with the guitar. I'm even dreaming about it and I'm practising every day, it's so absorbing. Am I any good? No! 😂 But I enjoy the process.

[@jasper_north]

@@JohnMcintosh-dm1gn Lovely.. do not stop

[@GonnyParson]

Always loved the creativity of this man. He's a real genius.

[@rosendosolesainz5059]

AMAZING. ANY ACCORD, ANY SCALE, ANY RYTHM...WITHOUT THINKING (NOW) ...ONLY PLAYING IT. 💎💡✌🍀👏

[@DeltaJazzUK]

At around 4-5 minutes Mark demonstrates some blues fingerpicking. He does it so beautifully I wish he'd do it more often often - it's not easy to play that style so fluently as he does here, believe me, I've spent years trying!

[@sebastiansullivan4770]

Yes

[@hixxstar]

never seen knofler enjoying himself so much !... showing he is more than just a pop/rock player he has a true talent to play just classic blues/bluegrass style... which is nice.

[@TheKirkwylde]

A true master. And a great guy. Long may he live!!!

[@danielvirag3826]

Mark Knopfler is the best guitarist, song writer, solo guitarits in the whole entire World. Its for sure.

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

No. The best guitarist in the world is a guy named Guthrie Govan

[@PedroMiguel-qd5mo]

@@ButterBallTheOpossum David Gilmour and Knopfler would make a great team together.

[@michaelroche5744]

Knopfler is no.1

[@actlloyd]

He's very good. But Richard Thompson, Peter Case, and Dave Alvin are all equally great.

[@RichieBullock]

i love how most well known guitarists own hundreds of guitars, and probably have never played some of them. but mark owns just 10 or so by the looks of it, because each one means something to him. this guy is just awesome on so many levels !

[@grumpygroman]

This man is the holy grail!

[@berherbi]

i was working in hammersmith london, marks studio is in chiswick. i met him once at the bar in royal albert hall . he is so modest , he talks about his guitar playing as a normal thing....what a fucking modest man. butr he is a genius..what can is say...

[@pawel115]

he seems like a really nice fella loves his music

[@jackchrist5998]

Falling asleep playing.Says it all really,you can only admire the dedication.

[@MartiniTyran]

the last minute is THE key to his style: the THUMB is used on ALL strings if needed...there are plenty of parts in "sultans of swing" that seem kind of unplayable first if u don't know that you're supposed to use a "wrong" finger...i'm trying to play that song now since a month or more but the final breakthrough came in the last couple of days because i checked this.

[@firdausHITMAN]

The man is a Guitar God - yet so humble. God Bless you Mark

[@leopard36cat]

A lesson from the Best, thank you Mark.

[@buddhastaxi666]

could watch and listen this great and humble man all day ..

[@narnyslip]

Hahahahaha!!! "A pick, hang on i've got one somewhere" Clasic!!!!

[@snip84]

"you start somewhere and you end up somewhere else". anyone should put this on his wall as a motivation sentence.

[@erlpen2016]

what an incredible artist...and he keeps on giving..i like this kind of video, i wish the other famous artists would talk about how they learned how to play their instruments...and actually show it in their instruments..

[@bobmiller9313]

I love his finger pickin. That sets him apart from strummers. Hes a class act all the way

[@snip84]

lol 4:35 "and hen..."and then he goes"...hehe. cant stop playn. i cant stop watching...hes clearly guitar addicted. perfect!

[@marklowe7431]

I've never seen an artist make something so difficult look so easy.

[@stormwing2614]

The man is an inspiration and not just to play guitar... he's right that to do anything well, you need to want it. A legend.

[@johninnz]

What a legend, love to meet him.

[@kevinbecker4455]

Thank you so much for taking your time and explaining it well KGB

[@buddyrichrocks]

thanks for the upload. this guys is musican, songwriter, lyricist all one in one. Oh...and yes, i totally agree how grounded he seems!

[@Crackers2549]

One of the best and most enjoyable to listen to!...AND very underrated!

[@AstronautSpaceCake]

glad i stumbled across this video :D

[@Ppuffdiddleydangdoof]

My brother interviewed Mark Knopfler and said he was the nicest guy he ever interviewed. If I were Knopfler, I fear I wouldn't be a nice guy. If I had been an international superstar since the 70s, had a gazillion dollars and was a world class musician, I'd probably be telling EVERYONE...loudly. Think Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack loud. Think drunk Homer Simpson loud. Respect Mark.

[@billstetler6769]

What a neat humble guy . Wish him the very best

[@michaelm4464]

I'm just amazed Mark owns a pick.

[@QuistJam]

brilliant this. Thank you

[@8DoverNJ]

Great post! Nice to get some perspective from one of the greatest guitarists ever!

[@RackwitzG]

Cool to know he's started like most all of us who taught themselves - chord book and a pick. Too bad I didn't manage to get where he is today. :-)

[@quintino48]

very good examples of playing many kinds of music.mark is a master !!!

[@dakotahstr]

He anchors down. Like all the greats

[@buddhastaxi666]

working class attitude to learning a trade except he heard the pathways the melodies sang to him and with conviction he followed that muse inspired journey, very true ...grounded, lacks hubris, born to make music and not just want to play on MTV

[@firdausHITMAN]

A real living legend

[@johnnyguitar108]

In a world without guitar picks this man is number one... these so called greats would be lost trying to keep up with marks fingers.

[@CT2507]

what i'd really like to know and what i never hear any interviewer ask is, how did Mark come up with the harmonies that he is so famous for? everything he does sounds very melodious, and yet have a distinct Mark Knopfler ring to them. since he is practically self taught, i find that quite an amazing feat.

[@DevilsAdvocateofnazareth]

You can't really answer that. No-one could.

[@CT2507]

Devils Advocate only Knopfler can answer that. at least he should be asked the question. i never see anyone asking him.

[@DevilsAdvocateofnazareth]

***** how do writers answer the question? it's always fucking vague and unsatisfying; it's the same principle with guitarists.

[@CT2507]

Devils Advocate its not difficult to answer. if Knopfler was asked, how did u learn to come up with such catching and melodic licks? did u study certain scales for that? were u inspired by certain musicians. did u go for it consciously or did it evolve naturally?...and so on. im sure Knopfler would come up with a useful answer. he did touch upon it in one video during a masterclass, when he told one student during improvising: ok - now u should end that phrase. i know there is something in u that wants to keep going, keep building on that phrase, but u should end it and move on to the next. think about making shorter phrases and end them... or something like that.

[@DevilsAdvocateofnazareth]

***** well one of his main and most obvious influences was JJ Cale, and probably Chet Atkins as well. I'd also recommend looking around Freddie, Albert & BB king.

[@oquemaur]

Love the way he starts by using words to explain how he plays and then just...and like...... on the top string like... with a bit of a ..... kind of............play it mate!!

[@kevinburns5762]

If he sticks in at that, he might get a job doing it one day

[@elton9318]

Living legend

[@Sakaton01]

As a person that is trying to learn some guitar basics and big knopfler fan this video is really helpful with starting to play fingerstyle, it's harder than i thought. Being lefthanded is not helping too much.. but hey mark was also a leftie :)

[@AlexStorkMusic]

Legend!

[@sebastiaankusters]

Knopfler: You know. everybody else in the room: nope we do not

[@JDoubleOP]

This fella is so down to earth....10 STAR

[@theorangefella]

I am officially at the ''singing nun'' level of guitar playing lol

[@kennethfurlong8922]

its strnage how any stephen foster song seems to lay well and i can play the melodies instantly !!! how about my old kentucky home love to hear mark try that

[@RPGuitarRP]

This guy gets so much versatility out of that guitar. Genius.

[@sacitmanav]

there is a guitar bottom of the window red one Mark knopfler's first guitar..

[@CooManTunes]

One of my absolute heroes.

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

Legend.

[@lanacampbell-moore6686]

Best Ever!🎸❤

[@SeamusMcMichael]

Outstanding playing

[@michaelroche5744]

Legend

[@WalterFragoso]

Mark "The Best" Knopfler...

[@parttroll1]

I remember battling with an open C chord when I first started playing. Good to hear Mark saying this but boy did he become a great player with his own signature sound and style.

[@duarthneves4537]

the pick is hard to find!!!!!!! LOOLLLLLLLLL

[@kennethfurlong8922]

its so funny how the old music folk sourcebook credits players like mosie rader or merle travis with this style but ,,everyone plays it diffrently its an alternating pattern then stick with it for 10 more years and when you get tipped its amazing

[@NoirRobert]

I was waiting for him to say Mississippi John Hurt. That was my first style and I play finger style.

[@Marveh]

I started playing flamenco fortunately :)

[@dabell12]

He is a Living legend. best guitar finger player that i Know, Paco de Lucia is another excellent finger player [other style of course, but great technique] .I could be wrong

[@abdelhamidlabsir8574]

he has some rightness in his playing . as blind blake said , that will never happen again ,, but it is with Mark hhh /

[@pn8830]

Nice video. This is a really cool guitar. I just got the same guitar but made by Hondo. Original pickups, just like yours, very nice sound.

[@66guitaROB]

A TRUE LEGEND !!! Mark 4 ever...!!!

[@onnie9summers]

4;52 amazing!

[@EquinoxOfTheGods]

Awesome.

[@flylippfantom8425]

Finger picking and hybrids picking is the way to be.

[@thelonewolf8333]

I came here while trying to learn Neon by John Mayer. You can see where Mayer gets his influence with his claw picking technique

[@steve17]

"You know..." -Mark Knopfler

[@antoncarlsson7682]

How could "Rolling stone" rank him 27?

[@borskilad]

I agree, but screw what a magazine says

[@GaryR55]

Anton Carlsson Maybe it's the grey hair and bald head? ;)

[@jasper_north]

Anton Carlsson yeah he is much older...

[@arisrock6481]

He is one of the best

[@sercastamere9853]

Because Rolling Stone is a trash-rag from a bygone era of Journalist idolization.

[@10crys10]

5:13 .....5 seconds of magic

[@dominiquedoeslife]

His riffs here sound like a John Prine song, and it’s beautiful.

[@randyrhoadshimself]

OMG! He played with a pick :O

[@paulyoung4781]

A true scotsman!!!

[@guitarreilly]

great technique

[@shamsky01]

thought I heard "Freight Train" at 3:29

[@85antoniosalazar]

Oh my god he played freight train!!

[@michaelvarney.]

The pick shredder lays on the ground, bleeding out. Mark stands over him, looks down and says: "Said I never had much use for a pick... never said I didn't know how to use one."

[@GuilainMusic]

thanks man!

[@zero1fifty8]

You can almost visualize the notes and melodies when he's staring at you while he plays LOL!!

[@ronatholl]

kin brilliant

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

I never knew he was British. When he sings he sounds so American

[@TheCrimsonrey]

that's the way how a true artist should be

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

2:01, 2:02 Four Beats to the Bar

[@huiledenoix8014]

Learning from chordbooks ?? So he's a true actual autodidact... A very impressive man.

[@trojanhorseme1]

Only the autodidact is free

[@MrSideboom]

@tidam thanx!