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:

1. 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.
2. Musicality: Performances highlight the musicality and expression behind each technique, showing not just how to play the notes, but how to make them sing.
3. Inspiration: Observing a skilled guitarist perform can be incredibly inspiring, motivating you to practice and improve your own skills.

Guitar Techniques Covered

• Finger-picking
• Alternate Picking
• Vibrato
• Legato
• String Bending
• Slides
• Hybrid Picking
• Double Stops

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.