Ride Across the River – Dire Straits | Note-for-Note Guitar Lesson

"Ride Across the River" by Dire Straits is a moody and atmospheric track from the iconic Brothers in Arms album, featuring haunting melodies, intricate guitar phrasing, and fluid note transitions. Mark Knopfler’s signature fingerpicking style and expressive lead work shine throughout, making this song an excellent study in dynamics, tone control, and articulation.

At LickLibrary, our note-for-note guitar lesson teaches you how to capture every nuance of Knopfler’s playing, ensuring you can reproduce this song with the same finesse and emotion. This lesson focuses on hammer-ons, vibrato, slides, and pull-offs, all essential techniques for mastering Knopfler’s smooth and lyrical approach to guitar. This lesson is taught by Jamie Humphries.

Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons are used throughout this song to create smooth and flowing note transitions without the need for excessive picking. This technique increases playing speed and fluidity, allowing notes to connect seamlessly for a more legato sound. Learning hammer-ons will help guitarists improve finger strength and accuracy, essential for mastering melodic runs and expressive solos.

Vibrato

Knopfler’s vibrato technique is subtle yet deeply expressive, adding warmth and emotion to his playing. Vibrato helps to enhance sustain, control note duration, and add character to sustained notes. Mastering vibrato improves overall tone control and allows players to inject their own personal feel into every note they play.

Slides

Slides are an integral part of Knopfler’s fluid and vocal-like guitar phrasing. Instead of playing notes in a rigid, mechanical manner, slides create a seamless, flowing connection between different notes and positions on the fretboard. This technique enhances melodic expression and dynamic contrast, making your guitar playing more expressive and natural.

Pull-Offs

Pull-offs allow for effortless note articulation and contribute to the song’s smooth and legato phrasing. By reducing the need for excessive picking, pull-offs help to create a more natural and flowing sound, crucial for Knopfler’s distinctive fingerpicked lead lines. This technique is beneficial for improving finger dexterity and speed, making it an essential skill for any guitarist.

About the Guitar Work in "Ride Across the River"

Mark Knopfler’s guitar style is instantly recognizable due to his unique combination of fingerpicking, melodic phrasing, and fluid legato techniques. His playing in "Ride Across the River" exemplifies this, blending subtle blues inflections with Latin and folk-inspired phrasing. The result is an expressive and immersive guitar part that perfectly complements the song’s hypnotic groove and storytelling lyrics.

Knopfler’s influence extends across multiple genres, inspiring guitarists with his effortless touch, masterful use of dynamics, and ability to make each note sing. His ability to combine technique with emotion makes him one of the most respected guitarists in rock history.

Master "Ride Across the River" with LickLibrary

This lesson is perfect for guitarists looking to refine their phrasing, articulation, and touch. Our detailed step-by-step breakdown ensures that every note, nuance, and technique is covered, helping you to fully capture the spirit of Knopfler’s playing.

Whether you’re an intermediate guitarist looking to improve expressiveness or an advanced player studying Knopfler’s signature style, this lesson provides the perfect foundation for learning one of Dire Straits’ most atmospheric songs.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Hammer-Ons
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Pull-Offs

Start learning "Ride Across the River" today and bring Knopfler’s legendary touch into your own playing!