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How do you rate Mark Knopfler's guitar skills?

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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:22 AM
Original message
How do you rate Mark Knopfler's guitar skills?
He's hardly ever on anyone's lists, but I think he's way the hell up there in terms of talent.

Am I just way off base? Anyone else love this guy's playing?
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StopTheMorans Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:23 AM
Response to Original message
1. great guitarist. unique style, tasteful leads, and he plays with his
fingers :thumbsup:
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #1
8. He rawks my sawks!
:loveya:
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LoZoccolo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:24 AM
Response to Original message
2. Have you ever heard the "Mark Knopfler" crank calls?
Back in the 80s or something, some guy made a tape of himself crank calling people and saying he was Mark Knopfler.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #2
7. No, I missed those.
Where they funny?
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LoZoccolo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #7
12. Some of them are.
Edited on Thu Feb-17-05 11:30 AM by LoZoccolo
Some of them are disturbing and creepy.

http://www.phonelosers.org/mark_knofler.html

I guess the tape makes it's way around college campuses through copying, which is where I copied it (in 1993 or 1994).
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GumboYaYa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
3. When I worked on the set of Nashville Now, we did a tribute show
to Chet Atkins. Before the show I sat in the production trailer with Knopfler, Chet and Earl Klugh and listened to them jam on acoustics for about an hour. People consider Knopfler a rock guitarist, but he held his own with Chet and Klugh. Personally, I am very impressed with Knopfler's playing. He has an incredibly diverse repetoire and gets amazing tone from his guitar. Not to mention that technically he is very good.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #3
10. Chet and Mark are both on my best guitarists list.
I would have LOVED to have been there for that show!
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Bridget Burke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
4. Not technically flashy, but he plays the "right" notes...
Princess Bride & Local Hero wouldn't have been the same without him.

(This coming from someone who boasts of knowing all 3 chords in all 5 keys!)
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:29 AM
Response to Reply #4
11. Something about his style just moves me.
I can identify his playing within a few notes.
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mr_hat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
5. Fluent; the Chet Atkins of so-so rock.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #5
14. heh... sounds like a thumbsup to me!
But I LOVE Chet.
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Jeff in Cincinnati Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #5
15. His "big hits" were so-so
His more obscure work his breath-taking. And any guitarist who can keep up with Chet Atkins (they recorded an album together) ain't exactly chopped liver.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:33 AM
Response to Reply #15
19. That's a good way to put it.
Dire Straits weren't responsible for too many hugely impressive songs, but his playing... IMO it's sublime!
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peekaloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
6. I love his playing but his singing makes me cringe.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #6
16. Yeah that's why I specified his guitar skills.
His singing isn't ready for American Idol or anything. :P
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Beware the Beast Man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
9. Subtle.
Doesn't bash you over the head with technique.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #9
17. Yes! Smoooooooooth...
I'm getting all swoony just thinking about it. :D
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Magrittes Pipe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:29 AM
Response to Original message
13. Outstanding. One of the best guitarists I've ever seen.
Unfortunately, I really don't like Dire Straits (other than the first side of Making Movies).
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:32 AM
Response to Reply #13
18. You have excellent taste!
Making Movies is a great one.

But I love Dire Straits... I like nearly all their stuff. Basically, any song he plays a nice solo in, I can dig. :)

Ever heard Where D'ya Think You're Going?
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MsAnthropy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:33 AM
Response to Original message
20. He's one of the best guitarists and writers
His "Romeo and Juliet" just slays me every time.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:44 AM
Response to Reply #20
24. Oh yes
It was Tunnel of Love that first made me a DS fan, though.
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DrGonzoLives Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:34 AM
Response to Original message
21. Mad skills
Very talented guitarist.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #21
25. I love him.
:)
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On the Road Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:41 AM
Response to Original message
22. Never Heard Anyone Play Like Him
I don't know what it is that makes his guitar stand out so much. Part of it is timing -- he'll hold one note way too long for comfort and then burst into a string of 1/32 notes. The tension and release creates incredible energy. Very understated for a rock musician.

I have some of his country music, too, done as part of "The Notting Hillbillies." But the Dire Straits stuff is my fave, especially "Communique."
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #22
27. It'd be hard for me to pick a favorite.
The Money for Nothing compilation would probably win out just for Private Investigations and Where Do You Think You're Going.
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On the Road Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:01 PM
Response to Reply #27
35. "Where Do You Think You're Going?"
I was going to mention that one. Very atmospheric and creepy.
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Toby109 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
23. He's done some great work lately.
Have you heard his last two albums? The song "That's What It Is" simply rocks, IMHO.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #23
28. Yep
When it comes to his guitary playing, I've never, ever been disappointed.
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soupkitchen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:45 AM
Response to Original message
26. Actually I think he on everybody's list (At least those in the know)
For instance, John Fogharty of Creedence Clearwater says he's been practicing his ass off for the last twelve years in the hope that one day he might be as good as Mark Knopfler or Chet Atkins.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:53 AM
Response to Reply #26
29. Wow, I didn't know that.
Thanks!
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Schema Thing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:00 PM
Response to Reply #26
34. Yes, I've heard that he's usually on the list of fellow greats.
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ProfessorGAC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:54 AM
Response to Original message
30. Used To Like Him
Then he bought a distortion unit. His playing sounds hamhanded with distortion. Clean and biting, his leads are always good and sometimes brilliant.
The Professor
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #30
37. I have to admit it bothered me a bit at first.
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nothingshocksmeanymore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:57 AM
Response to Original message
31. I rate him quite high on the ladder
He is a great rock guitarist but also an accomplished fingerstyle guitarist in the Chet tradition...his CD with Chet "Neck and Neck" is perfect.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:13 PM
Response to Reply #31
38. Yes, it is!
:hi:
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Schema Thing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 11:59 AM
Response to Original message
32. I always wonder why he's seldom on the "list"?
I think what is so unique about his particular talent is that you always recognize his playing, no one else is doing it like he does. He's truly come up with his own sound.

As for his voice, I like it in some songs, and on others I just groan. I think he might have had more hits if he had always worked with some other great vocalist, and just used his own voice where applicable (like "Romeo & Juliet").
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:14 PM
Response to Reply #32
39. Personally, I love his voice.
But I've had a crush on the guy since I was 16, so... :P
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Orsino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:02 PM
Response to Original message
36. Not flashy, but fine.
He wrings a lot of emotion out of that thang. Stuff like "Brothers In Arms" is magnificent. My wife's loving the new album, too.
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redqueen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-17-05 12:15 PM
Response to Reply #36
40. Ah, well put!
He can surely make it cry and sing.
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