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Sultans of swing picking technique!!


PunkRudeBoy

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Posted

Ok I'm not sure if im posting in the right spot so if im wrong sorry in advance. Anyway I've been trying to nail the outro solo to Sultans of swing (you know the one with the crazy hammer on pulls offs in it) and I just cant seem to get the rhythm or technique of it right. Anyone out there have any tips, or perhaps a video lesson of some sort to help me develop this technique. Thanx in advance!

 

 

Posted

I am note sure if it is as much of a technique as it is the fact that Mark Knopfler just uses his fingers to play it...no pick...I've played it in the past and used mostly my thumb ad index finger to pick it....

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Yes, as Mark said, use your fingers instead of a pick.

 

As with anything, start slow and build up speed gradually. Use a metronome. Practice short sections as repeating exercises.

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It's not as crazy as you think. Knopfler uses compression and delay. The extra repeat from the delay makes the riff sound harder than it is. I play it with a pick or fingers depending on my mood.

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To really nail that sound, it's gotta be flesh.

 

I've seen several players work it out with a pick...but it sounds sorta like doing Larry Graham bass slapping with a pick.

 

The thumb and fingers give the lick a sort of repetitive "bounce" that a pick can't touch.

 

On my right hand, I play it by striking the B-string in a downstroke with my thumb and continue downward into the E-string for the second note. This is immediately followed by an upstroke of the E-string with index or middle finger (depends on my mood) followed by the pulloff on that same E-string.

 

So that makes the four notes:

1. Thumb (B-String Down)

2. Thumb (E-String Down)

3. Finger (E-String Up)

4. Pulloff (E-String Pulloff)

 

Here's a nice video of it being done correctly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWh3REFMFco

 

Here it is being done with a pick:

 

Any questions? ;)

 

Seriously, its more about getting into Mark Knoffler's nervious habits. If you bother learning the song, learn it with your fingers and play around with his style. After a few years, you'll realize you're using your pick as much as your fingers by habit.

 

There's about 30 different versions of people trying to teach this solo technique on YOUTUBE...and plenty of clips of Mark doing it himself. Notice how Mark Knoffler often plants his pinky or ring finger on the guitar as an anchor to get more consistent striking placement on that outro lick. (Bad technique...but it works well for Mark). :cop:

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Posted

To really nail that sound, it's gotta be flesh.


I've seen several players work it out with a pick...but it sounds sorta like doing Larry Graham bass slapping with a pick.


The thumb and fingers give the lick a sort of repetitive "bounce" that a pick can't touch.


On my right hand, I play it by striking the B-string in a downstroke with my thumb and continue downward into the E-string for the second note. This is immediately followed by an upstroke of the E-string with index or middle finger (depends on my mood) followed by the pulloff on that same E-string.


So that makes the four notes:

1. Thumb (B-String Down)

2. Thumb (E-String Down)

3. Finger (E-String Up)

4. Pulloff (E-String Pulloff)


Here's a nice video of it being done correctly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWh3REFMFco


Here it is being done with a pick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO6KvMxnyDk


Any questions?
;)

Seriously, its more about getting into Mark Knoffler's nervious habits. If you bother learning the song, learn it with your fingers and play around with his style. After a few years, you'll realize you're using your pick as much as your fingers by habit.


There's about 30 different versions of people trying to teach this solo technique on YOUTUBE...and plenty of clips of Mark doing it himself. Notice how Mark Knoffler often plants his pinky or ring finger on the guitar as an anchor to get more consistent striking placement on that outro lick. (Bad technique...but it works well for Mark).
:cop:

 

Thanx for the help! Ill give it a try later tonight.

 

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