"Mark Knopfler discusses his approach to playing the initial four notes of a Dire Straits song, asserting that he must consistently commence in the same manner before he can freestyle"
Mark Knopfler Reflects on the Impact of 'Brothers In Arms' and His Current Guitar Playing
Mark Knopfler, the lead singer of Dire Straits, has given a new interview to Guitarist magazine, discussing his current playing abilities and his plans to improve.
In the interview, Knopfler emphasizes the importance of the opening four notes of the "Brothers In Arms" title track. He stated that these notes must be played exactly the same every night during live performances because that is essential for audience recognition. After those notes, he allows himself to improvise more freely in the guitar parts. He has tried other intros live, but they don’t work as well because fans expect that signature start.
Regarding changes in his approach overall, Knopfler has acknowledged that his guitar playing has been affected by repeated bouts of COVID, which have slowed him down and caused him to adopt finger-picking rather than using a pick. He doubts he could play some parts of the record as well now as he once did. He also mentions developing some "lazy techniques" such as playing half-chords or "semi-shapes," which would not satisfy a guitar teacher. Despite this, he is motivated to regain his ability with dedicated practice.
As for re-recording the album today, there is no direct quote where Knopfler discusses specific changes he would make to the guitar parts if he were to re-record "Brothers In Arms." However, given his respect for the iconic intro and his comments around improvisation, it is likely he would preserve the essential core elements but might explore subtle variations or improvements in the other parts. His recent playing style has evolved due to health and technique changes, so any new recording might reflect that.
Knopfler pooh-poohs the idea that the album turned him into a 'guitar hero.' Instead, he believes that the quality of his songs is more important than his guitar skills. He finds the initial four notes he plays on guitar for the title track of Brothers In Arms interesting and enjoys the freedom to improvise after that.
Interestingly, "Brothers In Arms" briefly transformed Dire Straits into the biggest band in the world and sold over 30 million copies. It also convinced a generation to invest in CD players. The title track is one of five singles taken from the album, and its success has cemented its place in music history.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID and the evolution of his playing style, Knopfler remains committed to improving his skills and continuing to create music that resonates with audiences.
"Mark Knopfler delves into the significance of music, mentioning that he finds the initial four notes he plays on guitar for the title track of 'Brothers In Arms' interesting and enjoys the freedom to improvise after that, demonstrating his deep connection with musical entertainment."
"In a discussion about possible changes to 'Brothers In Arms' if re-recorded today, Knopfler's likely approach might preserve the essential core elements of the iconic intro while potentially exploring subtle variations or improvements in the other parts, reflecting his evolving playing style due to health and technique changes."
