Comments on: Mark Knopfler licks using the Memphis scale

By: Miles Crane

Miles Crane — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:50:53 +0000

Thanks for putting this out. I have been following Mark’s playing since the Dire Straits’ first album; he inspired me to take up guitar as a hobby. You have explained some of the background to the music well, integrating a little theory where it makes sense.
Good job! Keep on doing it if you can.

By: Tallgren

Tallgren — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:53:08 +0000

Very, very interesting. This opens up a lot of doors.

By: Ingo

Ingo — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:55:13 +0000

I tabbed them myself

By: Philipp

Philipp — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:25:37 +0000

Thank you for that marvelous article! Very enlightning and good to understand!
Did you write the licks out on your own or do you have the complete songs tabbed out somewhere (I’m not very good at hearing the stuff out so I always have to rely on sheet music a bit)?

I really like that article, especially the licks, thank you again!

By: John

John — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:50:03 +0000

Thanks Ingo – that was really informative. When you get a chance, how about a lesson on Mark’s chickin pickin’ technique. This has always fascinated me. It seems pretty easy to describe, but much, much more difficult to execute correctly.

By: Jakehadlee

Jakehadlee — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:03:12 +0000

Another great lesson – thanks. I love these intervals, although I know them as Country 6ths. As well as taking a chordal approach, you can build them on any notes of a scale, and using any of the strings. Especially combined with thirds, they give a great country sound, and are perfect for those lightning fast chickin’ pickin’ licks of players like Brent Mason or Albert Lee, as well as being an essential part of MK’s arsenal of course.