GUITAR TEACHER REACTS: Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing (Alchemy Live)

For Dire Straits Brothers In Arms live also has a fantastic solo. Another solo that I find very musical even though it is not very complex scale wise, is Slash ft.Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators - Anastasia | Live in Sydney.

I absolutely loved watching you actually enjoy the music while explaining some things too. Your laugh was contagious:-D. Subscribed for more of those:-)

Best analysis of the song I've heard. Thank you.

First time listener and very much enjoyed hearing your comments and technical analysis. The band gave a tour de force performance and Mark exemplifies what a guitar maestro is!

I've always been a fingerstyle folk guitarist, digging the melody out of the chords by choosing which strings I strike and varying the dynamics from finger to finger... This was a choice largely forced onn me because flat picks and I really REALLY do not get along. I just sound like crap every time I try and learn to use one :) Watching Mark with Dire Straits was the experience that showed me this actually COULD be done on an electric :)

(It's even more fun doing it on an electric 12-string ;) It's been just over a year since I got my paws on a Reverend Airwave 12 and I still can't put it down)

You should react to Fleetwood Mac's The Chain performance from 1982! Lindsey Buckingham is such an underrated guitarist

Finally, a 'Sultans of Swing' reaction where the guitar teacher doesn't pretend to not know Dire Straits at all. It's crazy how some of them even "struggle" when pronouncing 'Mark Knopfler'.

Alchemy Live is the best album.
Sultans Of Swing and Tunnel Of Love is my personal best of all time. (And Telegraph Road of course.) :-)

lovely to see someone having multiple musical orgasms with this tune. This gem has been a part of my life since somebody gave me "Alchemy" in 1987 for my 10th anyversary, glad to see it still hits all the right buttons for a younger crowd.

see their performance of the song from Basel 92

I'll bet he was using Fender Lace Sensor pickups. They were popular at that time and they were smooth sounding. They had their unique sound

Mark sets his guitar out of phase and pulls his strings to get that sound.

It's harder to play guitar clean like that than one with distortion. With distortion you can hit a note and let it ring as many notes or bars as you want. Distortion fills the gaps but playing clean the note dissipates quick so you have to hit another one soon. The guy playing clean is hitting a lot more notes than the guy playing with distortion sounding like he's going a hundred miles an hour.

You should watch the live alchemy version of Telegraph Road. It’s a masterclass in musicianship.

I was in a car accident in 1988 that gave me a spinal injury and damage to the nerves in my left arm. Because of this playing drums became very difficult and painful. So ten years later I quit playing in bands due to the long shows. I was a singing drummer so I asked the lead guitar player if I could borrow the acoustic guitar he used in our band. I showed promise on it so he gave it to me. I was able to learn to play chords to sing a lot of songs and keep performing but my fretting hand has issues. It`s so frustrating to KNOW I can play so much better but not having the physical ability to reach the levels in my brain because of damaged nerves. But I DID learn to play very quickly especially with the help of alcohol to numb the pain, so that will always be a victory in my book, and I`ve enjoyed myself over the years.

You like Miguel

Dire Straits/Knopfler fan since I first heard the (studio version) Sultans of Swing at 16, in 1977. Loved it - but the Alchemy tour took it to a new level. I know nothing of musical theory, and couldn't play an instrument to save my life... but very much enjoyed your reaction, and seriously impressed by playing along. I tend to lose myself in music and fail miserably at being analytical about it. I am sure you have heard Brothers in Arms (I love the studio version) but if you haven't, treat yourself to a guitar singing, and a man narrating.

My childhood (guitar) heroes: Knopfler, Blackmoore and Clapton.

If someone loves any of 'em, we get along nicely! (This was my first video I listened from you and you're cool... ;) )

almost...haha

You definitely have to check the rest of Alchemy. And Tunnel of Love live at Wembley Stadium in 1985. Like this is only the beginning.

I was 20 years old sitting in my Dads old car waiting for him to come out of the post office ....the radio was on, this came on the radio and booooom I was amazed and a fan for life. What a musician he is.

such an awesome analysis many thumbs up!

How about “ child in time” from deep purple live by the bbc.

Ok, so you're really hot. Great reaction / analysis

Like guitarras... look Egles California!!!.........

Real music !

Like your reaction, I will never get tired of DS.
As you are a guitarist it would be interesting to hear what you think about Tommy Johansson. His is one of the leadguitarist for Sabaton but doing covers for fun. You can pick anyone they are all that god, but why not start with a Gary Moore or Queen cover...

I love your reaction. I used to have that album many decades ago. I think I wore it out. But this is a much better version than the album. Although back in the day, albums and 45's were it. But, our bands are still around today because they made and played the best music ever. I wonder how many of today's bands will be around in 40 or 50 years ? You should check out Peter Frampton and Do You Feel Like I Do but it has to be the 77 Oakland stadium coliseum performance. That place is packed and he gives them what they want ❤❤❤❤. Love you show and you got another subscriber

This version of Sultans is pure XTC

your playing reminds of "thedoo" when he does requests because he picks up songs he's never heard before and after listening to them for a few seconds starts playing the most amazing riffs you've ever heard. some people say he has perfect pitch and that's why it's so easy for him. i'm not a music expert, but when you played bits of this song it sounded incredibly close, and it just reminded me of him. check out his channel, or even better, do a reaction to him taking requests. he also has an original song or two on spotify, but he name(s) escape me at this time.

I appreciate your way of reacting to a musical performance, with analysis and perspective beyond what most reaction videos do. I would slightly modify one thing you said about what great guitar playing (or music in general) must do. As you say, it's not about what note a guitarist is playing, but how the guitarist is playing it. But it's more than that, too. I think what you're getting at is that notes are important but only when played with a certain technique and feeling and when combined with other notes in a sequence that communicates rich, complex feelings and thoughts to the listener. That sequence is a melody, a rhythmic pattern and an emotional expression. Only then does the music convey something the listener can respond to in a powerful way to this musical language.

One more comment, you think he does everything with legato/push/pull techniques. Nope, he seldom does that he just has very fast fingers. Watch closely and you´ll see and hear that.

Great reaction, I admire your musical expertise and guitar skills too. The Wembley version has a saxophone solo in there too and it's amazing

Mark Knopfler is number 1, 2 and 3 on my list.

I like your reactions and comments on this masterpiece, but I find it awkward you never heard this song before, especially as a guitar teacher!

you should react to his one night in london track of sultans it is a totally different vibe but brilliant

when your drummer can't drive 55!!

Love this reaction, and love your views on music. If you want to see Mark doing a more emotional solo, it doesn't get better than 'Are We In Trouble Now'. If you don't mind the quality of the footage, I'd highly recommend the Notting Hillbillies in Shepherds Bush Empire version, but the Night In London is fine too. Everything you talked about here, how it's about the way you play, and how you communicate your feelings through the sound, is best showcased in that final solo ❤️ I'm a huge MK fan, and that's his best guitar work in my opinion.

My favourite Dire Straits live performance is Tunnel of Love, in Wembley (1985). Absolutely mind blowing in every way

His singing styke is reminiscent of Bob Dylan. But his guitar style is all his own. And the drumer! I wouldn't describe that as speeding up in the solos the basic beat is the same, he just adds a lot more to it. A drummer has to keep the beat like a metronome or it would all fall apart. Are you familar with Gary Moore? One of the greatest and arguably the most expressive guitarists ever. He pours out his soul every time.

As a guitarist, you know when you love some music, a guitarist, a band, a music genre, when you can't resist to play on it😂I did that so much😂Peace from France ✌️ 😂

Knopfler es zurdo tocando de un modo fabuloso la guitarra de un diestro y dijo en una ocasión,ya que eres profesor, que a un profesor habitual no le habría gustado nada su técnica,¿por qué?, porque "el dedo pulgar debe apoyarse en la parte trasera del mastil de la guitarra", él ha dicho siempre que sería un mal alumno de guitarra debido a esas normas,por suerte no siguió las normas establecidas...si eres profesor de música, ten en cuenta ese dato... que no es mío,eso lo dijo Mark Knopfler y, por cierto,no hay que olvidarse que el resto de la banda es brutal,las canciones te atrapan por el conjunto de la música

They are true performers, not just singers and players.

Next gens got too step it up a bit - a fine display that your Grandads were better than you. Honestly I fear for our nuclear security.

You have to listen a little more of this concert and you will find Telegraph Road, even better than this one. 12 minutes of music that you don't want to end

What can you say but the greatest.

Beautiful, insightful reaction. Love your chill vibe. I'd love to watch your react to Drowsy by Ichika Nito.