Sultans of Swing - Basic Membership

Introduction

Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits is unquestionably one of the greatest and most distinctive guitarists of the modern age. In an age where most electric guitarists used a pick Knopfler bucked the trend by using his fingers in a similar yet distinctive style to say Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. 

Sultans of Swing is a track from their 1977 self-titled album and it is in all likelihood the song that most guitar players want to learn and master. 

Tips

  • 25 guitar licks (small series of notes used as a 'call & response' between the vocals
  • 2 stand alone 'signature' solos
  • Key of D minor
  • BPM at 149
  • Fingerpicking (no pick)
  • Recorded with a 61 Fender Stratocaster

I have painstakingly transcribed the entire song as accurately as I could and I've made 4 video tutorials and a backing track. Of course I'm teaching you how to play this using an acoustic guitar so I have out of necessity changed some of the fingering locations to make life easier for acoustic players. 

Let your fingers fly!

Acoustic guitarSuesultans of swingComment