Sultans of Swing [1/4]

Learn "Sultans Of Swing"by Dire Straights On Guitar: Part 1

For many guitarists, this is one of those tracks you wish you had written.

You'll learn the first part of Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits in this lesson. Part 1 covers the bones of the song – the rhythm part.

Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4, you'll learn the fingerstyle lead for the track broken down into three videos. The lead part is fun, so why not have a go once you have mastered the rhythm part. And if you can sing on top of that, fair play to you!

So grab your guitar - and let's get stuck in. 

 

How To Get Mark Knopfler's Guitar Sound

Getting even close to Mark Knopfler's sound is tricky. He gets a fantastic tone, but I'm sure most of that comes from his fingers! :) Not sure what he plays on the recording, of course, but it's a strat sound, and I am aware that he has a red early 60's strat - so maybe it was that.

After a bit of research, it seems the amp he used was a Fender Vibrolux. So I used a 1989 Fender Strat Plus Deluxe into a 1979 Fender Twin Reverb. 

I bought the strat new - it was my first one! The neck and middle pickups are the original lace sensor gold pickups, and the bridge is a Seymour Duncan "Cool Stack" humbucker. I have a toggle switch that flicks it to a single coil. It has the LSR roller nut, locking pegs, and a standard bridge.

 

Sultans Of Swing Guitar Amp Setting

The amp is original, as far as I can tell. But I have some excellent Telefunken Diamond Bottom NOS 12AX7 valves in it that are good fat (I swap them into whatever amp I'm using; they sound so good!). So I used the vib channel.

The amp settings I use are pretty funny, here's what they are:

Vol - 7, Treble - 6, Mid - 5, Bass - 4, Reverb - 3, Speed - 2, Intensity - 1, Master Volume 5.

I dial in sounds by listening, not looking. And to have a numerical descending setting is hilariously strange!

Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with my song tutorials? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!