Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms - Guitar Cover

Brothers in Arms

1985 6:59

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About Brothers in Arms

Few guitar pieces demand as much patience and control as "Brothers in Arms." Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits plays the whole thing fingerstyle, and that choice defines everything: the tone is warm and slightly hollow, the attack is soft, and every note needs to speak clearly without a pick to sharpen it. The song sits in E minor, which gives the melody a lot of room on the lower strings, but the real challenge is sustaining the slow, mournful phrasing without rushing. Knopfler's bends and vibrato are subtle and wide at the same time, and matching that feel takes real attention. If the solo or the main melody theme is giving you trouble, pull it into the Practice Toolbar, slow it right down, and work on keeping your vibrato even before you bring the tempo back up. The emotional weight of this piece comes entirely from restraint, so resisting the urge to over-play is as important as any single technique.

• The entire guitar part is played fingerstyle, so getting a clean, even tone from each finger is the first technical hurdle to clear.
• The solo relies on slow, wide vibrato and precise string bends in E minor, both of which reward careful, isolated practice at reduced tempo.
• Looping the main melody theme slowed down in the Practice Toolbar will help you match Knopfler's unhurried phrasing before building back to full speed.