Dire Straits - Walk Of Life - Guitar Tab

About Walk Of Life

Few rock songs open with such an immediately recognisable guitar figure as "Walk of Life." The intro and verse riff sits in E major and is built around a bright, snappy picking pattern that drives the whole track forward at 108 BPM in E Standard tuning. Getting that crisp, almost country-tinged articulation right is where most players will spend their time: the pick attack needs to be firm and even, and the timing has to lock in tightly or the riff loses its bounce. Dire Straits were a cornerstone of Classic Rock, and Mark Knopfler's fingerpicking style is central to the band's sound, though this particular song suits a pick or hybrid picking approach well. The chord transitions in the verse and chorus are not technically demanding, but playing them cleanly at tempo while keeping that rhythmic energy going is the real challenge. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the intro riff slowed down until the picking pattern feels automatic before bringing it back up to speed.

• The signature intro riff is built on a repetitive single-note and chord pattern in E major, making right-hand picking consistency the main technical focus.
• At 108 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is moderate but the riff demands steady rhythm and clean articulation throughout the entire song.
• Hybrid picking or strict fingerpicking can both work well here, so it is worth experimenting to find which approach gives you the tone and control you want.