DIRESTRAITS - The Complete Series

If you love fingerstyle guitar and want to add some of Mark Knoplfer’s most iconic songs to your repertoire, then this is the series for you.  We will look at three songs, Romeo & Juliet, Local Hero and Sultans Of Swing. Each song brings its own challenges, ranging from arpeggiating picking hand patterns, to strumming and lead work. But no plectrum is in use. 

You can purchase individual levels or the complete series.

What we’ll be covering in this Series

This Series is a comprehensive dive into the world of Direstriats and Mark Knopfler’s fingerstyle guitar playing. There are currently 4 sessions consisting of 5hrs of online sessions, backing tracks, HD videos and lesson PDF’s.

If you’ve missed a session, the lesson video and materials can still be sent to you. Upcoming course materials will be sent out the week of the lesson and the video recording after the lesson has completed.

These live, interactive sessions cover three iconic songs and we’ve created bespoke arrangements so that you can add them into your solo or band repertoire where only one guitarist is available. We’ll explore the core techniques you’ll need to master for the songs.

The materials for each session will include: comprehensive lesson PDF, any relevant MP3s and access to a video recording of the complete live sessions. So even if you can’t make a particular session you’ll have more than enough materials and guidance for home practice.

 

SESSION 1 – ROMEO AND JULIET SOLO FINGERSTYLE ARRANGEMENT – Tuesday 27th January 2026 – 7.30pm – More Info

In this first of four sessions we will be looking at one of Mark Knopfler’s most loved songs, Romeo & Juliet. It first appeared on the 1980 album Making Movies and was released as a single in 1981. The song subsequently appeared on the Dire Straits live albums Alchemy and On The Night, and later on Knopfler’s live duet album with Emmylou Harris, Real Live Roadrunning.

We will be taking the iconic guitar picking part and merging it with the vocal melody so that you have a stand alone solo guitar arrangement of the song.

Important – We will play in standard tuning but you will need a capo for the session.

 

SESSION 2 – LOCAL HERO SOLO FINGERSTYLE ARRANGEMENT – Tuesday 24th February 2026 – 7.30pm – More Info

In this second of four sessions we will be looking at Mark Knopfler’s iconic film score piece, ‘Going Home’ from the film score for ‘Local Hero’. The piece was the debut solo single by Knopfler, and charted at number 56 in the UK. Although it charted low, it remains one of Knopfler’s most known and loved pieces.

We will be taking the iconic guitar picking part and merging it with knopflers melody so that you have a stand alone solo guitar arrangement of the song.

Below you can watch the version we will teach you, played by the tutor himself.

 

SESSION 3 – SULTANS OF SWING – THE MAIN PARTS – Tuesday 24th March 2026 – 7.30pm – More Info

In this third of four sessions we will be looking at Mark Knopfler’s iconic song. Dire Straits recorded a demo at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977, and it acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. After Dire Straits signed a record contract with Phonogram Records, they rerecorded it in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for their debut album, Dire Straits.

For guitar lovers it is one of those must learn songs, weaving together superb rhythm playing with standout lead licks. This session sits perfectly alongside our Blitzing Your Fingerstyle Series.

 

 

SESSION 4 – SULTANS OF SWING – THE SOLOS – Tuesday 28th April 2026 – 7.30pm – More Info

In this fourth of four sessions we will be looking at Mark Knopfler’s iconic song, Sultans of Swing. The two solos are now regarded as some of the most iconic lead guitar player laid down to record. Mark Knoplfer himself states that if he misses out any of the twiddly bits then the song just doesn’t hit right live.

We’ll be breaking down both the main solos over a 75min session. We may over run to 90mins if required.

This session sits perfectly alongside our Blitzing Your Fingerstyle Series.

 

 

Materials

You’ll receive:

  • Lesson PDF
  • Bespoke play along backing track
  • Access to a video recording of the complete live session
  • FOR THOSE BUYING THE COMPLETE SERIES, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE EXTRA PRE-RECORDED HD SULTANS OF SWING VIDEOS.

If you can’t make the session you’ll have more than enough for home practice.

This series sits perfectly alongside our Blitzing Your Fingerstyle Series.

 

Who’s this session suitable for?

Mid to high intermediate levels of acoustic, electric  guitarists who can already fingerpick.

The session is ideal for players who want to:

  • further their fingerpicking
  • Learn to do melody playing, bends, arpeggiated solo lines, etc
  • take fingerpicking to totally new levels

As a guide you should be familiar with:

  • Fretboard knowledge – basics (E and A strings but all strings should be the target)
  • Reading TAB Yes (including basic rhythm)
  • Scales – you should be comfortable with major and minor scales as well as your common pentatonic patterns

Things you won’t need to know (but you should definitely not ignore them):

  • Theory – although it’s so useful to understand the essentials as it makes learning things much faster and better when playing with others
  • Reading music – this is something to strive for as a long-term project

 

Attending the session

By default, you’ll start every session with complete anonymity i.e. with your mic muted and your camera switched off. You have total control of these at your end.

You can ask questions at any time:

  • Using the online Chat facility
  • Simply unmuting your mic
  • Switching on your camer and unmuting your mic

It’s all very friendly and there isn’t such a thing as a daft question – they usually lead to deep, interesting streams of very relevant stuff!

 

Can’t Attend

If you want to come along but can’t make the sessions just book in and you’ll receive the full materials and lesson video.

 

BUYING OPTIONS

You can buy individual sessions or the complete series. Those who buy the complete series will also receive HD videos for the Sultans of Swing courses, alongside the Lesson PDF and video.

 

IMPORTANT POINTS

  • You will receive the Lesson PDF just prior to it being run.
  • The lesson video will only be available after the session has run. It is usually uploaded and the link sent to students 1 to 2 days after the lesson.
  • If you don’t want to be on the live video recording keep your camera switched off.
  • If you’ve missed a session you can still purchase it as part of this Direstraits Series. Just click on the Complete Series.
  • If you want to be part of the online session, please avoid booking in on the day of a course. This ensures that you’ll get the Joining Instructions in time.

BUT this shouldn’t put you off booking in as you’ll receive the full materials including the video of the complete live session.

Start slowly – if you decide to book just one session but then become interested in others or even the Complete Series, just buy them on the website

 

Full Course Overview

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    Prices

     
    Full Fee
    Session 1 - Romeo & Juliet Solo Fingerstyle Arrangement
    £15
    Session 2 - Local Hero Solo Fingerstyle Arrangement
    £15
    Sessions 3 - Sultans Of Swing - Rhythm Guitar & Licks
    £20
    Sessions 4 - Sultans Of Swing - The Solos
    £20
    THE COMPLETE DIRESTRAITS SERIES - Extra HD Videos for Sultans
    £70

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    If you are under 18 please use the box below to tell us about: who the booking is for, if they’re over 18 years old and disabilities/issues that we need to know about.

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    Ticket Price Quantity
    Session 1 - Romeo & Juliet Solo Fingerstyle Arrangement £15.00 Sold out
    Session 2 - Local Hero Solo Fingerstyle Arrangement £15.00 Sold out
    Sessions 3 - Sultans Of Swing - Rhythm Guitar & Licks £20.00 Sold out
    Sessions 4 - Sultans Of Swing - The Solos £20.00 Sold out
    THE COMPLETE DIRESTRAITS SERIES - Extra HD Videos for Sultans £70.00 Sold out

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