Is MK using a pick on Fade to Black?

[boriszhukov]

What a lovely version on the new box set. His tone sound very different than the usual claw style apporach. Anyone knows if he uses a pick for this song?

[Dutchessy]

He's not using Pick, Chris was the drummer 

[quizzaciously]

He's not using Pick, Chris was the drummer 

Haha! But seriously, has anyone seen Mark using a pick for playing single-note lines like this? If it's not in the Hank Marvin style of course.

I doubt there's a pick in Fade To Black, only great fingerpicking!

[dustyvalentino]

I think it's just that that big Gibson jazz box has a different tone?

[Rolo]

Strange that are people complaining about Phil's solo on Love Too Much and, in my opinion, on this live performance of Fade To Black, MK is blurring fast notes and playing without any feel.

[benducret]

Strange that are people complaining about Phil's solo on Love Too Much and, in my opinion, on this live performance of Fade To Black, MK is blurring fast notes and playing without any feel.

I agree. He plays legato, rather fast and blurry legato so to speak.
Which answers, I think, the original question : I think he attacks the strings with his fingers but most of the notes are played with hammer ons, etc. It doesn't sound too well on that guitar, the legato lines are way too long here. And rushed, in my humble opinion. It lacks attack and rythmic accentuation. It's flat.

[2manyguitars]

Strange that are people complaining about Phil's solo on Love Too Much and, in my opinion, on this live performance of Fade To Black, MK is blurring fast notes and playing without any feel.

I agree. He plays legato, rather fast and blurry legato so to speak.
Which answers, I think, the original question : I think he attacks the strings with his fingers but most of the notes are played with hammer ons, etc. It doesn't sound too well on that guitar, the legato lines are way too long here. And rushed, in my humble opinion. It lacks attack and rythmic accentuation. It's flat.

Or to put it in laymans jazz terminology. Too many notes!

[benducret]

2 many notes indeed.

Playing music is like speaking a language, you can't be fluent in all langages, it's a matter of time spent praticing, listening, speaking for years.

MK is not a jazz guitarist and has never been. His single "badges and stickers etc " is as close as he ever got to playing Jazz, and it was mostly written licks, no real impro.

He used harmonic minor harmony sometimes, diminished and augmented chords but never in a jazzy way. Even on a jazzy blues like Fade to Black he plays rather safe.
This live version of the song shows the limits of MK trying to play be-bop blues. Not his cup of tea.

[benducret]

Planet of new orleans would have been a better addition to the OTN setlist, musicaly.
He makes the harmony sing in that song. It fits him much better.

[JF]

I agree Mark is not a jazz guitarist

however, I wrote an article about jazz influence in his music : https://textes-blog-rock-n-roll.fr/mark-knopfler-et-le-jazz/