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Marking those riffs
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Mark Knopfler is performing in the city today. Four well-known guitarists tell PRASHANTH G.N. what his style means to them
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Konarak Reddy
MARK KNOPFLER. before his Mumbai concert last Friday, said he would have been every guitar teacher's "nightmare" as his approach to using the instrument would not be recommended by purists. He told journalists he used a guitar just to write a sing along. A "good conventional teacher" wouldn't recommend it. Is this also why his guitar style, while seemingly easy, does not fall into readymade categories? Some of the well-known and experienced guitarists in the city offer their observations.
Konarak Reddy
KONARAK REDDY has been playing the guitar for more than 20 years now. He studied at the Berklee School of Music and Musicians Institute, Hollywood. He combines jazz, western classical and Indian musical styles. He likes John McLaughlin and Joe Diorio, people who work from the background and who push the limits of music.
Knopfler's guitar work, he says, is distinct and does not fit into any one kind of music.
He recalls B.B. King and says Knopfler's guitar is bluesy, but not blues progression. "He plays the diatonic harmony. His style is harmonic, sentimental and the chords are within a parent scale. Once the chords move out of the parent scale and once you try different scales, technical virtuosities, progressions are more. But he stays with the scale. He doesn't move out. But every genre has its own place and it is about being happy with what one is doing."
When Knopfler's style came, it broke new ground, says Konarak. "His style is very simple. It is groove-oriented and it complements his diction, voice very well, his spoken kind of singing. The guitar says the same thing. It was new and it made a huge impact. I remember teaching students his songs. They were very keen to learn his tunes." Knopfler, says Konarak, plays the pentatonic, the five-note blues style, that lends a laid-back quality to his guitar work. "His is easy, pleasant listening. No stress. He'll be lovely to listen to in cafes. Knopfler is certainly attractive."
Prasanna
PRASANNA, THE Boston-based guitarist who combines jazz, blues, Latin American and Carnatic styles in his music, and performs with highly skilled musicians in the U.S. was here at Koshy's recently for a café performance. He'd finished one at IIT, Chennai, just before. Prasanna, born in Coimbatore, moved on to Chennai where he worked with percussionist Sivamani and bassist Keith Peters for some time before moving on to the U.S. Over the years, the Carnatic element crept into his guitar play and is a very conspicuous element today. He has been learning Carnatic music from age 12. He is not willing to describe himself as any one kind of guitarist or as belonging to any one genre/form.
What does he think of Mark Knopfler?
Prasanna
"Knopfler's guitar style was very fresh when it came in the '70s. He has his own style. The medium in which he operates brings limitations, but he is a man who uses those very limitations to his strength. I mean the rock-pop style for the most part is immediate in expression.
But I guess every guitarist has his or her style. People can identify Knopfler and his style immediately. And I think the style is important to him. Most of us grow up listening to Knopfler.
I respect his playing. Asking how good any guitarist is relative. In his own context, he is a great guitarist."
Amit Heri
Amit Heri
AMIT HERI who has been into jazz guitar for years now and, like Konarak, graduated from Berklee, says: "Knopfler has a very lyrical style of playing. He came out with an original sound, language, way of playing... The minute he plays, you know it is his. Just hear one phrase, you know it is him. He has that stamp. It is probably difficult to play like him. He is not limited by his medium because that is the medium he has chosen... Everyone loves to play in a style they like or have evolved. Knopfler only made a choice. He turned out an original voice."
Keith Peters
BASS GUITARIST Keith Peters has been performing with A.R. Rahman for the last 16 years. His brothers Karl and Max are also guitarists. The family has had a long history of music.
Amit HeriKeith Peters
Keith Peters takes the "most-wanted bass player" place in the country (along with his brother Karl Peters) and has played live with Louis Banks, Hariprasad Chaurasia, as also pop, rock, jazz and fusion acts such as Pulse, Juravi and Brahma.
He is described as a "permanent fixture in A.R. Rahman's musical entourage".
"Knopfler is basically doing what he is able to do: rock 'n' roll. It may not be great, but his style is nice and relaxed. It has influenced many. I like his solo in `Sultans of Swing' particularly."
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