Lockdown Licks no. 201. “What It Is” by Mark Knopfler. Signature riff/counterpoint double bend riff. Played on a Vintage Fender Stratocaster MIJ on neck/middle pick-up setting into a NUX M8 amp on a clean setting with medium reverb. Knopfler with his unique finger/thumb style plays off the first section of the riff as a “call” with some great counterpoint “reply” riffs! It has a kind of Irish/American feel to the picked riffs accompanied by some mighty fine fiddle playing.

“What It Is” is a song written and recorded by the British rock musician Mark Knopfler. It was released on 4 September 2000 as the lead single from his excellent second solo studio album, Sailing to Philadelphia (2000). The album includes sublime guest vocals on the title track from James Taylor and Van Morrison on “The Last Laugh”. Stop press. LLs was asked to do a press interview for an article about Lockdown Licks which has been published on the GD website. It has interesting articles, interviews about all kinds of players pros and ams + lots of free guitar music to enjoy