"TUNNEL OF LOVE" BY DIRE STRAITS: OUTRO GUITAR SOLO PART 2

Let’s learn the second part of the outro guitar solo from Tunnel Of Love by Dire Straits. This is among the best lead guitar ever - it’s suble, it’s potent, the phrasing is wicked, the techniques are cool, AND it fits the song!

This part is pretty long and difficult to learn. But you can make it easier by creating your own tab, so download your own blank tab and get started! You might find the rhythms tricky to write by hand, but this is a handy skill - take on the challenge. ;)

You'll find all the notes and rhythms in the video lesson - below we summarize what's involved and discuss how to use this solo to become a better player.

Copy Mark Knopfler's Pick-less Playing

We use our fingers, just like Mark Knopfler does. Rest your thumb on strings 6, 5, and 4 to mute them throughout - we don't want to hear them! :)

And don’t get too picky with the fingering (pardon the pun) - I don’t know exactly what fingers he uses when, and I doubt Mark does either! As always, if it sounds good, it is good. ;)

Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love: Learn The Phrases

In the video, we go into a bunch of detail on all of the phrases. You can see a full-speed demo at the start of the video and several slow demos sprinkled throughout. :)

🤔 Which Position? At some points I transcribed the phrases in the wrong position of the guitar. This shows that it's okay to move these phrases around, but we focus on the authentic Mark Knopfler version. :)

The trickiest part of these phrases is the rhythm, so jam with the Dire Straits original at a slower speed, making sure you’re in time, and slowly build up to full speed.

Understand This Guitar Solo

You'll get loads more from this lesson if you understand how the phrases harmonically fit with the chords. I analyzed the first Tunnel Of Love solo in some depth - if you find harmonic analysis tricky, check out that lesson.

If you’re an advanced guitar player, I suggest you write out the entire part by hand. Mark beat 1 of the bar with a line, write the chords above the bar lines, then analyze the notes against the chords. Are they chord tones, pentatonic notes, or something else?

💡 Keen to do Harmonic Analysis? Check out my Practical Musical Theory course. We learn chord construction, quadad chords, scales, chords in a key, and more - all the tools you need for harmonic analysis.

With this info, it's much easier to absorb these phrases into your repertoire. Mark Knopfler is a master at making the changes, so learn from him! He reminds me of jazz players (who almost always use chord tones), yet he doesn’t play mechanically - these are beautiful melodies. :)

Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love: Get The Most From It

I also encourage you to go beyond the notes. It’s not all about fingers and frets. Focus on the dynamics, the touch, the volume, the feel. There is so much detail in there!

👉 Love Dire Straits? Check out the rhythm guitar and first solo from Tunnel Of Love.