Few things in rock are as fascinating as when two of its most distinctive guitar voices speak about one another. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits have long been admired for their melodic touch and tone, and over the years, the two legends have shared a deep mutual respect that reflects just how singular their approaches are.
When asked about Knopfler’s impact, Gilmour has been openly appreciative. Speaking to Guitar Classics, Gilmour called Knopfler’s style “lovely, refreshing,” adding that he “brought back something that seemed to have gone astray in guitar playing.” Gilmour even admitted to being influenced by Knopfler’s unique fingerstyle technique, though he noted that his own playing isn’t about copying others: “I do get genuinely influenced by things, particularly things that spring up. People like Knopfler and Eddie Van Halen brought a new way of playing. Sometimes it makes you reconsider your own approach.”
The admiration goes both ways. In a 2002 interview with French Guitarist, Knopfler explained why he considered Gilmour a rare guitarist.
“I’ve played with him before. But we haven’t recorded together. I like his intonation — there is always a side ‘swamp,’ bluesy, in the sound of his Stratocaster. But also a crystalline quality at the same time, which corresponds more to my personal sound. What I also like about Dave is the way he plays while wandering around the central melody, which he rarely approaches in a frontal way. It is the mark of a great guitarist.”
One of the clearest demonstrations of Knopfler’s individuality came at a charity event where he borrowed Gilmour’s gear. With the same rig and amps, Gilmour’s guitar tech expected Knopfler to sound somewhat closer to Gilmour. Instead, he sounded entirely like himself. The story underscored a truth both men embody: a guitarist’s personality is carried in their touch, phrasing, and sense of melody, far beyond what equipment can do.
Though Gilmour and Knopfler have never recorded a full studio project together, their connection represents more than collaboration — it’s a meeting of two guitarists who elevated the instrument through subtlety rather than flash. For Gilmour, Knopfler’s restraint and melodic weaving around a central theme set him apart. For Knopfler, Gilmour’s balance of bluesy depth and crystalline clarity represents a kind of guitar mastery that’s impossible to mistake.
Two different worlds, two unmistakable voices — and one profound respect that has helped define what it means to be a truly great guitarist.
