Mark Knopfler's distinctive fingerpicked guitar style, best known from Dire Straits tracks such as "Sultans of Swing," grew out of his youthful ambition to emulate two very different blues and rock heroes: BB King and Jimi Hendrix. Rather than competing with technically dazzling contemporaries like Jimmy Page or Eddie Van Halen, Knopfler abandoned the pick altogether, a choice that pushed him towards a more vocal, expressive playing style reminiscent of Jeff Beck. The article argues that his failure to fully replicate either of his idols is precisely what allowed his own musical voice to emerge.

Knopfler has said he "just wanted to be BB King or Jimi Hendrix," recalling how he taught himself by playing along to songs including "Voodoo Child," "Purple Haze" and "Hey Joe" while transitioning from pick to fingerstyle playing. The piece traces how King's economical, emotionally precise phrasing (as heard on "The Thrill Is Gone") and Hendrix's untethered, instinctive approach both surface subtly in Knopfler's solos, citing the "Sultans of Swing" solo as a blend of King's patient melodic build-up and Hendrix-style triplet runs reimagined through fingerpicking.