Hey & welcome to GT!

Originally Posted by: sixgearz

Hi folks, I'm new here but I will get to the point. I'm trying to learn "Sultans of Swing" by my new hero Mark Knopfler, who is a finger picker.[/quote]

It's possible to play that tune using fingerstyle without a pick & it's possible imitate it with a pick. I've done it.

The bigger problem here is that regardless of whether or not you use a pick, the guitar parts in that tune are pretty advanced material.

And I don't know what your current level of skill & knowledge is.

The first step would be to just learn the chord progression & play it in time. Then start to work on the licks & tricks used to play those chords & the fills, the lead. Unfortunately, GT doesn't have a license to teach the song. So I recommend looking online for an accurate transcription. This one looks good & shows the notation for both guitar parts.

https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0087011

Keep in mind what you are hearing in that song is 2 guitars. David Knopfler, Mark's brother, plays rhythm guitar fleshing out the chord progression.

Originally Posted by: sixgearzWhat Knopfler is a master at is playing only certain strings, while I usuall strum all of them, which I know is a mistake.

It's possible to use a pick with hammer-ons & pull-offs to get those licks done. The iconic quick arpeggio section of the lead is something fairly commonly done in pop & rock solos. Dave does a similiar approach in this lesson for example.

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=23829

[quote=sixgearz]Is it possible to develop the ability to pick certain strings without being a fingerstyle user?

Thanks?

Absolutely. In fact, I'd argue that the ability to isolate strings & play quick passages is more common among pick users than fingerstyle players. But if you are only used to strumming, then it's going to take some serious practice time to develop the economical, minimal motions required compared to strumming.

I suggest starting with some scale practice to get used to the technique.

Major Scale Patterns 1

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=453

Minor Scale Patterns 1

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=887

Hope that helps! Please ask more if necessary & best of success!