As technique is such a vast topic the lesson is being broken up into four sections. This first and second parts cover legato technique. These are quite lengthy in-depth lessons and should be read carefully if you're going to get the most out of them!
Part One - Legato Regime
'Legato' means smoothly, and in guitar terms this generally means playing using these techniques:
- Hammer-ons
- Pull-offs
- (Slides)
- (Tapping)
Of these, Hammer-ons and Pull-offs are covered in this lesson, slides and tapping will be dealt with in Lesson Six...
Please remember - warm up first...
Hammer-ons
The hammer-on is a very common technique, used not only for playing passages legato, but also for playing things faster than would be possible when picking every note. For an overview of the basic technique, see Hammer-ons in the glossary.
Now, in order to use hammer-ons consistently well, it is important that many different variations are practiced. If we look at all the possibilities of playing the hammer-on, assuming that we have four fingers on our fretting hand, we get this:
- 1st, 2nd
- 1st, 3rd
- 1st, 4th
- 2nd, 3rd
- 2nd, 4th
- 3rd, 4th
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- 1st, 2nd, 4th
- 1st, 3rd, 4th
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
That's quite a lot! Plus another four variations as we can also hammer-on to any finger from an open string! Now, in practice, a lot of these are very rarely used, such as hammering-on with your third finger from your second, but if we practice all the variations we will not only master hammer-ons, but also improve finger strength and dexterity immensely. So, this is how it's done:
Hammer-ons from the first finger - 46.5kb wav
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|--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--*-*--|
|--1-2--1-3--1-4--1-2--1-3--1-4--|
|--------------------------------|
|--3h4--3h5--3h6--3h4--3h5--3h6--|
The numbers with asterisks (*) over them show the fingers you should use to play each note... DO NOT by tempted to use your 3rd finger for hammer-ons three frets away, use your pinky. There are times when using your 3rd finger may be considerably easier, faster and cleaner, but we're concerned with finger dexterity and strength here, your pinky will be useless if you don't practice with it!
Repeat this as many times as feels comfortable. If you are a beginner (be honest, now...) maybe one or two times will be enough, if you're quite competent with legato technique try four or more. After this, change position to the 7th fret and then change position to the 12th fret. Rest. Loosely shake your hands then do the same on the string above. This is necessary as string width and fret position mean altering your technique very slightly. When this is done, stop. You have just performed over one hundred and fifty hammer-ons. You deserve a break! If you experience any pain don't play again for at least an hour (warm up again). If any pain persists (say over the course of the day) go see a doctor, this type of problem will only get worse. Warm-up slowly - this is important, just ask Yngwie Malmsteen!
Hammer-ons from the second and third fingers - 15.7kb wav
|------------------|
|------------------|
|--*-*--*-*--*-*---|
|--2-3--2-4--3-4---|
|------------------|
|--4h5--4h6--5h6---|
This is considerably harder and for this reason extra care should be taken to sound the notes cleanly. As this is so difficult for the beginner-intermediate guitarist I would recommend only playing it twice in the 3rd fret position then changing strings. For the more capable, try moving position as in the first exercise (7th fret then 12th) and playing it four times. Again, after you have played it on all six strings, rest.
Three finger hammer-ons - 22.8kb wav
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|--*-*-*--*-*-*--*-*-*--*-*-*--|
|--1-2-3--1-2-4--1-3-4--2-3-4--|
|------------------------------|
|--3h4h5--3h4h6--3h5h6--4h5h6--|
Firstly, make sure you are playing the right notes! Just to execute this pattern is difficult at first, and your fingers will probably get in knots initially. For this reason spend some time learning the pattern and getting your fingers going to the right frets before practicing 'for real'. Again, beginners take it easy - this is a difficult pattern, play it once accurately in one position then move onto the next string. If you can't play it once right through accurately, play each individual pattern (i.e. 1, 2, 3) until you get it right then link them up. It will really be an achievement to perform these accurately and it will show in your playing. More experienced players, repeat, change position, change string.
Four finger hammer-ons - 36.3kb wav
|--------------------*-*-*-*---etc.----------3h4h5h6---|
|-----------*-*-*-*--1-2-3-4---------3h4h5h6-----------|
|--*-*-*-*--1-2-3-4----------3h4h5h6-------------------|
|--1-2-3-4-----------3h4h5h6---------------------------|
|-----------3h4h5h6------------------------------------|
|--3h4h5h6---------------------------------------------|
This is played differently to all the other examples to hone our string changing. The main difficulty here is sounding each note evenly, generally the first hammer on will be fine, the second poor and the last one practically inaudible! Try to concentrate on making every note count and sound as cleanly as the last. Beginners, play this once and then stop and have a cup of tea. Good players can play this once (or twice) then change positions to 7th then 12th. Virtuosi can try this:
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------*-*-*-*---*-*-*-*------|
|--*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*---*-*-*-*------1-2-3-4---1-2-3-4-etc.-|
|--1-2-3-4--1-2-3-4---1-2-3-4-----------------------------|
|----------------------------------3h4h5h6h--7h8h9h10-----|
|--3h4h5h6--7h8h9h10--12h13h14h15-------------------------|
This will help you with changing positions, finger strength/stamina, changing strings and showing off. Then finally, if you can handle it...
Hammer-ons from open strings - 15.9kb
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|-------------------|
|----*---*---*---*--|
|----1---2---3---4--|
|-------------------|
|--0h3-0h4-0h5-0h6--|
This can be played in any of the variations for the four-finger hammer-on above: play on every string, change position; play every position then change string etc.
All guitarists who have performed the whole of the above regime should rest their hands. You have literally performed thousands of hammer-ons. Novices may want to spread this over the course of a day or a few days until they feel more comfortable. Even the experienced should spend about an hour - speed is not important here. Once the practice exercises have been learnt you'd be wise to run through them every other day at least - within a week you'll see an improvement and if you perform them in combination with the pull-off exercises and the other upcoming technique lessons you'll be a vastly improved guitarist in a few months...
When you are ready you can try the pull-off regime...
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