by Rodrigo Kobo

Hey folks!

I'm beggining a serie of examples and exercises about the 'legato' technique (very used by guitar players like Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Mozart Mello, etc.) which consists in linking one note to another one using "Hammer On" and "Pull Offs". When we link a lower note to a higher one, we call it Hammer on. Pull off is the opposite, when we link a higher note to a lower one.

To have better results with the 'legato', the adequate posture of left hand (for right-handeds) and right hand (for left handeds) is elementar. Try not to touch the palm of the hand on the guitar arm, use only the fingers. This will give you higher mobility to execute it the most confortable possible way. Try to follow the fingering indicated for each exercise.

Let's start with some very simple exercises, to become familiarized with this technique, then we'll increase the difficult gradually, to achieve the maximum that the 'legato' can offer us.

On examples 1 and 2 we'll begin with exercises without many musicality, but great to increase the condition and independency of the left hand fingers. Play changing the speed, start always slowly and, gradually, increase the tempo, then decrease it again and repeat the process several times.

Example 1

Example 2

On example 3, let's apply the legato on the major schale (or Ionic mode) and natural minor (or Aeolian mode), with a pattern of 3 notes by string. The rythmic figure of this exercise is made of triplets (3 notes each time).

Example 3

On the 4th example we incorporate the 'legato' on 2 patterns of pentatonics, one major and one minor. Be careful not to let any note sounding beyond the one that must be played.

Example 4

That's it, folks, this first series of exercises was very easy, but can be used as preparation for the next examples, that will increase in difficult gradually. See you next time!!!

A great hug!!!

Rodrigo Kobo