Legato Techniques

Techniques for lead guitar playing, including Hammer-On’s, Pull-Off’s, and Slurred Notes.

Introduction to Legato Techniques

The term “Legato” is an Italian term meaning “smooth and connected.” In a musical context, Legato is used to describe notes that are played together as a connected line, often omitting any kind of attack on the note that separates it from other notes in the phrase. This sound creates musical passages that sound completely connected together, and notes are seemingly indistinguishable from others.

As guitarists, legato technique is used to describe notes that are created by the fretting hand, rather than articulated with the picking hand. This means that we will create notes by only manipulating our right hand on the fretboard, rather than using our picking hand to start the sound of the note.

This legato process includes four main techniques, including three that will be discussed in this course: Hammer-On’s, Pull-off’s, and Slurred (Slide) Notes. The fourth technique, String Bending will be examined in a separate course.

Legato phrases are notated by slur lines, which connect across a series of notes to indicate that they are connected together and should not be individually articulated.

Hammer-On’s

Hammer-On’s are a legato technique that is used to play a higher note on the same string without playing the second note with a pick. This allows guitarists to move from a lower note to a higher note on the same string without picking. A hammer-on is created when one note is played on a lower fret with one finger (usually the index finger) and quickly and forcefully pressing another finger down on another note on the same string without picking the note. A slurred line connecting the two notes designates a hammer-on. 

Play the following exercise to get used to playing hammer-ons. The most important thing to remember when playing hammered notes is that the second note needs to be pressed hard in order to keep the volume equal between the picked note and the hammered note.  

You can also hammer-on from an open string to a fretted note, try out the exercise below to move from an open note to a fretted note using the hammer-on technique.

Pull-Off’s

Pull-Off’s are used to move down a string from a higher note to a lower note. A pull-off is created when one note is played and quickly and forcefully pulling the string with the fretting finger towards the ground and revealing another note played lower on the same string. Pull-offs are identified in music by a slurred line connecting the two notes with the letters “P.O” written below.

Play the following exercise to get used to playing hammer-ons. The most important thing to remember when playing hammered notes is that the second note needs to be pressed hard in order to keep the volume equal between the picked note and the hammered note.  

You can also pull off from a fretted note to an open string, try out the exercise below to move from an open note to a fretted note using the hammer-on technique.

Slides and slurs

 Slurred notes are played by pressing down on one note and sliding the same finger up or down the guitar neck to another note on the same string. It is important to hear the sound of your finger sliding up to the desired note, so make sure to keep the pressure on your finger all the way through the slur. The more pressure you use with your finger, the better the slur will sound.

In the example on the right, there is a note played on the 5th fret of the 3rd string and then slides up to the 7th fret on the same string. The note then re-articulates the 7th fret and creates a new slide down to the 5th fret. Typically, both of these slides would be done with the same finger, most likely the 3rd finger.

Exercises with Slides and slurs

In the exercise below, note the slides moving up the fretboard in the first measure (ascending) and then descending in the second measure. In these slides, you will hear both notes as clearly defined notes that are connected with the slide.

In the exercise below, note that there is only a single note written with a slide marking that precedes the note. This means that the starting note of the slide will not be heard, and can start on any fret . In these exercises, the fretting finger will start the slide at the same time that the right hand picks the string, allowing for only the written pitch to be clearly heard. This timing between the right and left hand may take some time to adjust to, but yields a very useful and commonly used articulation for single note playing.

In the exercise below, ascending and descending slides are connected together in triplets (counted “trip-a-let”). It is very important to connect the slide through all three notes and not to stop in the middle between one of the two slides. This will take a little time to get used to, and can be repeated on any string or fretting position once mastered.

Combining Legato Techniques

In the exercises below, Hammer-On’s, Pull-Off’s and Slides are combined into fluid, connected legato passages. Practice each of these exercises slowly and carefully in order to master the connection between the notes. It is important to remember that each technique should seamlessly connect into the next to create the legato sound.