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.