Legato Techniques For Absolute Beginners

Welcome to "Legato Techniques For Absolute Beginners" on Licklibrary.com, a comprehensive guide for aspiring guitarists to master the art of legato playing. This course, taught by Tom Quayle, is designed to provide step-by-step instructions on various legato techniques, ensuring a smooth and fluid playing style that is essential for any guitar player. Let's dive into the details of what this course offers:

Techniques Covered in "Legato Techniques for Absolute Beginners"

Left Hand Position and Shape

In this section, we focus on the correct positioning and shaping of the left hand, which is crucial for effective legato playing. Proper hand placement allows for smoother transitions between notes and reduces strain during extended playing sessions.

Benefits

• Enhances ease of playing complex passages
• Reduces hand fatigue and risk of injury
• Improves overall playing precision

Right Hand Position and Shape

The right hand's role in legato playing is equally important. This lesson emphasizes the correct positioning and movement of the right hand to facilitate smooth string transitions and dynamic control.

Benefits

• Ensures accurate string picking and muting
• Aids in achieving consistent tone quality
• Enhances control over dynamics and articulation

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons are a fundamental legato technique. This lesson guides you through the process of smoothly 'hammering' your finger onto the fretboard to sound a note, crucial for fluidity in your playing.

Benefits

• Creates smoother, more connected note transitions
• Enables faster, more efficient playing
• Reduces right-hand picking workload

Pull-Offs

The counterpart to hammer-ons, pull-offs involve plucking the string with a left-hand finger. This lesson will help you master this technique for seamless note transitions.

Benefits

• Facilitates quick and smooth note changes
• Enhances expressiveness in playing
• Complements hammer-ons for diverse legato sounds

Combination Trills and Exercises

Combining hammer-ons and pull-offs, trills are a great way to practice legato techniques. This section provides exercises to build endurance and fluidity in performing trills.

Benefits

• Improves finger dexterity and strength
• Enhances musical expressiveness through trills
• Builds coordination between left and right hands

Moving Between Strings

Transitioning smoothly between strings is crucial for legato playing. This lesson focuses on techniques to move across strings effortlessly while maintaining legato phrasing.

Benefits

• Enhances fluidity across multiple strings
• Improves accuracy in string transitions
• Builds confidence in playing complex legato lines

Using Pick and Fingers

Integrating both pick and fingers in legato playing, known as hybrid picking, offers a unique sound. This lesson explores how to effectively combine these techniques.

Benefits

• Expands tonal possibilities
• Allows for greater versatility in playing styles
• Enhances control and precision

Three Note Per String Shapes

This lesson teaches you how to play three notes per string efficiently, a common pattern in legato playing, enhancing your ability to navigate the fretboard.

Benefits

• Facilitates smooth scale runs
• Improves speed and fluidity in playing
• Enhances understanding of the fretboard

Playing Scale Runs – Horizontal and Vertical Movement

Mastering scale runs both horizontally and vertically on the neck is essential for legato playing. This section guides you through these movements for agility and fluidity.

Benefits

• Enhances scale playing versatility
• Improves fretboard navigation skills
• Builds speed and coordination

Working on Weaknesses

Identifying and working on your playing weaknesses is crucial. This lesson provides strategies to pinpoint and improve your weaker areas in legato playing.

Benefits

• Leads to well-rounded playing skills
• Enhances focus on personal improvement
• Boosts overall playing competence

Playing Over a Backing Track

Practicing with a backing track is an effective way to develop your legato skills. It helps you understand how to apply these techniques in a musical context, improving your timing and feel.

Benefits

• Provides a real-world playing experience
• Improves timing and rhythm
• Enhances musicality and expressiveness

Techniques Used in This Course

At the end of this course, you will have mastered a variety of techniques essential for legato playing. Below is a list of these techniques with links to further information:

• Left Hand Position
• Right Hand Position
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Trills
• Hybrid Picking
• Scale Runs
• Fretboard Navigation

Through "Legato Techniques For Absolute Beginners," you'll not only learn the technical aspects of legato playing but also develop a deeper musicality and understanding of your instrument. This course is a must for any guitarist looking to enhance their playing skills and musical expression.