The Legato Technique

“Legato” refers to a style of guitar playing in which notes are played fluidly and linked, creating a seamless and flowing sound. The term “legato” comes from the Italian word for “tied together,” which appropriately characterizes how the notes of a legato phrase are linked without any perceptible gaps or breaks.

The legato technique can be achieved in two ways:

1. Hammer-ons: A hammer-on, as described in the preceding paragraph, is a method in which a guitarist produces a note by “hammering” a fretting hand finger onto a higher fret without picking the string. This results in a seamless, linked sound.

2. Pull-offs: Pull-offs are the opposite of hammer-ons. They entail removing a fretted note’s finger to make a new, lower-pitched note without picking the string again. This also results in a more seamless and connected sound between the two notes.

When used together, hammer-ons and pull-offs enable a guitarist to produce legato phrases, or a series of notes played with little usage of the picking hand. Legato methods are particularly popular in lead guitar playing and soloing because they allow guitarists to generate quick and flowing lines with fewer pick strokes, resulting in a more expressive and effortless sound.

How to perform and exercise with a basic legato:

1. Begin by fretting the high E string’s 5th fret with your first finger.

2. Hammer on the 8th fret of the same string with your third or fourth finger. The picking hand should only strike the string once while pounding down with enough force to generate a clear sound.

3. Perform a pull-off after the hammer-on by removing your third or fourth finger from the 8th fret while leaving the 5th fret (played by your first finger) to ring out.

4. Repeat the technique, but this time move to higher frets and strings to create a seamless and continuous legato phrase.

Legato is an essential ability for guitarists who want to develop a more fluid and lyrical playing style. Guitarists can add depth and expressiveness to their music by incorporating legato techniques into their solos, improvisations, and other elements of their playing with practice.