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I regard myself as more of a 'legato' than 'pick every note' player. I probably naturally went that way because I'm left handed but play guitar right handed - not that I'm suggesting playing the guitar the other way around.
I think it helps to learn to be comfortable playing 3 or even 4 notes per string for many lines, so left hand span is a part of the technique. Also, if your thinking is based around the CAGED system (which mine is) this means being comfortable thinking 'outside the box' (so to speak) and playing in a way that spans more than one CAGED shape at a time.
I've been a legato player for many years but I still found some good stuff to learn from the 51 Modern Legato Guitar Licks Lessons by Tom Quayle. I like the way he combines legato with a range of techniques, so it doesn't just sound 'legato' and is a complete integrated approach.
But apparently I don't do it 'properly' according to Marshall Harrison because my approach is a 'Petrucci legato' (but not as good ).
You might want to listen to what he says if you want a Holdsworth type sound.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Thanks, I'll check out Tom Quayle's legato again, I have some of his Jazz stuff already. I've listen to Marshall Harrison over the years when he posted on guitar forums, he is a really good player, I'll have to analyse what he's saying about the two legato techniques.
@viz
Yeah, I enjoyed your 500 Miles High, very good rendition. The Gary Burton improv course is a good intro into modern(ish) Jazz.
@newi123
Thanks, I'll look up the Richie Kotzen on Youtube, I've listened to Greg Howe before, he's a top player, Tom Quayle is influenced by him.
Unfortunately, light strings and low action is the opposite of my current setup, so I'll setup one of my guitars with that in mind.
Thanks
Guy
This would be an excellent place to start:
http://martingoulding.com/lessons/legato/
He's a respected authority on teaching this stuff.
Harrison is a top-class player, but gets very ranty about the precise definition of legato and slips away from the point IMHO. What I understand you to mean is that you want to play a bunch of notes without picking each one. Legato has become shorthand for that in guitar speak. It's not quite accurate: Nuno Bettencourt plays some rather effective staccato with hammer ons and pull offs, for example.
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To me, it's all about your first finger, or hammering on that first note on a string so it's as loud as the rest without picking a single thing, it doesn't have to be your first finger necessarily.
Sounds as smooth as anything after that. That is the only 'Proper' thing about it I think that if you can't do that, it's usually why your playing falls down. It does feel weird and unnatural, but eventually it gets wired I suppose.
I used to think that Nuno (one of my favourite players) did his high speed low string staccato thing by picking every note, which was the cause of a lot of angst. It was a great relief when I realised it was legato (or whatever the correct term is ).
Pete
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Thanks for the good advice, what I'm currently doing is picking harder on the descending legato, because it is so much quieter than my ascending legato, but this is difficult.
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I done something a few months ago when I could use the picking hand ...dont iff it will be any help but it will show you can do quite a bit with just the fretting hand
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I'm not sure what you mean about when you say picking using the left hand ?
Yeah gain helps but works without gain as well...what I find hard is when ascending getting the first note to ring using the first finger ... this was just a exercise with my right hand being out of action..