Legato Exercise Lesson

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Backing Tracks

Tab

Guitar pro tab (?)

Members practicing this lesson:
fastj27
Matt Capasso
Manonamission

This lesson is designed to help you developping a strong legato technique while reviewing the 7 modal shapes taken out of a major scale. In order to facilitate our legato workout, we'll concentrate on 3 notes per string shapes.

All examples should be memorized before playing the full piece. To help us pley in beat, we'll attack each string on each serie of 3 notes. The whole track is to be played in sixteenth triplet notes (6 notes per beat).

The key of the track is in A minor. Each example go through the 7 modal positions, however the key of the song stays in A minor. Switching to a different modal position won't affect the key of the song though. We'll play the 7 modal positions starting on the next note of the scale each time.

Practice slowly and enjoy!

Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments

Kristofer Dahl	9th October 2007
GMC Founder & Rocker	It's really great that we are getting a wider selection of legato exercise to choose from - anyone interested in learning this lesson should find inspiration for years of practicing!

Muris Varajic	9th October 2007
Instructor	Wonderfully played David,thumbs up!

jammer91	10th October 2007
Member	3 thumbs up!!!

jammer91	10th October 2007
Member	Speaking of thumbs you alt pick differently (i think)... Instead of moving your wrist you simply contract your thumb holding the pick. How does this work?

jammer91	10th October 2007
Member	whoops, it was a noob post. Im sorry. I forgot you dont alt pick you just pick once (you were playing legato so fast in the main vid that i confused it with alt picking). Proves the true capabilites of legato (can confuse noobs). This is one lesson i have to nail. Thanks a lot Dave

jammer91	10th October 2007
Member	Sorry for quadrupile posting but i have question. Ive been practicing this lesson for 15 minutes and my left wrist is really starting to pain (the pain has sorta gone but my wrist still feels soar after one hour). Is this normal? What should i do?

Giacinto	9th October 2007
Member	stop practicing and relax. play this some hours later again if this is your first legato practice your hands have to adapt to this "exhausting"(yeah for beginners it is!! :-[ ) playing style. dont play with pain you could really harm you hands. -> pain = sth. goes wrong o.O

coffeeman	10th October 2007
Member	Nice lesson David. Im having I litle trouble staying in time with the 6 notes per beat, Im playing super slow to stay in time. Any other recomendation ?

David Wallimann	10th October 2007
Instructor	Yeah, practice slowly like you do and take breaks! It is a very tiring exercise..

Andrew Cockburn	10th October 2007
Theory Instructor & Moderator	This looks very tasty Dave I have been working on my legato for a while now, and I think this may just be the boost I need to get to the next level - cool!

Salivtomte	9th October 2007
Member	Do you pick the first note from each 3 note beat or the last? according to the tabs you pick the last note from each 3 notes, is that what actually happens?

The Uncreator	10th October 2007
Fire Up The Blades, Moderator	Amazing technique David!!

PlayAllDay	10th October 2007
Member	David do you use the 134 fingering across 5 fret span even on the lowest frets? I use 124 but wondering whether I should develop the 134 as well?

Melodicintenions	4th April 2008
Member	love how you take the lessons and take the lessons and cross fade them and interchange them and make them sound the same but So Different each time your accomplishing greatness keep it up@!