Legato problems

Socrates

Socrates

New member
I had the solo to Stairway to Heaven stuck in my head all morning, so I decided to try and play it. It seems that no matter how much I practice it though, it never sounds 'smooth' enough. I can't get the notes to blend right, so it just sounds sort of like I'm playing one note at a time and there's no feeling in it. I have no idea if I'm doing something wrong, if it's a setup problem or what. I do understand that it's Jimmy Page and I'm not going to sound anywhere close to what he does playing it, but I've been noticing it on other songs too and it's been a big hurdle for me to jump. So I'm basically wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem and can share how they overcame it. Thanks guys!
 
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Re: Legato problems

Stop picking every individual note and instead work on hammer-ons and pull-offs.

A good way to do that is just play the first note of the portion of notes on that particular string and just hammer-on the rest. Do it backwards to work on the pull-offs.
 
Re: Legato problems

In fact not just practice "Hammer ons and pull offs" in the blues rock kinda style, but start learning to do legato across 6 string 3 note per string patterns.
This will strengthen the fingers and increase accuracy. Notice I didn't say "increase speed" because you need the accuracy and strength before you can proceed to play faster
 
Re: Legato problems

I think cheating is the wrong approach. It could be a fundamental problem in your technique that is holding you back from playing the solo. The only correct thing you can do is take it down to 1/2 speed on the metronome and bump it up 5 bps every time you can play it perfect 5 times in a row. You will get there sooner than you think. If you dont then you will end up in the same rut every time.

Shawn lane gave a tip once. He said to play something ridiculously fast and slow it down to tempo. Approach it different ways only inch up to it instead of tackling it head on. Legato practice is beneficial to get the fingering but it sounds like you already have the fingering. Its a problem with righ left hand sync.
 
Re: Legato problems

as ubermetaldood said, the only way to something cleanly and well is to start slow. don't re-engraine mistakes., and us a metronome! but stuff like expression (legato is a piece of expression) is a matter of focusing on the piece, and yes check out your right to left hand sync
 
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