Playing legato smoothly gives your music a flowing, seamless sound.(Smooth as Michael Jackson’s moonwalk) It helps notes blend together without the choppy stops that happen when every note is picked or plucked sharply.
If you’re a beginner, polishing up on your legato takes practice and plenty of repetition.
I’ll break it down step-by-step with how to play legato on guitar, along with clear tips and examples that are as smooth as a hot knife cutting through butter.
Legato means playing notes in a smooth, connected way so each note leads into the next with little or no gap. On guitar, this often means using hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides instead of picking each note separately.
When done right, legato makes your playing sound fluid and effortless. It’s common in styles like rock, metal, jazz, and blues, where fast, smooth runs are sometimes featured.
Well, besides sounding really cool, legato exercises help your fingers move more freely and reduce tension. They improve finger strength, control, and timing. Mastering this early on opens doors for more advanced techniques like tapping.
This will help when it comes to creating more expressive solos that will reach into the listener’s souls!
Most beginners pick every note, which can sound harsh and slow down your speed. Learning legato allows you to play faster phrases with a cleaner tone and less effort.
Hammer-ons and pull-offs are the backbone of legato playing.
Practice one string slowly, playing two or three notes at a time using hammer-ons and pull-offs. Focus on clean, clear notes with good volume. This is the “behind the scenes” stuff that no one else sees. It’s a grind but well worth it in the end. I promise!
This is the time when you’ll be developing those calluses on your fingertips. The more you do it, the smooother your legato playing will become.
Keep your fretting hand fingers close to the fretboard. Move them only as much as needed to play the next note. Light but firm pressure helps notes ring clearly without buzzing.
Try this: Play a simple three-note hammer-on and pull-off pattern on one string. Watch your fingers and notice how little movement you need as you get smoother.
Legato demands finger strength and hand strength to hammer hard and pull off clean. Weak fingers will cause quiet or uneven notes.
Practice slow, repeated hammer-ons and pull-offs to build strength. For example, pick one note, then hammer-on with your ring finger and pull off with your index finger repeatedly.
Playing legato smoothly means notes flow evenly. Using a metronome helps keep your timing steady.
Start slow. Play simple hammer-on and pull-off patterns in time with the metronome. Gradually speed up only after playing perfectly at slower speeds.
One of my favorite guitarists, Steve Vai, will explain it better for you in this video:
This builds up your left hand finger control for legato moves.
This exercise builds both strength and smooth transitions.
Your fingers may press too lightly or lift too quickly. Press firmly and keep your fingers close to the strings.
Hammer-ons and pull-offs should ring as loudly as picked notes. Practice making your finger movements deliberate and strong. Building up calluses on your fingertips will help as you continue to practice this technique.
Legato should minimize picking. Focus on picking the first note only, letting hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides do the rest.
💡Tips for Practice and Progress
Smoother legato makes your playing sound professional and polished. It lets you play fast or melodic lines without sounding mechanical. As you improve, legato will add expression and emotion to your solos and riffs.
Great guitarists like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Allan Holdsworth, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix use legato to create flowing, signature lines. Learning from such styles can motivate you to keep practicing.
Getting better at legato takes time and focus. Practice hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides slowly with a metronome. Build finger strength and control by staying relaxed and keeping finger motion small. Avoid picking every note and aim for smooth, even sound.
Smooth legato adds expressiveness and speed to your guitar. With regular, mindful practice, you will hear and feel the difference in your playing.
Playing this technique gives your guitar playing a smooth, flowing sound. For beginners, learning how to make notes connect without harsh breaks can be tough.
But with the right approach, you can make your legato lines sound clear and effortless.
I’ve been playing guitar 40 years now; writing, recording, and rocking in bands. Randy Rhoads, Warren DiMartini, and of course, Jimi Hendrix all lit the fire for me, and I’ve been chasing that passion ever since.
