Legato Concepts: Single String Ideas

For anyone unfamiliar with the terms Legato, I will clarify for you now. Legato means 'smoothly connected', and applied to the guitar, means using techniques such as Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, Tapping and Sliding as a means of achieving a sound that might be described as 'fluid' or 'slippery'. One of the best exponents of the Legato approach is Joe Satriani.

To begin with, let us take a look at each of the *5 strings(see below) we are going to draw from in order to play the licks. Each string represents a different scale / mode. *Note that strings 1 and 6 are the same set of notes on the same frets, only on different strings and two octaves apart. I have not set out a Lick for string 6 for this reason. Please also be aware that the next 5 examples incorporate all possibilities for each string even though some of the higher notes are not used in this feature. They can be used for your own experimentations later on though.

We will begin with String 1, which is the Highest in pitch and the Thinnest string.

Ex. 1 - E Aeolian (E Minor)


|-0-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17-19-20-22-24-*|
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Ex. 2 - B Phrygian

|----------------------------------------*|
|-0-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-13-15-17-19-20-22-24-*|
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|----------------------------------------*|
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Ex. 3 - G Ionian (G Major)
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|-0-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14-16-17-19-21-23-24-*|
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Ex. 4 - D Mixolydian
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|-0-2-4-5-7-9-10-12-14-16-17-19-21-22-24-*|
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Ex. 5 - A Dorian
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|-0-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-14-15-17-19-21-22-24-*|
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Ok. Now to each lick. Basically, there's one for each string (except 6) starting at string 1, 'E'.
Performance Legend:

h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
S = slide *These sit to the BEFORE the note you need to slide to.
~~ vibrato
a = acciaccatura (slur-slide * mentioned in performance notes for LICK 5 below)

Duration Legend: (Durations sit above the notes)

S = 16-note pulse - play 4 notes per beat. If this is too difficult,
try playing 2 notes per beat instead as an 8th note pulse.
H = Half-Note - worth 2 beats.
Q = Quarter note - worth 1 beat
E = 8th note pulse - play 2 notes per beat
|-3-| This is the symbol for a triplet. Play 3 notes per beat.

Lick 1 - E Aeolian (E Minor)

The left fingering combinations are either 1st / Middle OR 1st / 3rd. This is because the intervals never stretch more than 3 frets apart.


S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S H
|-0h14h15-0h12h14-0h10h12-0h8h10-0h7h8-0h|=5h7-0h3h5-0h2h3p0----|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------|


S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S H
|-0h2h3-0h3h5-0h5h7-0h7h8-0h8h10-0h|=10h12-0h12h14-0h14h15p0----*|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------------|----------------------------*|

Lick 2 - B Phrygian
Similar to Lick 2.


S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S H
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-0h1h3-0h3h5-0h5h7-0h7h8-0h8h10-0h|=10h12-0h12h13-0h13h15-12----|
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|


S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S H
|----------------------------------------|----------------------*|
|-0h13h15-0h12h13-0h10h12-0h8h10-0h7h8-0h|=5h7-0h3h5-0h1h3-0----*|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------*|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------*|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------*|
|----------------------------------------|----------------------*|

Lick 3 - G Ionian (G Major)
This lick is a little more challenging and introduces some sliding into the mix. Remember, once you've you've learnt the scale properly you can use similar methods with the other notes on offer.


S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S Q
|---------------------------------|------------------------------*|
|---------------------------------|------------------------------*|
|-0h2h4-0h4h5-0h5h7p5S4h5p4S2h4p2-|-0h2h4-0h4h5-0h5h7p5S4h5p4----*|
|---------------------------------|------------------------------*|
|---------------------------------|------------------------------*|
|---------------------------------|------------------------------*|

Lick 4 - D Mixolydian
Rather than using the pinky finger in the first beat of the lick from fret 4 to 5, slide up with the 3rd finger instead. Repeat this move again at the end of the bar from fret 5 to 7. Use the 3rd finger to begin bar 2 and be sure to have the first finger perform the sliding on the way back down.


S S S S S S S S S S S S Q S S S S S S S S S S S S Q
|----------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------|----------------------------*|
|-0h2h4S5S4p2h4p2p0h2h4h5S7--|-9p7h9p7S5h7p5S4h5p4S2h4h0--*|
|----------------------------|----------------------------*|
|----------------------------|----------------------------*|

Lick 5
This one's actually more a rhythm lick, due to the powerchords getting in on the act. Sounds like an Intro Riff to me... [bar 1] - there is a *slur-slide from fret 3 to 5. This means that the middle finger should pick the note at fret 3 then quickly slide to fret 5 so that fret 3's note is not recognised. [bars 3 - 4] - Start with your 3RD finger at fret 12. Use the 1st finger for all the slides downward. To add a little more expression, try sliding into the first note of bar 3 and the end note of bar 4 with your 3rd finger.


|-3-| |-3-| * |-3-| |-3-|
E E E E E E a Q Q E E E E E E H
|---------------------|------------------*|
|---------------------|------------------*|
|---------------------|-------------2----*|
|---------------------|-------------2----*|
|-0h2h3-0h2h3-3S5S=3--|-0h2h3-0h2h3-0----*|
|---------------------|------------------*|


|-3--| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q Q
|----------------------------|---------------------*|
|----------------------------|---------------------*|
|----------------------------|---------------------*|
|----------------------------|---------------------*|
|-12p10S9h10p9S7h9p7S5h7p5S3h|=5p3S2h3p2h3-0--/12--*|
|----------------------------|---------------------*|