Legato is a way of playing where notes smoothly transition from one to the other. The way to play legato on the guitar is by using hammer-ons and pull-offs with your fretting hand instead of plucking every individual note.
Legato 3 Notes per String Scales
Great way to work on the legato technique is to play 3 note per string scales in different positions. Here are some patterns for the major scale that you can use:
I marked the root in every position for reference. It’s always nice to know where the roots are! Paying attention to root notes and other scale degrees is not the primary focus of this particular exercise, but it is something that I like to think about when playing any exercise. It really helps with learning the fretboard.
Start slowly, make sure that each note is sounded equally loud and with right timing (yep, use a metronome).
For this exercise you do not have to pick string at all. You can use your picking hand to mute strings at the bridge.
Legato is all about quick, precise, and yet light finger action! For that try to keep your fretting hand as relaxed as possible! If your hand is stiff you will not be able to develop speed and fluency. Any extra effort to hit the string harder will not do you any good.
Stop and relax as soon as you feel that your hand is overstressed. You might also want to start higher on the neck where your fingers don’t require so much stretching. Gradually move down the neck to the open position.
Do not start with running up and down the whole pattern. Try playing 3 notes on one string for a while, then play two adjacent strings up and down, then add another string, and so on. If your hand is not strong enough, you might want to cover only one pattern at a time.
Also do not over do this exercise! Stop as soon as you feel light burning in your fretting hand! I find that burning occurs really fast when you start playing too fast without proper warm up, and your hand is not sufficiently relaxed. Take a short break and then come back to the exercise.
