Micro study 13 – legato 3, is part of a series – #6stringinspiration. It is the third in a series based on idea borrowed from Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal for two guitars.

Micro Study 13 – Legato 3

This is a left hand legato workout using pull-offs in the key of G major. It is the third in a series built off an idea, borrowed from Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal for two guitars. The idea floats down a single string with pull-offs every two beats. Check out the first two installments of this below.

Micro Study 11 – legato 1

Micro Study 12 – legato 2

KEY Strategy

Even tone; even rhythms

Aim for relaxed LH fingers, and do not rush the legato movement. The tone of the pull-off should even with the tone of the first note – the RH pluck

This micro study is slightly more challenging as it uses the LH little finger more and across 3 strings, in the bass register. This means closer attention needs to be paid to tone production. The challenge here is getting the fingers working in pairs. It will work your left hand control, especially the little finger.

Remember that once you are up to speed you won’t have time to think about each individual finger movement so chunk the material up into beats and shifts.

Other Info

Note: This study uses the G major/E minor scale, and therefore 90% of the notes are from the natural scale (there is only 1 sharp F#). This means this is an excellent exercise to help memorize the fretboard, as well as practice legato.

Secret

LH finger combinations

The trick to getting cross string pull-offs solid is to make sure that the fingers are paired up before the pluck. So here look for combinations of fingers

3&1, 4&3, 4&2 etc.

This needs to be down and ready before the note is plucked with the RH.

Remember even though the technique is called pull-off, what you are actually doing is pulling down and plucking the string with the LH. So if your tone is weak or the notes do not pop, examine how you are executing the legato line.