ScalesLegato Workout with 3 Note per String ScalesGreat way to work on legato technique (hammer-ons/pull-offs) is to play 3 note per string scales in different positions. Here are some patterns for the major scale:
I marked the root in every position for reference. Its always nice to know where the roots are! Start slowly, make sure that each note is sounded equally loud and with right timing (yep, use metronome). Try to keep your fretting hand as relaxed as possible! Remember, legato is all about quick and light! Making effort to hit the string harder will not do any good. So stop and relax as soon as you feel that your hand is overstressed. You might also want to start higher on the neck, so there will be not so much stretching and gradually move down to the open position. » Major Scale Harmonization
As an example lets harmonize C major scale. We all know that it can be played with notes like this C D E F G A B C It can as well be played with chords like this: C – Dm – Em – F – G – Am – Bdim – C Up, thats harmonization! Chords are very basic so I will do not think it is necessary to tell you how to play them. Playing this exercise name the chord you are playing and also the scale degree, from which it is build. |
It is great to play scales not just note by note but with chords. I must warn you that this exercise is not so much fun, and it requires you to know roman numerals (5-10 minutes for review) and at some basics of music theory (1-2 hours of reading), but it is really useful in several aspects. Knowing chords, build within the major scales, and the scale degrees from which they are build will give you a lot of power when picking up songs by ear or transposing songs into new key.