Holdsworth/Garsed Legato - Your Experiences

[jbraun]

Howdy all,

So I've been practicing the "all hammer-on" approach that I've heard Holdsworth and Garsed use, and I've been doing it for a little over a week. Some notes and phrases are starting to sound even in volume, others will need more practice. I'm just doing basic exercises with a focus on evenness of volume (1-2-4, 1-3-4, different permutations, up and down the neck, etc).

My question to any who have this down or who have pursued this route is: about how long did it take for you to acquire this technique? Yes, usual caveats apply (practice time, years playing etc.).

I'd really love to hear any of y'alls experiences learning this, and maybe some of the pitfills and truipmhs in your learning process. What worked, what was a red herring, and what hindered ya.

[ChainsawGuitar]

I have to say, I'm not particularly a jazz fusion person, but as far as legato goes I think its one of the best techniques you can get good at.

I mean, it builds up your finger strength, which doesnt just help legato, but, as I have found, alternate picking and sweep picking too! I think the best way to practice it, is to take it down with a metronome as slow as you can possibley do it (because that requires the most strength), and then take it as fast as you can cleanly (because that takes the most dexterity).

Also, it can be good to include different stretches, because the muscles you are working out are the ones between your fingers and in your hand (you dont want to be using the powerful muscles from your arm, this can lead to damage in your wrist because of how the muscles work). This sort of thing should be all in the fingers!

Oh and I hope the hard work you put in pays off! :)