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View Full Version : The All hammers legato technique and hybrid picking

hyperboogie
10-06-2009, 11:05 PM
Hello everyone.

It's my first time thread here in IBM. Looks like a great place with lot's of info.

I'm trying to work on my legato and get it smoother sounding. I'm a huge fan of Brett Garsed and watching Marshall Harrison's videos on youtube, really opened my eyes to the possibilities... :eek:
My question is if anyone here is using the Garsed/Holdsworth/Marshall Harrison all hammers legato technique? what about hybrid picking?
I've been practicing both in the past few days and there's already some improvement with the hybrid picking stuff, but the all hammers legato ... oh man ... it's killing me. :(
I've managed to find out what's kipping me back though. When descending, the previous finger does not lift just in time for the next finger to hammer thus muting it. it's like a micro-second too late but that's enough to kill the sound. I'm practicing it now but it's like learning to play the instrument all over again. I have to practice it ever so slowly on the metronome ... OYE!!!
Anyone here got some advice? some good exercises on hybrid picking? I already found a few powertabs on an old thread here. Anything else?

Thanks a lot.
ChainsawGuitar
10-07-2009, 07:45 PM
I can't really help you with the hammering from nowhere technique, as I don't use it myself. All I can say with this is make sure you're hitting the string right next to the fret for each note. Also, legato is all from the fingers, not the hand or the arm- so make sure your fingers are doing most of the movement.

As far as hybrid picking goes- apart from practicing standard fingerpicking stuff with your thumb replaced with a pick- Zakk Wylde has a few good exercises in his instructional video (although I can't remember the name of it...)
Darkman
10-07-2009, 09:01 PM
Hammering-on from nowhere is one of the most difficult techniques IMHO. Doing it on the same string is easy enough, but going to a new string can be very tricky, either with the ring finger or pinky. You've got to hit those strings with some force, and your damping has to be perfect.
hyperboogie
10-08-2009, 12:25 AM
Hammering-on from nowhere is one of the most difficult techniques IMHO. Doing it on the same string is easy enough, but going to a new string can be very tricky, either with the ring finger or pinky. You've got to hit those strings with some force, and your damping has to be perfect.
It's not JUST hammering from nowhere ... you do pick whenever you're crossing strings ...
I find the descending on the same string difficult because of the perfect synchronization needed.
Darkman
10-08-2009, 12:47 AM
It's not JUST hammering from nowhere ... you do pick whenever you're crossing strings ....
Yeah, I know that's the prevailing method.

Techniques do vary though. Eddie VH always did this triplet run up the scale and a few notes would backtrack onto the previous lower string.... and they weren't picked, just hammered hard. I can dig it up if anyone's curious.
Raven
10-08-2009, 11:08 AM
Good day/night to everybody. I have one word 'guthrie govan' this guy has just blown my mind, and cannot even explain how amazing this guy is.(he has videos available if your interested) Ive also just started learning hybrid picking, but progressing fast. ( thank god because sweep picking took me so long) there are a few hybrid picking techniques, you should research and experiment, work with the most comfortable approach!( in my case its using my 2nd and 3rd finger) As for legato, start that metranome super slow. Im not a master guitar player but i hope this helps a bit.
hyperboogie
10-08-2009, 11:33 AM
Hi Raven and thanks.
I decided to go with the 4th finger as well and I'm also progressing. Are there any exercises you can post or link to?
As for the legato thing ... I had to go back to playing quater notes at 50-BPM!!! Insanely slow. My fingers are just so used to playing the standard legato way... Re-syncronizing them is proving to be a HUGE challenge...
NG7
10-15-2009, 07:20 AM
I think you'd be interested in Shawn Lane's approach for this type of playing.

Here are some videos from his instructional DVD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiyUbu3vCsA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjpgdgSTYWg

The 2nd he talks about hammered triads. Pretty cool.