Legato Pentatonics short video for feedback

[Stuartw]

@Stuartw

I had to slow the video down to 0.25 speed to see what you were doing with this. In JG’s hammer-ons lesson he says that they should really be hammered down to get the sound which I don’t see in your video. If I do it like you show I just get a thud!

I guess my question is how do you get the hammer-ons to sound if you are hitting the strings so lightly?

[sairfingers]

@Stuartw
Hi Stuart. Try doing the hammer ons and flick offs using the E minor pent scale. That way you’re using open strings so only need to use one finger.

[Richard_close2u]

@Stuartw

how do you get the hammer-ons to sound if you are hitting the strings so lightly?

[Stuartw]

@sairfingers

Hi Stuart. Try doing the hammer ons and flick offs using the E minor pent scale. That way you’re using open strings so only need to use one finger.

Thanks. I know the scale well enough it’s just that I have to hit the string hard to make it sound, although it loos like @Richard_close2u has answered the question about that Saying that will five the E Minor scale a go as well.

[Stuartw]

Thanks but didn’t see that in the lesson. These sort of things need spelling out so we have a chance of getting close (excuse the pun)

[Richard_close2u]

It is a little tongue-in-cheek Stuart. Hammer-ons can be done with no amplification and on an acoustic if the technique is good. The same with flick-offs.

BUT … Gain = way more audibility hahaha.

[Stuartw]

@Richard_close2u

It is a little tongue-in-cheek Stuart. Hammer-ons can be done with no amplification and on an acoustic if the technique is good. The same with flick-offs.

Fair enough but surely not at the speed shown by the OP. Have tried doing them slowly and softly but then its just a thud!

[Richard_close2u]

@Stuartw

Have tried doing them slowly and softly but then its just a thud!

Perhaps your best bet is to post a short video clip of your own efforts.

[stitch]

@Stuartw

Have tried doing them slowly and softly but then its just a thud!

To be brutally honest. Go back to the hammer on pull off lesson and learn how to do them properly. Also do the Finger Gym lesson.

Weak Fingers? Fix them here.

[jkahn]

@sairfingers

I find the hammer ons are relatively easy. The flick offs are a different matter as you have to move two fingers at once when playing a scale using this method.

Yeah, totally agree Gordon. The flick offs were quite tricky to get one after each other, and I found the low E difficult to sound out properly. I think it’s because the flick offs are a more complicated movement.

Strangely enough, now after a lot of practice I find flick offs are more consistent at speed because the muting is easier. Hammer ons you have to mute half the strings with your right hand as you move up the strings.

[jkahn]

@Stuartw

Fair enough but surely not at the speed shown by the OP. Have tried doing them slowly and softly but then its just a thud!

Just start slowly to get the technique right, then add a metronome and practice every day.

You can hear them unamped and low gain if you do it right. Acoustic is slower because of the higher action & harder hits required.

[jkahn]

@DavidP

The value here may not necessarily in learning a song, but in learning some licks and portions of a solo.

I was definitely pulling Roger’s leg a bit there .

Fully agree with learning pro’s solos. Layla is anything but obscure! In fact one of my (late) dogs was named after the song.

I don’t think I’ve done any guitar challenges yet. I have watched every else’s contributions to need your love so bad, though. So might give it a try some time over the next few months as I work on bends. Just did my first couple of bends practices the last two days. Bending in tune requires a lot of ear training!

[LBro]

Hi JK!
Sounds fairly good on this end. I think your play and critique was well covered by others. So here is my small add. If you have a DAW and want a click to be recorded. Why not drop in a simple drum beat pattern? For myself, I rather play to drums anyway as I just find it easier to get into the groove of the song or vibe of practice session!

All the best to you!
LB

[Stuartw]

@stitch

To be brutally honest. Go back to the hammer on pull off lesson and learn how to do them properly. Also do the Finger Gym lesson.

I have been doing this lesson (Finger Gym) for months and can do the hammer-ons, even with a metronome (at slow speed), but this exercise uses really heavy hammer-ons. How do I get from heavy to lighter hammer-ons (as @jkahn video) and still make them sound?

[Stuartw]

@jkahn

Just start slowly to get the technique right, then add a metronome and practice every day.

Have been doing this exercise for months, although not every day, and with a metronome. More practice required.

[twistor59]

I’d never heard “Midnight Blues” before David. The solo is phenomenal - thanks for the link!

[jkahn]

@LBro

Sounds fairly good on this end. I think your play and critique was well covered by others. So here is my small add. If you have a DAW and want a click to be recorded. Why not drop in a simple drum beat pattern?

Thanks LBro. Great tip! So far my DAW usage has been limited to recording & monitoring my playing with a backing track - I should look into laying down a click or drum beat in it.

[jkahn]

@Stuartw

How do I get from heavy to lighter hammer-ons (as @jkahn video) and still make them sound?

Tips I’d give are:

• Do it on an amped electric.
• As you’re doing the exercises, try to experiment with the using the least effective force. Hammer-ons trigger on finger impact speed, not muscle force. There is a point where the hammer on sounds but force is not high.
• Using a metronome is key, as you slowly ramp the speed up, your technique will adjust.

Repeat ad nauseam.

I think I read in another of your posts that you have arthritic fingers. That might make it a lot harder, I’d imagine. My fingers are reasonably nimble (although not particularly flexible) from a career with a lot of fast typing.

[Stuartw]

@jkahn

Do it on an amped electric.

I do.

@jkahn

As you’re doing the exercises, try to experiment with the using the least effective force. Hammer-ons trigger on finger impact speed, not muscle force. There is a point where the hammer on sounds but force is not high.

So doing it quicker makes it easier?

@jkahn

I think I read in another of your posts that you have arthritic fingers. That might make it a lot harder, I’d imagine.

Correct. I do the finger gyms, stretching exercises, etc but don’t have the mobility to do playing quickly, and don’t see this getter better any time soon. Certainly wont get to 140bpm like you.