Guitar Lesson Three - Left Hand Technique

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Guitar Lesson Three - Left hand Technique

Left Hand:

The instrument of greatest expression and freedom is the human voice (so they say). From the beginning, instrumentalists have sought to mimic the voice's ability to communicate. To this end, each instrument has a body of techniques called ARTICULATION.

ARTICULATION is how you play (voice) a note, eg., loud, soft, plucked, smashed with a 2" x 4", etc...

On the guitar, there are many ways to ARTICULATE the notes you are playing (picking each one, for example).

Three such techniques are SLIDE, HAMMER, and PULL (sounds a bit like carpentry. Maybe that's where Paul Gilbert got the idea to use a pick mounted on a power drill. HEY! Put down that chain saw!)

SLIDE:

Sliding from one note to another is probably the easiest left hand technique in existence. It is also one of the most useful:

Choose any note you like on any string. Then choose a second note on the same string.

Now, instead of stopping the first note, moving to the second and then picking that note, keep the first note ringing and simply slide your left hand finger (the one that's playing the note) along the string to the second note. It doesn't matter if the second note is higher or lower.

That's it!

If you slide only one or two frets, it's called SLUR (think of a drunk trying to talk). If you slide a whole buncha' frets it's called GLISSANDO (think of wearing socks while walking across freshly waxed linoleum).

HAMMER:

Hammer (sometimes called HAMMER ON) is another technique for creating a SLUR (not picking the note) effect.

To execute a hammer, play a note with your index finger (you could also use the ring or middle but, ya gotta start somewhere) and while the note is ringing, bring your ring, middle or pinky finger down on a higher note with enough force to cause the new note to sound. The second note will have to be one that is within reach of the first. The exception to this is when you play an open string. In this case you are not required to hold down the first note (it's an open string) which gives you the luxury of hammering a second note anywhere along the lenght of the string.

You can also use one or more fingers of your right hand (called "finger tapping" or "right hand tapping") or the pick itself to HAMMER notes that are out of reach for the left hand.

Now, once you have executed a hammer, you don't have to stop there. You can hammer a second or even a third note provided that you have any finger left to do so. (If you throw your right hand into the mix, things can get really crazy!)

Technically, it's only possible to hammer a note that is higher than the one you're playing and on the same string. In reality, because of amplification, the electric guitar is sensitive enough to allow you to hammer any note anywhere at any time. (provided, of course, that you can get your hands to cooperate) You can even hammer entire chords! (Stanley Jordan made a whole career out of playing with both hands on the fingerboard like he was playing a piano.)

PULL:

The opposite of hammer is pull (sometimes called PULL OFF).

The technique for "pulling off" a pull off is not just lifting the finger, however. You have to pull the finger off the note slightly sideways (towards the floor) so that the finger tip catches the string and sort of "plucks" it.

Again, because of amplification, the amount of "pluck" that you have to do is minimal.

Try this experiment:

Play the C at the 8th fret on the high E-string with your index finger. Now, without picking the string agian, hammer your ring finger onto the D at the 10th fret. Now, pull off back to the C. Isn't this fun?

If you were to continue hammering and pulling these two notes you would be playing a TRILL.

Your left hand exercise for this lesson is to incorporate HAMMERS, PULLS and SLIDES as you play along with:

chord progression

For the purpose of "learning", any note other than C, D, E, F, G, A, or B is WRONG. (no exceptions)

When it comes to "playing", the only WRONG note is one that you didn't intend to play.

This lesson is divided into four parts

Theory

Technique - Left Hand

Technique - Right Hand

Music

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