Lesson: How to Play Legato on Classical Guitar

Lesson: How to Play Legato on Classical Guitar
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In this lesson I divide up the elements of how to play legato on guitar into five main sections:
Legato Listening Skills (Psychological)
Right Hand Legato
Left Hand Legato
Synchronization of Both Hands
Sound Production and Room Acoustics
A definition via this Wiki: “In music performance and notation, legato (Italian for “tied together”) indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, the player makes a transition from note to note with no intervening silence. Legato technique is required for slurred performance, but unlike slurring (as that term is interpreted for some instruments), legato does not forbid re-articulation” [re-articulation: plucking each note on guitar]
Legato Listening Skills (Psychological) - Legato is a smooth and connected sound. But that doesn’t mean much unless you contrast it with something. Therefore, when I teach beginner students I have them play legato and staccato to understand the contrast. Legato is smooth and connected, staccato is cut short and disconnected. Becoming ultra aware of your legato and staccato articulation is key to correcting it whenever you hear yourself play. Also, you may wish to appreciate legato phrasing in other instruments besides guitar, voice, string instruments (cello, viola, violin), woodwinds, all produce excellent legato phrasing. Orchestras might be the ultimate legato sound with so many instruments all contributing to continuous sound within a phrase. Train your ear to hear high quality legato from professional players and your body will try to create it in your own playing.
Right Hand Legato - When the right hand touches a vibrating string it stops the sound. Therefore, in order to play legato the right hand finger that is plucking the string must spend as little time on the string as possible. Beginner students and performers in big halls must balance this fact with solid sound production and string contact. Nevertheless, a stroke that passes through the string without delay is key to legato playing. Practicing legato and staccato phrasing on a single open string is an excellent way to contrast the two articulations.
Left Hand Legato - Sustaining a note (holding your finger down) until to hear the next note is essential to legato playing. We must hear the next note before lifting any finger. In addition to holding notes we must be sure to not place a finger too soon before the right hand plucks it or it might mute a vibrating string (connected to synchronization).
Synchronization of Both Hands - Since both hands can mute a vibrating string by touching it, we must make sure to move both hands/fingers into position at the same time. If we don’t synchronize our movements, one of the hands might prematurely mute a string before the other hand can complete the connected motion.
Sound Production and Room Acoustics - The guitar has a resonating body and if that body is resonating and producing lots of sound it creates a cushion of sound that will allow legato or the illusion of legato to occur. This is connected to the resonating sound of the room acoustics as well. Playing in a small carpeted room compared to a large reflective church or performance hall will completely change the perceived legato sound. However, we can not rely on room acoustics or reverb in recording programs. In the end, we are only as legato as we sound in the most acoustically dead room.
Playing legato is a life-long endeavour so give it time while practicing each element separately. By the time you have made some good progress on each of the above elements you’ll probably be playing pretty legato. Remember to sing and challenge yourself to new levels of legato playing. Compare yourself to a cello or singer instead of a guitarist. Aim high and get high quality legato into your ears.
★ Special Thanks to these amazing Patreon Producers: Kamel Abouda, Joseph Adamson, Mark Bellesiles, Mark Cohen, Daniel O’Connor, Des Dog, Ford Doherty, David Elliott, Neil Fox, Don Francis, Marc Garnick, Philippe Gonzalez, Richard Groomer, Madeleine Mead. You are amazing!
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Thanks for watching!
#guitar #classicalguitar

[@AninChakraborty]

U are the best teacher online for Classical guitar 🎸 ❤️

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Thanks so much!

[@crispycrimps865]

Second that!

[@andrewsstuffy]

one of the important things to remember is that slurs and portemeni are also musical tools for legato playing. For example, in 19th century performance moving from a note low on the finger board to note high up on the finger board was often done with a portemento, thus retaining the legato aspect.

[@sophieandersson6106]

great- been playing about 5 years now and never really thought or understood the nuances of playing legato. Something to be are of for me.

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it helped!

[@MrShutthefrontdoor]

Perfect, this type of video is EXACTLY what I needed in my learning path. I'm in eBook 1 and saw you updated your website. I was just asking myself how to make myself sound more legato like you!

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amanda-hibiscus]

This is so helpful! I could hear myself struggling to let the notes ring out, but this explanation about spending as little time on the string as possible was helpful. Thanks also for the encouragement that this will improve over time!

[@Totardotech]

Legatto: You make sure you make very short transition mute between note happen using both of your hands. Staccato: You make sure you make not very short transition mute between note happen using both of your hands. The short transition mute duration for instance half note of the note value for staccato.

[@PimentDouce]

I did my first legato training today and I already see the benefits. I realised that there was too much tension in my right fingers. It also made me noticed that I had to improve my left arm anticipation movement to go from the 5th to the 4th fret on the last 2 strings. Thank you for this very helpull video! Hi from France!

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Thanks for watching! Hi from Canada.

[@vayasaberlo8]

Thank you for making this lesson freely available (am unemployed so can't afford you ) I'm struggling to play the Bach Sarabande BWV826 with a long legato line. . I'd like to play it like the great pianist, Grigory Sokolov does; I know that's unrealistic, but still. . . .

[@KatjaBosies]

Wow, you explain everything so well and in detail...amazing!

[@livindadrm]

Thank you. Your best legato tutorial yet 🎶

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad you think so!

[@Cheesecakeriver]

I’m so in love with your channel! Thank you for all of your great resources

[@SvenRoed08]

great vido, I was very confusd how legado worked, and this helped me gain a much greater understanding. I'm playing sweat home Alabama, and there is legado and now it sounds much better

[@hayderjabur6258]

Altho I am learning Oud, still following your tutorials ... Thank you for your videos

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Nice!

[@carolas.2284]

Such a helpful lesson on a concept you usually take for granted. Thanks a lot!

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it helped!

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

you explained everything quickly, thanks

[@wangqi4686]

Best lesson on legato, thanks for sharing

[@areguapiri]

Playing legato well helps bring out smooth rhythm in a piece when necessary. Somewhat similar to how a native speaker speaks a language (legato) compared to a non-native speaker (staccato).

[@lynnstrange8083]

This video was incredibly helpful! Thank you.

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mechacroww7936]

What a fruitful lesson maestro!

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Thanks for watching.

[@marklove6580]

Very helpful lesson. Thanks.

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LaughMuBai]

Thank you for a great demonstration explanation of what one unknowingly would consider a nuance, but your lesson to achieve both clearly shows legato & staccato are quite different. Interesting they were coined in the Italian language and apparently 'legato' (tied together) was first used in 1710 when classical music was predominantly German or 'gebunden' (bound). Yeah, 'legato' is more elegant. ;-)

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@neilfox9854]

Great video. I like how you mention room acoustics. Perhaps one day you could do a video of your video and recording setup. The quality is always great. I was going to do a mini zoom concert but I don't know how to record very well.

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Thanks for the idea, I will! I moved in August and right now I'm painting and working on my office/studio downstairs so will make one when it's complete.

[@PhraseSavvy]

What is the difference between legato, hammer ons and pull off? I don't understand this? is it the same way? or are they different?

[@TheSwiftblad3]

hey nice tutorial. i have a question. i misconceptioned legato. i thought it means the ringing of more notes in the same time. how imporant is the muting if i play an arpeggio for example and let all the notes ring at the same time? i noticed that a lot of guitarists dont pay attention to it and let all notes ring and i thought thats messy playing. what do you say about that, or any other experienced guitar player here? i started to practice finger planting to mute the notes and then realised, as i mentioned above, that the most guitarplayers dont pay attention to it. thanks in advance!

[@zartankist]

Man, I've been wondering for a few days why some passages just won't go legato and I just had to laugh out loud because the explanation is very simple :D thank you. Much appreciation for your channel. Thanks for all the videos. One question, whether to you or the viewers here. I just finished learning Sors op 60 no 5 actually. As I said, I can't manage the legato in some places. What would be the best didactic approach? Do I continue until I get it right or can I still allow myself to learn another piece or etude?

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

I would tackle this issue mainly in your technique by making sure your scales and arpeggios are super legato. Then you can also try some finger independence exercises to expand on that. In terms of the pieces you play, isolate the non-legato parts and work on them while continuing your study with new pieces. Maybe also check out my lesson on balanced practicing: www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/lesson-how-to-practice-music-and-organize-your-practice-session/

[@zartankist]

@@Thisisclassicalguitar thank you very much!

[@bsharporbflat8378]

Many composers use the term cantabile. Is it not the same?

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Umm, kind of yes. Usually cantabile is translated as "singingly" or "songlike" in relation to a legato melody. Similar term but used at different times.

[@bsharporbflat8378]

@@Thisisclassicalguitar ok

[@ThisGuyRocksLikeCrazy]

How about the way you hold the guitar? If you hold it too tight, it won't affect the sound quality?

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

It might affect the sound but not necessarily the legato unless the lack of sound production or lack of relaxation affects it.

[@calebe16]

I’m still a little confused. I thought legato was that small connected notes like the beginning of the first 4 compasses in Adelita. And I thought I was supposed to play only the first note and make the others only with left hand. So, am I supposed to string the other notes too? PS. I watched your Adelita vídeo but this wasn’t clear. Sounds like you string all notes.

[@Thisisclassicalguitar]

Understandable. It depends on what language and era you are discussing. For my site "legato" is the smooth connection of notes. "Slurs" are the left hand technique where notes get played without the right hand.

[@calebe16]

@@Thisisclassicalguitar I see. I don't have such a specific view. I've been just trying to understand the sheets. :-) I've been trying specifically Adelita, that's how I found your video.