Legato and Staccato Techniques sound like quite a mouthful, right? Although they have a very “classical” sounding air to their descriptions, they are really a basic concept that all musicians should learn. Especially rock guitarists!

As a guitar player who is studying this advanced area of the website, you might be using a combination of both already without even knowing it. But it’s important that you know their differences and what makes them unique. That way, when you start constructing guitar solos, you can intentionally choose between legato and staccato for variety and spice.

Legato

Legato is a fluid motion where all of the notes blend together – one following the next. They are separate – but there is no muting or distance-in-time between them. Example: Hammer-ons and pull-offs used together, or tapping techniques.

In this following video Allan Holdsworth demonstrates a sustained amount of Legato in his solo. He hardly ever comes out of the technique. Listen carefully to the amount of notes he’s playing compared to how often he pics. It’s clear to see that he is accomplishing most of the solo with his left hand on the guitar neck. (see: 10 legato exercises to double you finger strength)

 

Staccato

Staccato is a series of notes that are played with distinction between each note. Example: A blues scale or riff where you spend a short amount of time on each note and there is individuality between them.

In this example below, Blues Master BB King lays down some amazing blues (pentatonic) scales/solos using a TON of Staccato technique. The way he is stopping and starting between his riffs is known in the guitar-world as phrasing. Many blues players know the S P A C E between notes is as important as the notes themselves.

 

Legato and Staccato In-Practice

Now that you have a better understanding of Legato and Staccato techniques, try to start consciously applying them to your solos and rhythms. If you notice that your solos are slippery and almost all legato, try stopping more often, and work on your phrasing. “Think WWBBKD” What would BB King do? 😉 Conversely if your solos seem too disjointed, and never seem to flow, try doing some Legato runs here and there to add variety and body to them.

 

“Music is the space between the notes.”
– French composer Claude Debussy (August 1862 – 25 March 1918).

In summary, whether you are using Legato or Staccato techniques in your rhythms and solos, it’s always important to give the audience’s ears a break, now-and-then, between musical ideas.

Sometimes ideas and musical concepts are just as, or even more, important then the notes and scales themselves. There is a well known saying by poet Robert Browning that you should memorize. Because it is something that should be a mantra on your musical journey; whether it be writing songs, playing solos, or performing live on-stage:

“Less IS more”

 

Commit that to memory and I’ll see ya in the next lessons…
-Tommy