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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

Legato means 'tied up' in Italian, emphasizing the connection between notes, contrasting with staccato, which means 'detached'.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

When playing legato, there should be no gaps between notes; they must be connected smoothly.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

Think of legato like a relay race where each note is an athlete passing the baton; one note cannot leave until the next note is ready to take over.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

To build a nice legato on the guitar, the first step is to learn how to listen closely to your playing.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

The great Spanish composer Fernando Sor advised to keep your left-hand fingers down on the strings until needed, to avoid gaps between notes.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

When transitioning from one note to another, keep the first finger down on the string until the next note is played to maintain a smooth connection.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

When crossing strings, lift both fingers to play the open string, as blending notes can create unwanted sounds in certain contexts.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

In a quarter note followed by another quarter note, the first note must end as the next note begins, requiring precise finger lifting.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

When playing legato, I can put my fourth and first fingers down together, allowing me to lift off my fourth finger and play the first finger smoothly, creating a connected sound.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

While focusing on legato playing, it's essential to consider the role of the right hand, as it can interrupt the flow of the melody if not managed properly.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

To achieve a nice legato, I need to let the string resonate until the next note is played, rather than dampening it, which creates a staccato effect.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

Avoiding extra accents with the right hand is crucial; if I emphasize each note too much, it disrupts the flow of the melody and prevents the notes from connecting well.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

The speed of attack on the strings affects the legato feeling; a slower approach is gentler and helps maintain a smooth sound, while a faster approach can be more aggressive.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

Connecting notes using legato techniques creates a musical line, making the notes part of a complete idea rather than disconnected entities.

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Classical Guitar Corner Cast

07/11/21

@ Classical Guitar Corner

At Classical Guitar Corner Academy, we offer a curriculum that starts from the basics, covering many of the concepts discussed in this video.

CGC Tips on Legato for Beginners

Takeaways