Players w/ Solid Legato Technique

MelodyMan · #1 08-12-2007, 05:12 PM

After learning some of Satch's stuff, I've started working on my legato technique way more than I used to. I really dig the smooth sound of it and would like to find more players that are really good at legato, so could you guys help me out? Who out there is just sick at legato, and what songs/albums would be good to check out?

Thanks!

Wild_Child · #2 08-12-2007, 05:57 PM

Allan Holdsworth. Listen to anything he's ever done and you'll see what I mean.

MelodyMan · #3 08-12-2007, 07:47 PM

Alright - thanks! What album would you suggest I check out - it looks like he's got quite a few. Keep in mind, I'm more of a rock guy than a fusion guy...so perhaps something that's a little closer to rock in feel. Thanks!

Wild_Child · #4 08-12-2007, 08:20 PM

Unfortunately pretty much all of his solo work is 'out there' jazz fusion. He did a lot of work as a session musician and played with prog rock band 'Tempest' on their self titled album, but thats the most rocky context I can think of.

I don't care much for fusion either, I'm just mentioning him because my guitar teacher always used to bang on about him whenever I mentioned the word 'legato'. I've had to learn a few of his licks in the past. He inspired Shawn Lane and even Eddie Van Halen so he's certainly the man to look to.

Although he's always typecast as an alternate picker, Paul Gilbert uses a great deal of legato in his playing, especially in his more bluesy numbers like 'Rusty Old Boat'. He often combines it with occasional alternate picking for a very balanced playing style that I like.

Lefty Robb · #5 08-12-2007, 08:25 PM

umm, 2 words, Michael Romeo...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LJ7Xfk6r2...ael%20%20romeo

MelodyMan · #6 08-12-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild_Child

Unfortunately pretty much all of his solo work is 'out there' jazz fusion. He did a lot of work as a session musician and played with prog rock band 'Tempest' on their self titled album, but thats the most rocky context I can think of.

I don't care much for fusion either, I'm just mentioning him because my guitar teacher always used to bang on about him whenever I mentioned the word 'legato'. I've had to learn a few of his licks in the past. He inspired Shawn Lane and even Eddie Van Halen so he's certainly the man to look to.

Although he's always typecast as an alternate picker, Paul Gilbert uses a great deal of legato in his playing, especially in his more bluesy numbers like 'Rusty Old Boat'. He often combines it with occasional alternate picking for a very balanced playing style that I like.

Alright - I'll just check out some of his stuff or try to find some of his licks tabbed out or something online.

Funny you should mention Gilbert...the other day I was watching some vids of him on youtube and he had some great legato stuff and sweet string skipping arps that I immediately added to my arsenal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

umm, 2 words, Michael Romeo...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LJ7Xfk6r2...ael%20%20romeo

Wow, yeah that was pretty great...I'll have to check more of him out as well. Tapping is another area where I could use some more new ideas, too.

Sam b · #7 08-13-2007, 05:08 AM

Richie Kotzen

mi2tom · #8 08-13-2007, 05:18 AM

Uhmmm Steve vai? I think his legato technique is awesome too.

bobby simcox · #9 08-13-2007, 08:11 AM

Allan Holdsworth also did some beautiful work w/ Jean-Luc Ponty,Gong,UK, and Bruford!!! UK was the band that Eddie Van Halen heard that totally turned him on to Allan's playing and consequently inspired him to develope his tapping technique in order to mimic Holdsworth!!! Allan's legato playing on acoustic guitar fr the first UK album is quite cool IMHO!!!

Dee · #10 08-13-2007, 10:00 AM

Holdsworth is untouchable. Makes Vai, Satriani, Gilbert, Michael Romeo, etc look like complete amateurs. Brett Garsed is also another amazing player with some mind-boggling legato stuff going on. Those two are without doubt the finest. Just my opinion, of course, but if anyone disagrees, you're smoking some heavyweight crack!

guitarob · #11 08-13-2007, 11:06 AM

I'm going old school here, but check out Randy Rhodes' stuff.

Drew · #12 08-13-2007, 12:05 PM

I'm more of a rock guy too, but I found Holdsworth's live album "All Night Wrong" enjoyable.

Worth a nod, too, in the fusion-y yet still rockin' direction is a Bret Garsed/TJ Helmrich collaboration I picked up years ago called "Uncle Moe's Space Ranch." It's pretty out there in places, but Garsed is just an amazing player to begin with (though his legato isn't as blatant here as elsewhere), and Helmreich is a touchstyle player, so there's lots of great legato/tapped runs.

Also, a general legato tip - mine improved worlds when I started practicing unplugged. Distortion covers up a lot, and even a clean tone has a slight "sponginess" to it (ironically, a light, light crunch tone is probably the least forgiving, since it's so tonally touch-sensitive), but unplugged, it's eiither you've got clean articulation or you don't - iif you can hear every note ring out clearly on an unplugged legato run, then it's going to sound awesome once you plug back in. It really forces you to be perfectly crisp. Also, try fretting with just your fingertips - it gives you a less "blurred" attack.