How to Improve Left Hand Technique

Part 4: Improve Guitar Technique with 3 note per string lines

Do you know how to do pretty good hammer on and pull off runs, but don’t know where to go from here?

Do you want to play solos like the one in this song?

Are you stuck on how to combine them into more flowing lines?

Do you want to improve your guitar technique with licks you can use?

Can you play hammer ons and pull offs with effective rhythms?

3 Note Per String Hammer On Pull Off Runs

This post will highlight ways you can 3 note per string licks, combined with pull offs, to create short repeated figures. You can use these to add lots of quick moment and interest, and increase your left hand technique. All the examples (as in previous posts) will focus on playing in the 3rd position, G major scale. If you missed the previous posts on left hand technique, they can be found here, here, and here. Remember, previous posts have built foundation on the examples here.

Example 14

We begin with a 4 note hammer on pull off sequence on the low E string. We play G, A, B, as a hammer on, and pull off back to those notes. In the second measure, we play the 3 notes on the low E again, then continue to the A string, similar to the first measure. The next 3 examples will present similar melodic and technical ideas.

Example 15

Similar to the previous lick, this one takes the same logic and applies it to the A and D string group. As with other previous examples in earlier posts, this licks should be combined into longer more interesting lines. Combining small ideas and making bigger ones will help your improvisational skills as well as improve your guitar technique.

Example 16

In the manner of 14 and 15, we have similar material presented on differing string groups. To clarify, all examples are in 3rd position, outlining G major. Remember that E minor is the relative minor of the key, and all the notes will work with no argument or added tension.

Example 17

In contrast to the 14, 15, and 16, example 17 will use open strings in order to play 3 notes per string and stay in 3rd position. This is merely one solution. Another perfectly good solution is to shift your left hand to another position that gives you access to 3 notes in the G major scale. Indeed, another good solution is creatively apply chromatic notes as neighboring tones to get the allotted number of notes you need to get the pattern.

What to do now:

Apply all material to chord progressions where G major or E minor are present.
Experiment with creating 3 note per string runs that go across multiple scale positions
Combine multiple examples into longer runs
Practice lines in 3 note runs that are not on adjacent strings (3 note run on low e, 3 note run on D string)