The first technique we are going to look at is the slide. The slide is a basic technique, where the fretting finger moves between two notes without leaving the fretboard. This movement causes every note in between the two principle notes to sound, although the movement is fast enough that the notes seem to blend together, causing the pitch to “slide” from the one note to the other. You can slide between two notes, or you can slide into or out of a note. Sliding out of a note is easy. You just play the note, then slide your finger up or down the fretboard without lifting it off of the fretboard. Sliding into a note is a little trickier. You have to first slide your finger up or down without picking an actual note, then when you get to the principle note, you have to pick it. It takes a little practice to get the timing down on this one, but the effect is well worth the effort.
Note: If you are sliding between two notes, and you do it slowly so that each note in between the two principle notes is allowed to sound distinctly, then it is called glissando or more commonly in guitar music, portamento.
The next technique is the “hammer-on.” This technique requires some finger strength, and that will come with practice and experience. To perform the hammer-on, you must play a single note. Then while that note is still ringing, you use a different finger to fret a note on the same string, higher up on the fretboard. The trick is to use the energy of the vibration of the original note to sound the second note. To accomplish this you must be precise. The second note must be fretted accurately and with as much downward force as possible. Practice hammering-on using your middle finger, ring finger, and pinky in order to be as versatile as possible.
The key to perfecting all of these techniques, of course, is practice. After a while they will become second nature, and you will be throwing them into your guitar playing at will.
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