This is from my new book Classical Guitar Technique: Essential Exercises, Scales, and Arpeggios. The 122 page book includes: Practice Routines, Tips, 100 Open String Exercises, 120 Giuliani Arpeggios, Scales, Slur Exercises, Shifts, Finger Independence, Barre, Tremolo, Common Harmonics, and much more.
Youtube Video Lesson Link (HD)
Slurs, along with scales and arpeggios, are one of the main guitar techniques that need to be maintained regularly. Ascending slurs (hammer-ons): Have the fingers hovering over the frets and strings so they need only to drop down into place with a light, direct snap of the finger. Descending slurs (pull-offs): Practice as left hand rest strokes by pulling the string down toward your feet into the string below. This should provide a clear pluck in the left hand (which will add clarity to the slur). Once you feel comfortable with this technique you can use varied degrees of downward snap or even just lift off a finger (which will produce a softer sound).
Video Times for Exercises
- Left Hand Alone: 1:17
- Open String Slurs: 4:15
- Alignment Open String Slurs: 8:03
- Closed Slurs: 9:54
- Alignment and Closed Slurs: 12:57
- Slurs in Triplets and Threes: 14:55
- Horizontal Builders: 17:46
- Shifts with Slurs: 20:54
- Slurs in Groups of 4, 5, 6: 22:56
- Multi-Finger Slurs in Groups of 15 and 11: 29:10
