Other Left Hand Lessons: Introduction To The Left Hand Common Fingers Guide Fingers Sequential Preparation Left Hand Position Replacement Fingers Anticipatory Replacement Fingers Open Chords Ascending Slurs Shifting Relative Positioning Bar Chord Basics Better Bar Chords
Descending Slurs
Descending Slurs are also known as "Pull-Offs" in the Pop Music world and "Legatos" in the Classical world. The first note is struck, as per usual, by the right hand. One or more notes afterward are played by pulling a left hand finger off of the first note, articulating a lower note(s) on the same string (hence the term Pull-Off). The finger which is pulling off is acting as the right hand fingers normally do, but in the opposite direction.
Slurs are indicated by a curved line placed over or under the first note played by the right hand and the last note of the slur.
The Rule of Descending Legatos
When you are slurring one left hand finger to another (as opposed to slurring to the open string), you must put both fingers down at the same time you play the first note. It is important to do this because it is the last opportunity to put the finger down before the note is to be played (you can't slur to a finger which is not there). This may feel odd because at no other time would you have instance to put two fingers down on the same string simultaneously.
Example 1
In this case, the second finger is slurring to the open high E.
Example 2
Here is a case of the third finger slurring to the open D. Later in the same measure the third finger slurs to the second. Remember the Rule of Descending Legatos. Both fingers must be down as the G is being played.