From Guitar World · · 1m 10s
Alex Skolnick shares legato secrets with Allan Holdsworth influence
Alex Skolnick reveals legato techniques inspired by Allan Holdsworth.
In brief
Alex Skolnick reveals legato techniques inspired by Allan Holdsworth. Alex Skolnick explains legato phrasing using Allan Holdsworth's E Lydian-dominant scale techniques. Originally reported by Guitar World.
Alex Skolnick returns to Guitar World
Alex Skolnick joins Guitar World after 30+ years to share guitar techniques and concepts.
Legato means smooth and connected
Legato refers to smooth connected playing using hammer-ons and pull-offs with minimal pick use.
Alex Skolnick's early 90s lick
Alex Skolnick played a lick in Testament's So Many Lies from his 1992 album The Ritual.
Allan Holdsworth's influence
Alex Skolnick discovered legendary jazz-fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth, one of the greatest legato players ever.
E Lydian-dominant scale
The lick uses the fourth mode of B melodic minor scale starting on E, known as E Lydian-b7.
Lick execution details
The lick uses hammer-ons and pull-offs across all six strings with no pick, starting on E at 1st string 12th fret.
Lick transposition to B Lydian-b7
The same lick played in 7th position transposed to B Lydian-b7 scale for different fretboard application.
In short
Alex Skolnick explains legato phrasing using Allan Holdsworth's E Lydian-dominant scale techniques.
