# Alex Skolnick shares legato secrets with Allan Holdsworth influence

> Alex Skolnick reveals legato techniques inspired by Allan Holdsworth.
- Title: Alex Skolnick shares legato secrets with Allan Holdsworth…
- Summary: Alex Skolnick reveals legato techniques inspired by Allan Holdsworth. Alex Skolnick explains legato phrasing using Allan Holdsworth's E Lydian-dominant scale…
- Keywords: alex skolnick, allan holdsworth, lydian dominant, legato phrasing, guitar world, testament, so many lies, Alex, Skolnick, shares, legato, secrets
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/lessons/artist-lessons/alex-skolnick-on-the-lydian-dominant-mode-and-allan-holdsworth
- Published: 2026-09-30T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alex skolnick, allan holdsworth, lydian dominant, legato phrasing, guitar world, testament, so many lies
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Alex Skolnick explains legato phrasing using Allan Holdsworth's E Lydian-dominant scale techniques.