Satriani Legato Lick Exercise

This Satriani legato exercise isolates the technique that defines Joe Satriani’s smoothest playing — seamless hammer-ons and pull-offs that create a flowing, vocal quality impossible to achieve with picking alone.

About the Solo

Legato technique allows phrases to flow in a way that alternate picking cannot match. Satriani uses it to create long, breathless runs that feel like a single sustained note. This exercise builds that capability from the ground up.

What You Will Work On

• Hammer-on strength and clarity — every note must speak without picking
• Pull-off accuracy — clean, in-tune pull-offs at any speed
• Finger independence — each finger working equally
• Consistent volume across notes — legato tends to get quieter — fight it
• Speed building — slow to fast with a metronome

Tips for Learning

• Use heavier strings for better legato tone — they respond better to hammer-ons.
• Practice on a clean tone first — distortion hides mistakes.
• Work on individual finger pairs before combining them.
• Record yourself and listen for notes that drop out — fix those first.