Legato

Hammer. The notation for a hammer is a curved line between the initial and terminal notes, annotated with either the expression Hammer or in-line with the abbreviation h. When first introduced and later followed by abbreviation h, the annotation is Hammer (h). Hammer implies that the terminal note is sutained for its duration. The curved line may curve either upwards or downwards and the annotation may appear either above or below the line.

Example 1 illustrates how to introduce Hammer (h) in a composition. The guitarist interprets the straight line between G and A to mean to pluck G then fret A. Example 2 is an example of an in-line abbeviation to hammer A after plucking G.

Pull-Off. The notation for a pull-off is a curved line between the initial and terminal notes, annotated with either the expression Pull-Off or in-line with the abbreviation po. When first introduced and later followed by abbreviation po, the annotation is Pull-Off (po). Pull implies that the terminal note is sutained for its duration. The curved line may curve either upwards or downwards and the annotation may appear either above or below the line.

Example 3 illustrates how to introduce Pull-Off (pb) in a composition. The guitarist interprets the straight line between A and G to mean pull the finger sustaining the note A off the string in such a way that it plucks G. Example 4 is an example of an in-line abbeviation to pull-off A while plucking G.

Slide. The notation for a slide is a straight line between the initial and terminal notes, annotated with either the expression Slide or the abbreviation sl.When first introduced and later followed by abbreviation sl the annotation is Slide (sl). Slide implies that the notes are sustained for the duration indicated without interruption. When the initial note is underspecified, the annotation is a straight line to the target note from the approximate location on the staff of the underspecified initial note. Conversely, when the target note is underspecified, the annotation is a straight line to the the approximate location on the staff of the underspecified target note.

Slide often requires compact notation, therefore the annotation may be introduced by the abbreviation sl and repeated occurrences of identical usage may omit the annotation.

Example 4 illustrates how to introduce slide in a composition using the commpact notation. The guitarist interprets the straight line between A and B to mean while keeping the initial note fretted move the finger over the intermediate frets to target note and hold it for the time denoted. As annotated in Example 4, the slide has no time value and should be executed as such. Example 5 illustrates underspecified target notes located on the fifth fret.