OK I'm having a wee bit of a technique issue. When I try legato from say C to D I get two clear distinct notes with a smooth transition. When I try from D to C the C ends up sounding 'dampened'. I guess my finger is still pressing on D and If I lift D first it's more of a staccato than a legato. My guess is I have to lift a millisecond before tapping the C. Tried it, darned hard to get it right, unless I'm doing it completely wrong.

This subject is covered quite thoroughly in the "Melody Movement"section of my DVD, Basic Free Hands Technique. The solution is to use hand movement to shift the hand slightly along the line of the string to play the notes instead of just lifting the fingers up and down in a typing motion. Timing the release of the higher note is not an issue because as the hand shifts to attack the lower note, the higher note ends a split second before.

True legato, but with a slight attack, differentiated from hammer-ons and pull-offs.

I'm not saying this is the only solution, but it's an elegant and very effective one, and you will only find it in this DVD. Check it out!

http://www.greghoward.com/free_hands/dvd/

also available from SE

http://www.stick.com/instruction/videos/basicfreehands/

...

EVH..! Classic.

I've seen Greg play EVH licks quite unconsciously...

Greg's book is like having your white blood cell count raised with a booster shot, it's as good as that.

Legato is the Stickists most essential technique, I would say. Ya always want more legato or more bottom end, now where is that new DBR Stick.

I actually said to my partner this morning, "If I ever play that poicky sound, just kill me."

Skyking, I've watched Greg's DVD now at least 5 or 6 times. Getting the notes to ring out in the "up" scale movement is pretty simple, it's the other direction that's tricky. It is all about hand movement, elbow and arm angles as Greg says. I've also practiced the pull offs, and I'm making head way with that technic. If you don't have Greg's video I would highly recommend you get it.
Steve's DVD and book are also extremely valuable. I have very limited knowledge of music theory. Steve hits home and makes it understandable. I am now 'getting it', ie: music theory.. scales, chords, minors, 7ths' 9th's, etc.
I have been watching the great instructional video Greg posted on how to play "Time After time". *whew*... I can do each part separately (LH, RH), and a few 'strands' of the song I can play together at the same time. But... there's still a long way to go! That song will be my climb up the mountain so to speak, lol!
Some quality time spent with Steve A has been helping me in that regard as well. I feel like my practice is now more structured. I have a better understanding of the geometry of the stick and therefore a better understanding of how to play music on it.

Different approaches, yet each one adds more and more to my knowledge as I read the books and watch the DVD's.... I am very thirsty for this info too! I wanna be GH and SA by next week! Hell, each with 30 years or so experience, I've got some catching up to do
So much to learn, so little time !
Rand

Thats a toughy, going down like that. You are still leaving that finger on the upper note whilst trying to strike the lower note....hard habit to break. I know 'cause I'm still working on it myself.

Shifting that hand is the best bet, as Greg says. Striking the first note and sliding down with the SAME finger is another alternative, although this still endorses hand movement. Youtube David Tipton play Yesterday (Beatles) and you'll see some good examples of what you are trying to accomplish. (or any other Tune by David, he gets a lot of mileage out of that slide down)

cheers,
kev

Thanks Scott, Rad, and RandO,

Glad you like the DVD!

Thanks all for the great input. Getting Greg's DVD and may schedule a Skype lesson to get me headed in the right direction. Good thing I haven't played in 30 years, will make 'unlearning' some things a bit easier.

I noticed you are in New Hampshire. Any chance you could make it down for the Stick Night in Connecticut this Saturday, or even the seminar this weekend?

Lessons with Greg at the beginning is most recommended. I had a seminar with him at my Stick beginnings and it was huge for me. Bad habits avoided is far better than breaking them later.

-Eric