Slur

Any two notes joined without a new attack of the picking hand, whether by hammer-on, pull-off or slide.

A slur is the general term for the legato family: the first note is picked and the second is produced by the fret hand alone. Slurs are what make a line sound vocal rather than typed, because the second note arrives with a softer, more connected attack. Classical and jazz players use them for phrasing control, rock players use long chains of them for speed, and notation marks the pair with a curved line so the performer knows not to pick again.

Example: A riff in which a picked note is followed by three hammered and pulled notes, all under one curve, is a chain of slurs.

Slur

See also