Theory
From today it's Month 2. Last month you learned to grip chords; from this week you learn to caress them. The first tool is the smear. The smear pushes a half step up from b3 to 3, letting the sound bleed like paint.
In D minor, b3 is F (4th string fret 3) and 3 is F# (4th string fret 4). Strike F, then hit F# with the neighboring finger to sound it — that's a hammer-on. Not two pick strikes but one pick stroke while the half step glides up — that's the heart of the smear.
Today aim for one thing only — sounding one clean smear. Slowly at BPM 72, listen for b3→3 bleeding smoothly. Speed doesn't matter at all. If the one half step links cleanly, today is a success. First, let your eyes learn where the hand sits.
▶ 4th string fret 3 (b3=F) and fret 4 (3=F#), plus the neighboring 3rd string fret 2 (5=A). The green dot is the 3rd where the smear lands.
See it
Now hear it for real. Pick b3 (F) once, immediately sound 3 (F#) with a hammer-on, then flow to the 5th (A) and rest. The pick strikes only once; the left hand makes the rest.
▶ BPM 72. Strike b3 and hammer-on to the 3rd — the half step bleeds. Then flow to the 5th to finish the bar.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up At BPM 60, repeat just 4th string fret 3→fret 4. Press F→F# slowly with two left-hand fingers. With no hammer-on yet, fret each note one at a time and check the sound first.
10–20 min · Brain training (hammer smear slowly) Now make the b3→3 hammer-on with one pick stroke. If the sound cuts out, the left hand lacks force. Hit right behind the fret with your fingertip.
20–40 min · Real smear (BPM 72) Repeat the two bars below. Each bar is one smear, a 5th landing, and one beat of rest. Prepare the next smear during that one beat of rest and the flow won't break.
▶ BPM 72. Loop one smear → 5th → one beat of rest twice. Catch your breath at the rest and bleed again.
40–50 min · Recording / self-feedback (recommended) Record ten smears and listen back. Count how many bring F# clearly to life.
Done when: You can sound one b3→3 hammer-on smear at BPM 72, clearly and without the sound cutting out.
Here are just the mistakes that show up first as you make the smear.
▶ From 4th string fret 3 (b3) to fret 4 (green 3rd). This one half step is all of today.
- The hammer-on is too quiet. Hit right behind the fret, precisely and a touch harder.
- You pick twice. The smear is one pick stroke. The right hand strikes only the first note and stops.
- F# is muddy. Don't lift the first finger (F); keep it pressed and hit with the second finger so the note lives.
- You raise speed first. Drop to BPM 60 and build the sound of a cleanly linked half step first.