Theory
Day two. Today's ornament descends, dropping notes one at a time with pull-offs. Scrape the finger that struck the string slightly downward to sound the next note — the notes flow down in a stream without picking.
On the 3rd string, chain pull-offs down through R (D)→b7 (C)→5 (A), pass the open-string 4th (G), and land on b3 (F). When four notes flow from a single pick, the descent runs like water. Don't lift your finger; fret the next fret in advance.
Today's goal is to flow this descending ornament without a break at BPM 72. Not speed — when the pull-offs link smoothly and the notes stream down, you've done your part for today. First, learn where the descent travels.
▶ Descend on the 3rd string from fret 7 (R) through frets 5 and 2, then land on the 4th string fret 3 (green b3).
See it
Here's today's descending ornament. From the 3rd string fret 7 (R), flow down with pull-offs and land on b3. You pick only the first note; your left hand streams the rest.
▶ BPM 72. From the 3rd string fret 7 (D), flow down with three pull-offs, pass the open-string 4th, and land on b3.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up At BPM 60, pick the 3rd string's four notes (R·b7·5·4) one at a time. Check the sound first, without pull-offs. Hear first whether the four notes link clearly in a descent.
10–20 min · Brain training (pull-offs slowly) Now pick only the first note and stream the rest with pull-offs. If the sound cuts, put a touch more of that downward-scraping feel into your left finger.
20–40 min · Real descending ornament (BPM 72) Repeat the two bars below. Bar 1 is the descending ornament; bar 2 lands on the root (D) and rests. Feel the flow of settling comfortably onto the root after the notes stream down.
▶ BPM 72. Bar 1 descending ornament → bar 2 root landing and rest. After the stream down, settle onto the root and take one breath.
40–50 min · Recording / self-feedback (recommended) Record the descending ornament and listen back. Compare the choppy sound with today's smooth descent.
Done when: You can flow the pull-off descending ornament (R→b7→5→4→b3) at BPM 72 without the sound cutting out, and settle comfortably onto the root.
Here are just the mistakes that show up most as you flow the descending ornament.
▶ The 3rd string b7 and 5th are the descent path; the 4th string green b3 is the landing.
- The pull-off is weak. Don't just lift the finger; scrape the string slightly downward to sound the next note.
- The sound gets choppy. Fret the next fret in advance so the pull-offs link smoothly.
- The descent rushes. Don't rush the four notes; stream them down evenly.
- You raise speed first. Drop to BPM 60 and finish with the notes linking without a break.