Technique Tips: Trills

[crazyguitardude]

I've been running through the "Blues You Can Use" book with my teacher for the past 6 months and it has been very helpful. It introduced me to many different styles of blues and has taught me many good techniques (hammer-ons, pull-offs, string bends, double string bends, etc.) and it is now just a matter of time before I solidify those techniques and incorporate them into my playing. I have made it to the 3rd to last lesson "Delta Child", where it introduces a new technique... trills.

Does anybody have any tips on how to preform them at an even volume for around 3 or 4 beats (like on the CD if you have the book)? I know it is just a quick series of hammer-ons and pull-offs, but at that speed I'm just raising my finger on and off the string.

Hammer-ons are easy for me, and pull off's are simple one by one, and a quick lick with at most 4 hammer-ons/pull-offs are fine with me; but any extended riffs/trills are difficult.

[jlynnb1]

you just have to practice them at an easy tempo and build up your speed/strength. it will take a little work

[Fenix]

I never use trills. I should learn though.

[JayP5150]

Here are a few good exercises:

Do a 1st fret/2nd fret trill with your 1st and 2nd fingers. Start on the low E string, work up to the high E, then go back through with your 2nd and 3rd fingers, then your 3rd and 4th fingers.

Another is to do a 1-2-3-4 hammer on, using the corresponding fingers. Work from low E string to the high E string again.
Then, do the exercise above. But with a 4-3-2-1 pull-off instead.

Each one of these  can be done on the 1st fret, low to high and back again, then the 2nd fret, etc., up to the 5th.
It will burn lol, but it will help your strength, just don't overdo it.

[crazyguitardude]

Alright cool. It was kinda wierd trying trills for the first time because I knew hammer-ons and pull-offs, but putting the two together in quick succession usually ended in me hammering my finger up and down on the indicated fret. I'll practice both and see the results I get.

Thanks tons guys.