Slurs: hammer-on and pull-off

I would definitely say that out of all techniques to exercise, slurs would be the one to repeat on a daily basis, not for its use as a technique, but as a muscle builder for the fingers, especially the fourth, the weakest finger.

Beyond that, it is a fantastic exercise to encourage the independence of the third from the second finger because these share a tendon (unlike the other fingers, which have one each). 

It seems an uphill struggle: the 4th is weak and the 3rd is reluctant to move without the 2nd, but repeating an exercise such as this helps solve the problem.

To help even more, it is ideal to play the slurs sticky, just moving down one finger at a time form the adjacent string. This will also eliminate the tendency for the fourth finger to flick out when the third is hammered on.

It may sound flash when played at a great speed, but realistically, if the notes are to be played smoothly, the same volume and the same length, slow is the way to go.

There are a few technical issues that need to be adhered to and things to watch out for which are explained in the video.

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