Do Hammer Ons and Pull Offs

This is how you do hammer-ons and pull-offs when playing a guitar. It is actually very easy and used very often during licks or solos.

Steps

  1. A hammer-on is a way of slurring notes. You play a note (for example the 5th fret of the d string) and while the note is ringing, put a finger on the next-highest fret (the 6th in the example's case).
  2. A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer-on, but it is also a type of slur. You place two fingers on the same string (different frets, e.g. 5 and 6). For learning purposes, two frets that are next to each other would probably be easiest. Next, play the note. While the sound is ringing, take your finger off the higher fret (6) so that the pitch from the lower fret (5) sounds.



Tips

  • A good pull-off is a little trickier. On an electric guitar you can probably get away with just taking the finger off the string quickly enough while it is still ringing. On an acoustic guitar to do a good-sounding pull off you will most often have to do some work with TWO fingers rather than one. Let's say you are fretting B string at 5th fret with Finger #1. Finger #2 is on the 6th fret and that's the one you are going to use for the pull-off. You need to simultaneously pull the #2 down as if plucking the string (and that's what makes the sound) and at the same time push the #1 finger in the opposite direction - up - to keep the string from being pulled out of position by the action of the finger #2.
  • The correct way to do the hammer-on is to hit the ringing string with your finger rather fast and rather hard. The action should be similar in principle to how a hammer hits the nail - hence the name of the technique.
  • On electric bass guitar, using alternating hammer-ons and pull-offs in rolling style as a trill helps sustain a note. When pulling off to a lower fret, picking with the upper finger is an option, but pulling off to a note on an open string requires a degree of picking. The attack on an electric bass note is formed audibly by the action of both hands, not just the 'pick' hand - you can hammer on and pull off with any degree of suddenness and power to obtain the desired phrasing. Playing bass with one hand (all hammer-ons and pull-offs) can be used as an exercise, seeing how loudly and clearly you can play. [2]
  • When doing this, it takes some time to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it is usually hard to not do. When I play my guitar, I can't go without hammer-ons and pull-offs, so, they are really needed and make playing a whole lot easier.

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Sources and Citations

  • Information provided in "tips" is a highly condensed and simplified explanation of the technique that is laid out in great detail with specific exercises to build the correct technique in the "Hammer-ons & Pull-offs" eBook available at http://www.guitarprinciples.com
  • [2] Bass tip from personal experience only.
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