lead guitar techniques
Hammer-On
A hammer-on is a technique that causes a note to sound by using a finger to strike or “hammer” the note instead of picking it. This simple technique creates a unique sound and is used in many styles of music. It also allows you to play passages faster because you are not picking every note.
In the example above, you pick the C note at the first fret (use your 1st finger to play it) and then “hammer on” the D note using your 3rd finger. Don’t be timid, just slam that 3rd finger down on the D note. Try to match the volume of the picked note when hammering the second note. You then play the F note (use your 1st finger to play it) and then hammer on the G note at the 3rd fret with your 3rd finger.
Pull-Off
A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer-on. Instead of hammering down your finger to make the note sound, you pick a note and then pull your finger off the string to make the next note sound. It helps to pull down (toward the ground) slightly on the string when you do a pull-off.
When you play a pull-off you need to have your finger already on the second note in order for it to sound. In the example above, you place your 1st finger on the C note at the 1st fret and your 3rd finger on the D note at the 3rd fret. Then pick the D note and pull off your 3rd finger to make the C note sound. Use the same method for the G and F notes (the 1st string notes.)
The pull-off technique requires a little more practice than the hammer-on, but both should soon become automatic. Try this example that combines both hammer-ons and pull-offs. The first two measures are all hammer-ons, and the next two measures are all pull-offs. Try to keep a consistent volume between the picked notes and the hammered and pulled notes.
links
Audio Files
- Hammer-On
- Pull-Off
- Hammer Up, Pull Down
