Hammer Ons and Pull Offs for Lead Guitar

Your guitar is one of the most amazingly expressive instruments out there because of all the ways we have to ornament our notes

. A variety of vibratos, rakes, slides, bends, and other techniques give the guitar a very vocal quality. Here we'll be talking about two techniques you must have. Hammer ons and pull offs. These very simple techniques form the backbone of every lead guitarists arsenal of tricks.

Hammer On

This entails picking the first note, then "hammering on" a second note on the same string with a new finger, without picking it.

Here's an example. Place your first finger on the 2nd string at the 7th fret. Pick that note. Then, without picking again, slap your third finger down on the 9th fret of the same string. Your aim is to have both notes be at the same volume. You get a smooth transition (called "legato") between notes and your right hands gets to take a quick break.

A couple things to keep in mind:

- Hammer down fast and hard. You're trying to not interrupt the vibration of the string. It's kind of like pulling the table cloth out from under a table full of dishes. Fast makes it neat. Slow means a big mess.

- Use the tip of your finger rather than the pad. The pads of your fingers are squishier than the tips. That little extra give in the skin there can disrupt the vibration of the string.

- Practice this until the volumes of both notes are the same. Then practice the technique with different combinations of fingers.

Pull Off

This is exactly the opposite of a hammer on. You'll start with a note higher on the string and "pull off" to the lower one without picking again.

Example: Place your third finger at the 9th fret, 2nd string. Then place your first finger on the 7th fret of the same string. Unlike a hammer on, both fingers have to be in place before the pull off happens. Pick the first note, then pull your finger off the 9th fret so you hear the note at the 7th. As you come off, give the string a little flick with your third finger. Your finger acts like a pick to keep the vibration of the string going. Again, we're looking to keep the volume consistent.

A couple things to keep in mind:

- Flick your finger hard enough to keep the string moving, but not so hard that you catch the string above it. It takes a little practice to get it just right.

- Using your finger tip rather than the pad will give you better control here as well.

- Work on it until you can keep both notes at the same volume.

Mix them up!

If you take two notes and repeatedly use a hammer on and pull off on them, it's called a Trill. It's a technique that goes back hundreds of years in music history and is still used by the greatest players today. It's also a great way to keep your left hand muscles strong.

Use these techniques and your legato lead guitar skills will be one step closer to Guitar God status!

Hammer Ons and Pull Offs for Lead Guitar

By: Phil Johnson

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