Hammer-on and Pull-off Techniques

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What are Hammer-ons and Pull-offs?

Hammer-ons and pull-offs belong to a group of techniques that decorate single-note lines, up and down a string. Similar to the slide, a hammer-on is executed by playing a single note, and then striking the same string at a higher fret with the fret hand. A pull-off is simply the reverse of this motion.

Many students of the guitar ask how to master hammer-ons and pull-offs. The key is to condition the fretting-hand to cleanly articulate them by repeated practice, and to exercise discipline during practice to play them in time so that it sounds clean.

Simple Hammer-on

First, let's execute a basic hammer-on.

Fret the high "E" string at the fourth fret, using your index finger.
Pluck the high "E" string with your picking hand.
As the string rings, strike the same string at the fifth fret with your second finger. You must use considerable force at first. Strike just below the target fret.

Simple Pull-off

Now, a basic pull-off.

Fret the high "E" string at the fifth fret, using your second finger.
In addition, fret the same string at the fourth fret with your index finger.
Pluck the high "E" string with your picking hand.
As the note rings, pull your second finger off of the fifth fret with a motion downwards towards the floor.

You can execute both of these techniques at any level, but they will get slightly easier as your fretting-hand calluses build up. A firmer fingertip surface will help you to execute these moves.

Scale for Practicing Hammer-ons

Exercises for Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Exercise #1: Hammer-on a major scale

Play the open E. Use the first finger to hammer-on the F♯. Repeat the open E, and use the first finger to hammer-on the G♯. Once you reach the high E, repeat backwards. Repeat this exercise with every finger for best results.

Listen:

ex_ho-exercise-hammer-on-major-scale

Exercise #2: Two hammer-ons

Play the open E, then hammer-on F♯ with your first finger and G♯ with your third finger. Play open E, and hammer-on the next two notes. When the high E is reached, reverse directions.

Listen:

ex_ho-exercise-hammer-on-two-notes

Exercise #3: Pull-off a scale

Play the open E, then play the F♯ with your index finger and pull-off again to the open E. Repeat the open E, and play G♯, pulling off once more to open E. Repeat up the scale, then reverse directions. Repeat this exercise with every finger combination for best results.

Listen:

ex_po-exercise-pull-off-scale

Exercise #4: Two pull-offs

Play the open E. Then play G♯, pull-off to F♯, and pull-off to open E. Repeat up the scale and then reverse directions.

Listen:

ex_po-exercise-2-at-a-time

Exercise #5: Hammer-ons and pull-offs

Play the scale ascending with hammer-ons and then descending with pull-offs.

Listen:

ex_hammer-ons-and-pull-offs

Coda

The hammer-on and pull-off are two of the most widely-used guitar techniques, and players from nearly every style will need to master them. With patience, you will get a grip on this fundamental technique, and it will help you to play music of nearly all styles.