A simple definition of a hammer on is, slamming one of your left hand fingers onto a fret to produce the sound. I say slam, but it shouldn’t feel like you’re breaking your fingers!
Here is a simple way to hear what a hammer on sounds like. Pick an open string, with your right hand, now quickly place your left hand index finger on the first fret (hammer-on) to sound the note. Remember not to use the pick to sound the second note. You want the sound to come from placing your index finger on the string, not from plucking the string again.
Here is how a hammer on looks in standard tab. So here you would pick the 9th fret and hammer on the 10th fret…
e|———-|
B|—9h10—|
G|———-|
D|———-|
A|———-|
E|———-|
The Pull-Off
The pull-off is like the hammer-on in reverse. To get a good proper pull-off, you want to pull your finger off the string, but not just simply lift it off. To do this you pull your finger off the fret at an angle. The idea is for the tip of your finger to pull on the string so when it does leave the string it causes the string to vibrate slightly. Try this simple pull off – Put your left index finger on the first fret of the E string. Strike the note with your pick, and use your left index finger to pull off and sound the open string.
Here is how a pull-off looks in standard tab. You would strike the 10th fret, then pull-off on the 9th fret…
e|———-|
B|—10p9—|
G|———-|
D|———-|
A|———-|
E|———-|
The Trill
Trills are very easy. All they are is two notes played really fast over and over again. The trill comes from hammering-on and pulling-off over and over again on the same two notes. Try this on the first fret. Hammer-on and pull-off the first fret as fast as you can a few times and that’s it.
Here is the trill in standard tab. This means trill the 9th and 10th frets…
e|———|
B|–9tr10–|
G|———|
D|———|
A|———|
E|———|
Try combining trills in with hammer-ons and pull-offs. You will be able to create some interesting solos using just these couple of techniques.
