Hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides

Picking every note makes a line sound separate and mechanical. Hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides let the fretting hand create notes on its own, so a phrase flows. You will use them inside the minor pentatonic box you already know.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

• Play a clean hammer-on and pull-off between two notes of box 1.
• Slide between notes while keeping an even sound.
• Combine all three in a short lick.

Three techniques let your fretting hand create notes without the pick, so phrases flow instead of sounding like a row of separate notes.

Hammer-on. Pick a note, then bring another finger down hard on a higher fret of the same string. The second note sounds from the force of the finger alone.

Pull-off. With two fingers on the string, pick the higher note. Then lift the upper finger off with a small downward flick: it plucks the string as it leaves, and the lower note sounds.

Slide. Pick a note and move the finger along the string to another fret, keeping pressure the whole way. The pitch glides.

All three share a rule: the slurred note should be as loud as the picked one. If it is quieter, use a firmer finger action, fret close to the fret wire, and slow down.

In guitar tab, a hammer-on is usually marked with an h, a pull-off with a p and a slide with a slash. Here we describe each in words.

A hammer-on, slowly.

1. Put your first finger on fret 5 of the 5th string. Pick the note and let it ring.
2. Lift your third finger about a centimetre above fret 7. Drop it down onto fret 7 sharply, landing on the fingertip just behind the fret wire.
3. A second note sounds, without picking. If it is quiet, lift the finger higher and hit harder.

A pull-off. Place fingers 1 and 3 on frets 5 and 7. Pick the string, then pull the third finger down and off in one quick flick. The fret-5 note sounds.

The slide. On the 4th string, put a finger on fret 5, pick, and glide up to fret 7 without lifting. Land on the target fret exactly.

Combine them into the lick above, one technique at a time, then at a steady 60 BPM.

Do these in order. Each one is small. Tick the ones you have practised.

• 1.Hammer-on

  4 min · 60 → 80 BPM

  1. On the 5th string, place your first finger on fret 5. Pick the note.
  2. Bring your third finger down onto fret 7 sharply from above, like a hammer. Do not pick again.
  3. The second note should be as loud as the first.
  4. Repeat on each string of box 1.

  You have it when

  • The hammered note is as loud as the picked one on at least 8 of 10 attempts.
  I practised this one

• 2.Pull-off

  4 min · 60 → 80 BPM

  1. Place fingers 1 and 3 on frets 5 and 7 of the 5th string. Pick the 7th-fret note.
  2. Pull the third finger off with a small downward flick, so it plucks the string as it leaves.
  3. The note at fret 5 should sound clearly.
  4. Repeat on each string of box 1.

  You have it when

  • The pull-off note is as loud as the picked note on at least 8 of 10 attempts.
  I practised this one

• 3.A lick with all three

  4 min · 60 → 90 BPM

  1. Pick fret 5 of the 3rd string, hammer on to fret 7.
  2. Pick fret 5 of the 4th string and slide up to fret 7 without picking again.
  3. Pick fret 7 of the 5th string, pull off to fret 5.
  4. Loop it over an Am chord at 60 BPM.

  You have it when

  • The lick sounds smooth and each technique is clear.
  I practised this one

Start at 60 BPM, one note per click, until each technique is loud and clear. Quiet hammer-ons mean you need more finger strength: go slower and use more force from the fingertip, not the hand.

• Soft hammer-ons. Bring the finger down from a height and land on the tip. Fret just behind the fret wire.
• Pull-offs that only release the string. Flick the finger sideways as it leaves, so the string is plucked.
• Slides that arrive off target. Practise one slide at a time and look at the target fret. Slow down until you hit it every time.

These three techniques turn pentatonic notes into phrases. They are the basis of much blues and rock lead playing, and you will use them in the improvisation lesson later in this module.

Try it in: 12-bar blues in A.

Short version (10 minutes)

Do the hammer-on and pull-off exercises on one string at 60 BPM for four minutes.

Standard version (about 30 minutes)

Do all three exercises, then make up your own lick using at least one of each technique.

• Hammer-on: land a finger on a higher fret without picking.
• Pull-off: pluck with the finger as it leaves.
• Slide: keep pressure while moving between frets.
• Slurred notes should be as loud as picked notes.

You are ready to move on when you can honestly say:

• I can play a clear hammer-on and pull-off in box 1.
• I can slide to a target fret reliably.
• I can combine all three in a short lick.