How to Do an Electric Guitar Hammer-on and Pull-off

Hammer-on and pull-off are fingering techniques used when playing the electric or acoustic guitar. This technique allows you to pick a note then tap or pull the string with your fretting hand. The steps below will teach you how to hammer-on and pull-off on the electric guitar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold a note down at the fret and pick or strum the string of that note.

2. Tap the same string in front of the fret with your middle finger. This is just a light tap or snapping of your finger. Now you have generated two notes with one picking of the string.

3. Hammer-on a whole step in front of the note played (two frets ahead), but you can hammer-on any fret your fingers can reach.

4. Remove the finger from the note you just picked, this is the pull-off. As you remove your finger, gently pull on the string. This is the reverse of the hammer-on.

5. Pick a note, then hammer-on and pull-off quickly and you'll get three notes from plucking one string.

Tips & Warnings

• To hammer-on and pull-off takes some muscle strength in the hand, so keep practicing to build up the muscles and gain control.
• When you get good at the hammer-on and pull-off with one finger, use two or three fingers down the fret board. Tap and pull with your middle finger, then ring finger and if you get really good follow it with your pinkie finger.