How to Play a Pull Off on Guitar

Pull-offs, like their counterparts, hammer-ons, are an essential technique of legato-style playing and open many techniques on the guitar. While pull-offs are often used in conjunction with hammer-ons, they are often used entirely by themselves in a song, and their technique is slightly more difficult to master.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric or acoustic guitar

1. Play a fretted note anywhere on the fretboard using your middle or ring finger to fret the string. At the same time, fret a note behind the note that you played with your index finger. For example, play the fifth fret and also fret the third on the same string. Let the note ring.

2. "Pull off" at the fifth fret, without plucking the string again, by slightly pulling at the string like the start of a string bend, and then lift your finger off of the fret. The very slight bend should have let your finger pluck the string as it came off the fret, letting the next note (the third fret you put your finger on in Step 1) ring out clearly. The slight bend should be enough to pluck the string, but not so much that it pulls the note out of tune. This process should be smooth and quick--a single motion.

3. Practice pull-offs with all of your fingers (you can use your index by pull off to an open string). Allow intervals of 1, 2 or 3 frets between the 2 frets you used in Step 1, working up to spaces of 4 or 5 frets.

Tips & Warnings

• This exercise will increase hand strength and dexterity, but be careful not to over stress your fingers. Always warm up and stretch, and stop playing if you feel any discomfort.