Guide to getting and playing better gigs
Hammer On, Pull-Off, Slide, Bend & Tapping
HAMMER ON:
Hammering on involves playing a note on the fretboard and then "hammering on" (fretting) another note on the same string - raising the pitch of the note. A hammer on is often represented by H or HO, but you'll have to check the key to see what symbol the writer uses. An example of hammering on is shown below:E |-5h--8--5h--8--|-7h--8--7h--8--|
B |---------------|---------------|
G |---------------|---------------|
D |---------------|---------------|
A |---------------|---------------|
E |---------------|---------------|
PULL OFF:
Pulling off is the reverse of hammering on. You play a note and then release the string (with a slight pluck) to reveal a lower note. Pulling off is written (usually) with a P or a PO over the top, but again, check the key. Here's an example of pulling off:E |-8p--7--8p--7--|-8p--5--8p--5--|
B |---------------|---------------|
G |---------------|---------------|
D |---------------|---------------|
A |---------------|---------------|
E |---------------|---------------|
SLIDING:
To slide a note, play a note on the fretboard and (while the note is still ringing) slide the fretting finger up or down the string to the target note! It's as simple as that! Here's an example:E |-8s--7--8s--10-|-8s--7--8s--10-|
B |---------------|---------------|
G |---------------|---------------|
D |---------------|---------------|
A |---------------|---------------|
E |---------------|---------------|
BENDING:
Bending strings is a very important part of playing guitar. Playing a "bend" involves picking a note and then bending the pitch of the note upwards. You do this by increasing the tension of the string, by pushing the string up towards the top of the neck (or the bottom of the neck). Use as many fingers as possible to strengthen the bend, and try to avoid prematurely letting the bend go. At first bending will hurt the ends of your fingers, but after practice, will become easier.In printed tab, a bend will often be given a target note, that is when your bend reaches its highest pitch, that pitch should be equal to the target note. On web tab, often there is no target note given. In this case bend it up a tone (2 frets), unless otherwise stated. If this sounds incorrect then experiment! Here's an example of bending (in web tab):
E |---------------|---------------|
B |-13b-13b-------|-11b-14b-------|
G |---------------|---------------|
D |---------------|---------------|
A |---------------|---------------|
E |---------------|---------------|
TAPPING:
Tapping creates a very fast and fluid series of notes without using the pick. Listen to Joe Satriani, Steve Vai or Eddie Van Halen, and you'll hear this technique which also incorporates hammer- ons and pull-offs.Exercise 1:
1: Use the index or middle finger of your picking hand and tap the first note on the fretboard, have the 2nd note already fretted.
2: As you release (pull off) the finger, the 2nd note will sound.
3: Hammer-on the 3rd note.E||-----------------------------------------------------||
B||--10-^-2-^-5----10-^-2-^-5----10-^-2-^-5------||
G||-----------------------------------------------------||
D||-----------------------------------------------------||
A||-----------------------------------------------------||
E||-----------------------------------------------------||
Exercise 2:
This is slightly different. Instead of hammering on the last note, pull off the 2nd note to sound the 3rd.
1: Use the index or middle finger of your picking hand and tap the first note on the fretboard, have the 2nd note already fretted.
2: As you release (pull off) the finger, the 2nd note will sound.
3: Pull-off and sound the 3rd note.E||-----------------------------------------------------||
B||--12-^-5-^-2----12-^-5-^-2-----12-^-5-^-2------||
G||-----------------------------------------------------||
D||-----------------------------------------------------||
A||-----------------------------------------------------||
E||-----------------------------------------------------||
Exercise 3:
This is played the same way as the first exercise, but note the tapped note as it changes.
E||-----------------------------------------------------||
B||-----------------------------------------------------||
G||--12-^-2-^-5----10-^-2-^-5----12-^-2-^-5-------||
D||-----------------------------------------------------||
A||-----------------------------------------------------||
E||-----------------------------------------------------||
Play this one slowly, and gradually build up the speed as you master the technique.