FretSpider!

This technique is basically the opposite of the hammer-on. This is where you pluck a note and “pull off” your finger to play the note behind it. You will need to have two fingers on the same string before playing the technique.

Basic Pull-Off Technique

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1. Before you start the technique, place one finger on each note.

So, place your 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string, and your 2nd finger on the 6th fret.

2. Pluck the string, the note of the 6th fret should be ringing.

3. Pull this finger off the 6th fret, leaving your 1st finger on fret 5.

If done correctly, the pitch will have shifted down to this note.

The pulling off action is a little harder than the hammer-on and will require a little more practice. If the pull-off isn’t sounding as it should, follow the below tips:

- As your finger is pulling off from the first note, slide it on a slight angle downwards. This motion will slightly jiggle the string, giving the second note a little more dominance.

- Ensure that your pull-off motion is quick and smooth. If you are pulling off too slowly you may dampen the sound of the following note.

-Practice on different strings, frets, and fingers. Bottom line, practice! – If you haven’t learnt how to play hammer-ons yet I urge you to go back and read over that.

Pull-offs can also be applied to an open string. The below example shows this common technique. Simply play the 6th string on the 2nd fret, with your 2nd finger (depending on the location of your fingers in the context of a song). Once this note is played simply pull your finger off to expose an open E note.

Pull-Off To Open String

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1. Simply play the 6th string on the 2nd fret.

For this note, you would normally use your 1st or 2nd finger, depending on the context of the song.

2. Using the above tips, pull your finger off the string to allow the note to change to the open E note.

Double pull-offs are also a common technique among lead guitarists. They are basically a three note technique where the plucking of the first note fuels the other two.

Double Pull-Off

The below example shows a double pull-off technique combined with a pull-off to open note.

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1. Place one finger on the 2nd fret and one on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.

2. Pick the note of the 3rd fret.

3. Pull this finger off the 3rd fret as you would to expose the note behind it (2nd fret).

4. When this note is ringing, pull your finger off the 2nd fret to allow the note to change to the open B.

So there you go, you should have heard three notes play with the right hand playing only one. The double pull-off can be played anywhere on the neck and when playing it without an open string it will be a 3-finger operation.

Advanced Hammer-On / Pull-Off Technique

So that stuff above is easy to you? you’ve mastered it? Good!

Now here I will demonstrate to you some advance hammer-on/pull-off techniques. If you don’t know how to properly perform a pull-off, see our How to do Pull-Offs technique on guitar lesson.

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This is a fairly common and straightforward technique. It is simply a hammer-on immediately followed by a pull-off. This entire lick is only plucked once with the right hand. To perform it, place your 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd string, play it and while it is ringing use your 3rd finger to hammer on and pull off the 9th fret. – So it is a simple tap and let-go movement.

The followings simply just the opposite as the above. It is not as common, but we’ll just go over it as it will pop up now and then. Just like a pull-off have your 1st finger on fret 7 and your 3rd finger on fret 9. Simple play the 9th fret note, and pull-off to seventh fret and in one swift movement hammer your finger back on. – This is performed with one pick of the right hand again.

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If you are having difficulties with bar chords please go to our How to play bar chords lesson before attempting the below.

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That’s about it for hammer-ons. Of course when learning new songs or solos these techniques will be portrayed in hundreds of different ways, depending on the style or artist, and that’s the beauty of music, but it will all boil down to the simplicity of the above examples.