The pull-off is another popular left hand technique which can be applied to a lick. The pull-off produces a note artificially with the left hand. This time a left hand finger is pulled away from the string after fretting the note. If played correctly, the action of the finger leaving the string will cause the string to sound. This technique is demonstrated in the next example. In order to play this example, play the second fret of the 3rd string with the second finger of the left hand. After the note has sounded pull the finger away from the string. If played correctly the note of the open string will be produced. The pull-off is indicated by a curved line and the symbol "P".
The pull-off can be used in a lick where a lower note follows a higher note on the same string. Using the pull-off will also help create a much smoother flowing lick. This is shown in the following examples. The following two examples are the same lick except a pull-off is used in the second one.
The next lick combines the hammer-on and pull-off