The Hammer-On
A hammer-on is a technique where the first note is picked but the second note sound is produced by "hammering" the left hand finger onto the fretboard. The hammer-on is indicated on the music staff by a curved line joining two different notes. In Tab notation the hammer-on is indicated by a curved line and the letter "H" (see Lesson One) above it.
A hammer-on is sometimes called an ascending slur. The hammer-on is performed by playing the first note with the right hand (as in the example - a G note on the fifth fret of the 4th string). While this note is still sounding, the third finger of the left hand hammers down onto the second note (an A note on the seventh fret of the 4th string). The second note is not picked; the sound is produced entirely by the left hand "hammering" onto the string as shown in the diagrams.
Starting position – G note
After hammer-on – A note
Remember that the second note is not played by the right hand, the sound is produced entirely by the third finger "hammering" onto the string. You will need to be careful with the timing of the hammer-on. Both the G and A notes are eighth notes and each should have an equal time value when played (regardless of the hammer-on technique).
The pull-off is like a reverse hammer-on, i.e., the first note is picked and the second note sound is created by the finger pulling off the string. In the following example the A note is played by the right hand and the G note sound is created by the third finger pulling off the string. The pull-off is indicated by the letter "P" and a curved line. A pull-off is sometimes called a descending slur.
Starting position – A note
After Pull-off – G note
The Sixteenth Note
This is a sixteenth note.
It lasts for one quarter of a beat.
There are four sixteenth notes in one beat.
There are 16 sixteenth notes in one bar of * time.
The following riff incorporates the hammer-on with sixteenth notes. Only every second note is played with the pick, the remaining notes result from the hammer-on. Use the first and third fingers of your left hand to play the next three riffs.
