The Hammer-on (H)
A "hammer-on" refers to the technique of sounding a note without actually picking the string (with the pick or the right hand). The sound is produced by striking the string with one of the left hand fingers.
In the exercise below, only the D note is picked, and the third finger "hammers-on" firmly to produce the sound of the E note.
The hammer-on effect is indicated by the curved line, and the "H" above the note in question. Remember that the second note (E), is not picked; the sound is produced entirely by the third finger "hammering-on" to the string. You must be very careful with the timing of the hammer-on. Both the D and E notes are eighth notes and each should have an equal time value when played (regardless of the hammer-on technique).
Lick 110 is the same as Lick 108 except it is played using the "hammer-on" technique.
To create a different feel with the hammers-on it can be played faster. Compare the following:
In this example the E note is played immediately after the D note.
The quick hammer-on is applied to the first two beats of Lick 111 which also has quarter note triplets.
Lick 112 uses hammer-on on the open D string.
Lick 113 uses the hammer-on across all four open strings using the index finger of the left hand.
Lick 114 uses an ascending hammer-on run in E minor.
In Lick 115 only some of the notes are played with the hammer-on.
Different hammer-on combinations using all strings with the fIrst and third fingers of your left hand.
Lick 120 uses hammer-on in the same way but with the 1st and 2nd fingers.
Lick 121 uses the 1st and 4th fingers for the hammer-ons.
Play these licks in different positions on the neck and make your own combinations using different fingers.
Lick 122 combines ascending and descending hammer-on runs in A minor.
