Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pull-offs and hammer-ons are two of the most commonly used guitar techniques. They add excitement and drive to your playing, making them critical skills to acquire. Keep reading to learn the secret of how to play guitar pull-offs.
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The Secret of How to Play Guitar Pull-Offs: Definition
What does the word mean?
According to the Essential Dictionary of Music it is:
A technique on stringed instruments where two notes are fingered on the same string, the higher note is played, then the finger of the higher note is raised keeping the lower note fingered. (103)
When playing pull-offs, you pick just the first note.
- Since you won’t be picking both notes, it’ll help increase the speed of your licks.
- Pull-offs and hammer-ons are usually used together.
- A hammer-on is like a pull-off but in the reverse direction. For more information on hammer-ons: click here.
The Secret of How to Play Guitar Pull-Offs: Learning the Technique
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, rotate your screen 90o to the right.
How is a pull-off represented in guitar tablature?
- In tablature you’ll see a slur, which looks like a curved line.
- Many sheet music books have a “P” over the tab slur to help you know that it’s a pull-off instead of a hammer-on.
- But if the “P” isn’t included, you’ll know it’s a pull-off when the frets go from a higher fret (larger number) to a lower fret (smaller number).
Also, the frets go in the opposite direction for a hammer-on.
How you play a pull-off is entirely different from a hammer-on.
- Start by picking the note on the higher fret.
- You’ll feel a “dragging” sensation as your 3rd finger pulls away from the string at a 45o angle.
- In essence, you’re using your 3rd finger to pluck the string as you execute the pull-off, which results in the second note sounding without plucking it with your right hand.
- Conversely, if you raise your 3rd finger up at a 90o angle from the neck, the lower note won’t be very loud, because there is not enough “drag” (i.e., friction).
- On the other hand, if you try to pull-off parallel to the neck, you might accidentally hit the neighboring strings.
- Be sure that your 3rd finger’s “drag” feeling doesn’t accidentally turn into a string bend.
Hand Icon (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
Pull-Offs and Distortion SFX
- Hammer-ons and pull-offs sound incredible when you incorporate distortion sound effects into your guitar sound.
- Why? Because it gives your guitar tone more sustain.
- This in turn makes it simple to play fast licks.
Want awesome distortion?
The Secret of How to Play Guitar Pull-Offs: Video
This video demonstrates how you’d perform this technique.
To practice with the video at slower tempos, click on the settings icon (looks like a gear) and click “playback speed”. A playback speed of around 0.4 and 0.75 is a good place to start. You can then work your speed up to your target tempo.
Video: Technique Demo
Final Thoughts
Takeaway points:
- Start by picking the note on the higher fret.
- You’ll feel a “dragging” sensation as your 3rd finger pulls away from the string at a 45o angle.
- In essence, you’re using your 3rd finger to pluck the string as you execute the pull-off, which results in the second note sounding without plucking it with your right hand.
Have fun playing!
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