Hammer-on

Now that you have the A minor pentatonic scale in the root note fret memorized and have built up speed, we can move on to some Hammer-ons. Hammer-ons are a way of playing two or more notes on each string but only picking the string once. Hammer-ons help build speed with your leads and add an unique sound. The image below shows a red line from the 1 to the 3 finger. Look at the image below.

Watch a hammer-on and pull-off Video

Hammer-ons and pull-offs

	Listen to a hammer-on from the Low E string 5th fret down to the high E string covering all the notes in the image below.
	1-4 1-3 1-3 1-3 1-4 1-4

	Pick the note on the 5th fret 1 finger indicated by the red line. While holding that first note down, hammer-on the 3 finger 7th fret indicated by the red line. You are now playing both of those notes, but only picking the G string one time.
	Once you practice this you can do the same thing with the 1-4 fingers on each string or any other notes you like.

The next thing I would like for you to learn is the Pull off. This time you would pick the 7th fret 3 finger and pull off the 3 finger to the 1 finger that you have down on the 5th fret. Look at the image below. Remember you only have to pick the G string one time to play both of these notes. Practice this exercise up and down the A minor pentatonic scale.

Pull off starting at the A note fret 5th fret Low E string down through the complete scale to the high E string.

	Pick the 3 finger in Red, then pull off to the 1 finger in red. Remember to pick the G string only once to play both notes on the string.
	Once you get the hang of it, move onto the other strings doing the same thing.

The next thing I would like for you to learn is bending. Now this is really cool. The first bend will be a whole step bend. What do I mean by a whole step bend? This means bending the string to sound the note one whole step above that note. Look at the image below. If you push up that D note far enough the tension on the string will change the pitch to a higher note. We want that D note below when bent to sound like the E note at the 5th or 9th fret.

Look at the D note on the 7th fret above. If you bend that D note G string far enough it will sound the E note one whole step above. One whole step above would reach the E in Red and the E in purple. By the way, both of those E notes are the same, just in a different position. Whole steps, half steps, sharps, flats and tons more will be covered as we move a long.

The way you bend is by picking the D note 3 finger and then push that string up towards your chin. I find the easiest way to bend a string is by using all three fingers on the string to push it up. After you push up that D note, pick the E note in purple. The D note bent should sound like the E note. Practice the bend until you get the right sound from the D note and then we can move around the fretboard later on.

I have included a bending example, but added one extra note. I bent the D note, then pick the purple E and the black A note above.

If you listen to these examples over and over, you will begin to hear what the notes should sound like. This will train your ear to pick leads out of recordings and begin to write your own songs.

Try to use the hammer on technique while playing the major pentatonic scales.

Good luck,

From the Jam Room