Hammer-ons & Pull-offs
Legato technique for smooth playing
What is Legato?
Legato means "smooth and connected". In guitar, legato technique means sounding notes without picking every one — using your fretting hand to create the sound instead. The two core legato techniques are hammer-ons and pull-offs.
These techniques produce a smoother, more fluid sound than picking every note. They're essential for fast runs, expressive phrasing, and reducing pick-hand workload.
Hammer-ons
A hammer-on (written as "h" in tab, e.g., 5h7) means:
1. Pick the first note normally (e.g., fret 5)
2. While the string is still vibrating, slam another finger down onto the higher fret (e.g., fret 7) with enough force to make the note sound
The key word is "slam" — your finger needs to come down fast and hard enough to excite the string into vibrating at the new pitch. Timid taps produce weak, barely audible notes.
The first note is picked. The second note is NOT picked — it gets its energy from the hammer motion alone.
Pull-offs
A pull-off (written as "p" in tab, e.g., 7p5) is the reverse:
1. Both fingers are already on the fretboard (e.g., index on fret 5, ring on fret 7)
2. Pick the higher note (fret 7)
3. Pull the higher finger off the string with a slight downward plucking motion
The "pull" is important — don't just lift your finger straight up. Instead, pull it slightly downward (toward the floor) as you release, giving the string a little pluck. This keeps the volume of the second note closer to the first.
Combining Them
Hammer-ons and pull-offs are most powerful when combined. A common pattern is the trill:
5h7p5h7p5h7 — a rapid alternation between two notes using only one pick stroke.
You can also chain them into longer phrases: pick once, then hammer-on and pull-off through multiple notes. This is the basis of legato speed playing used by guitarists like Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, and many shredders.
Tab Examples
Hammer-on exercise
e--5h7---5h8---5h7---5h8--- B--------------------------- G--------------------------- D--------------------------- A--------------------------- E---------------------------
Pull-off exercise
e--8p5---7p5---8p5---7p5--- B--------------------------- G--------------------------- D--------------------------- A--------------------------- E---------------------------
Combined legato lick
e-----5h8p5--------5h8p5--- B--5h8-------8p5----------- G--------------------------- D--------------------------- A--------------------------- E---------------------------
Tips
- Hammer-ons: slam your finger down hard and fast
- Pull-offs: pluck slightly downward as you release, don't just lift
- The volume of hammered/pulled notes should match the picked note
- Practice slowly first — speed comes from clean technique, not rushing
Practice Exercises
- Hammer-on from fret 5 to 7 on each string — aim for equal volume on both notes
- Pull-off from fret 7 to 5 on each string — practice the downward pluck motion
- Practice trills: 5h7p5h7p5h7 for 10 seconds on each string
- Play the pentatonic Box 1 using only one pick stroke per string, legato between notes
- Try the combined legato lick slowly, then gradually increase speed