Guitar technique lesson
How to Play Hammer Ons on Guitar
A hammer-on sounds a higher fretted note without a second pick stroke. The fretting finger must arrive quickly enough to create a clear attack.
Step by step
Build the movement correctly
- 1
Pick the lower note normally.
- 2
Keep that finger down while raising the hammering finger only a short distance.
- 3
Strike just behind the target fret with the fingertip.
- 4
Hold the new note instead of bouncing away.
Practice exercise
On each string, play fret five to seven as steady eighth notes using one pick stroke per pair.
Rule: increase the tempo only when the movement stays relaxed and every repetition sounds the same.
Common mistake
Lifting the finger too high wastes time and reduces accuracy. The motion should be small and decisive.