Hammer-ons and pull-offs, known by their official name as “slurs,” are super cool…

They help you sound better, play faster, and can allow you to do things you could not do with a pick.

So let’s talk about how they work and how to make them sound better if you are already using them.

Dig it!


    27 replies to "Hammer-ons And Pull-offs Better (or at all)"

    • JOHN MASON

      ENJOYED THIS LITTLE LESSON. BUT HAVEN’T RECEIVED ANY MORE SINCE. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

    • John

      Great lesson as always, Griff, and the first I’ve received in a while
      Regards from Forest of Dean here in the UK

    • Jay

      I missed you Griff, very happy to receive your emails and awesome lessons again!!
      Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

    • Dave Mueller

      I feel like I rely too much on ‘slurring’ . I need to work more on picking more notes.

    • James

      Merry Christmas Griff!

    • LouisVA

      Thanksh for this leshun, Griff.

    • Frederick Brown

      Great lesson, it’s good to hear from you again, after about 6 months of lessons coming in. It was a surprise to see one this morning in my email. Hope they keep coming!

    • Buzz

      Funny, after a few beers, I can slur both my guitar and vocals at the same time!

    • Jeff

      My biggest technical challenges playing the guitar are pull offs and bends. Hammer ons are easier for me. I tend to play more acoustic than electric. Even when I play electric, I don’t own any pedals. Not one. Sooooo, overdrive isn’t an option. I do like the exercises. I can start using some of that as a warm up or even something to practice while I’m watching TV. Thanks for another practical, hands on lesson Griff.

    • Ian Robins

      Thanks, Griff. Because I don’t often use a pick, slurs are essential to my playing. I use them a lot, and have gotten fairly handy at it, but you can always get a fresh perspective and you have given me that. Good exercises for strengthening my slurs too! Cheers!

    • Mike Allison

      Finally, instructor comment on amp setup! I lean towards playing “clean” and struggled with hammer on volume. I did not make the connection to hammer on volume & overdrive for a number of reasons. That knowledge is worth its weight in gold. Thank you.

    • John D.

      I’m not the only one whose voice gets lower on the way down and higher on the way up. Really nice technique exercise.

    • Ken Tillotson

      I enjoyed the lesson I am new to soloing this will help me in my practicing. Thanks Griff

    • mike barnes

      nice lesson. always enjoy them, don’t always accomplish the skill level I desire.
      at 79yo with arthritis in my left hand it is difficult.
      started at age 10.. lots of desire, little talent… stopped playing in my 20’s, life happens.

      • Chris Roper

        Yo! Mike. Join the club of ancient, lifelong beginners?
        Merry Christmas.🎄

    • Greg J Smith

      What’s your take on why people have what I call guitar face when they are playing lead about everybody does it. Just wondering..

    • peter hancock

      Great explanation. With the music I play there are a lot of pull-offs and hammer-ons. I practice them all the time. Again thanks.

    • chris clemans

      Griff this lesson will absolutely improve my slurrs and just adding a little overdrive and being quicker alone made an immediate improvement thanks again for another great lesson

      • PAUL

        WATCH HENDRIX DO THE SLURS AT THE MONTERAY POP FESTIVAL . 1968 THE CROUD WENT WILD HE JUST DID SLURS WITH OUT PICKING .
        WELL, MY DAUGHTER IS IN OREGAN, PORTLAND REED COLLGE ALL MY KIDS ARE FROWN, BUT MY #2 SON STILL LIVES AT HOME HE JUTS GEADUATED FROM SANTAMONICA COLLOGE HE IS AGREAT PIOANO PLAYER AND A GRETA DJ AND MUCICAN
        BACK IN 1982 WE WENT FOR A GIG AT DISNEYLAND. WE WHERE RECOMNDED BY BOBBY SHERMAN WE HAD ASONG AN AM RADDIO WE COULD NOT PLAY UNLESS WE CUT OUR HAIR
        DISNEY LAND, NICE PLACE TO WORK, BUT WOULD NOT PLAY THERE FOR A 100K! THANKS FOR THE LESSON GRIFF. I ALWAYS USE A BIT OF MY COMPRESOR AND OVERDRIVE FOR SLURS.

        • Mark

          Hey Bro,
          Need to turn off the caps lock

    • Rock Hudson

      Thanks Griff, Definitely something I need to work on

    • Jack Donoghue

      Hi, Griff. I’m STILL finding new things in things I thought were old. I guess it’s like the Marines say, “It never hurts to OVERLEARN something, only to UNDERLEARN something.”

      Great lesson. Thanks very much.

      • marque

        I like that.

    • Don Hall

      Thanks for the practice tips. It’s always helpful to have some kind of exercise with a technical lesson. These would be great warm-up exercises too.

    • Paul Glowacki

      Cool got a better idea of how to make that work never quite got how to make that happen.

    • John Mayfield

      It is so nice to watch a teacher who can do as well as teach! Great lesson – even for more experienced players. Great work, Griff.

    • Joe Lamere

      Nice!! Can sit around and noodle

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