Hammer-On’s

Hammer-On’s are a legato technique that is used to play a higher note on the same string without playing the second note with a pick. This allows guitarists to move from a lower note to a higher note on the same string without picking. A hammer-on is created when one note is played on a lower fret with one finger (usually the index finger) and quickly and forcefully pressing another finger down on another note on the same string without picking the note. A slurred line connecting the two notes designates a hammer-on. 

Play the following exercise to get used to playing hammer-ons. The most important thing to remember when playing hammered notes is that the second note needs to be pressed hard in order to keep the volume equal between the picked note and the hammered note.  

You can also hammer-on from an open string to a fretted note, try out the exercise below to move from an open note to a fretted note using the hammer-on technique.