Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs: How to Play Legato on Guitar

Listen closely to almost any guitar solo, riff or folk accompaniment, and you'll hear notes that seem to flow into each other without being picked. That smooth sound comes from hammer-ons and pull-offs, two techniques that let your fretting hand create notes on its own.

They're essential for lead guitar, but they're just as useful for rhythm players, who use them to decorate chords. This guide teaches both techniques from scratch, with exercises and licks to build them into your playing.

What is legato?

Legato is an Italian music term meaning "tied together." On guitar, it means playing notes smoothly connected, with fewer picked notes. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are the main legato techniques, along with slides. They make phrases sound fluid and vocal, and because you pick less, they also help you play faster with less effort.

How to do a hammer-on

1. Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the G string.
2. Pick the note.
3. While it's ringing, bring your ring finger down sharply onto the 7th fret of the same string, just behind the fret wire.
4. The 7th fret note should sound clearly without picking again.

G|-5h7-|

The key is speed and accuracy, not force. Think of your finger as a small hammer: a quick, confident motion from a short distance. Land on the very tip of your finger, right next to the fret.

How to do a pull-off

1. Place your index finger on the 5th fret and your ring finger on the 7th fret of the G string.
2. Pick the string. You'll hear the 7th fret note.
3. Pull your ring finger off the string with a slight downward (toward the floor) flicking motion, as if plucking the string with your fretting finger.
4. The 5th fret note should sound clearly, because your index finger is still holding it down.

G|-7p5-|

Don't just lift the finger straight up. That stops the string, and the lower note will be weak. The small flick is what keeps the string vibrating. Also, make sure the lower finger is already in place before you pick; it's a common mistake to put it down at the last second.

Beginner exercises

Exercise 1: Open-string hammer-ons

e|-0h1-0h3-|
B|-0h1-0h3-|
G|-0h2-0h4-|
D|-0h2-0h4-|

Pick the open string, hammer onto the fret. Aim for both notes to be the same volume.

Exercise 2: Open-string pull-offs

e|-1p0-3p0-|
B|-1p0-3p0-|
G|-2p0-4p0-|
D|-2p0-4p0-|

Fret the note, pick it, then flick off to the open string.

Exercise 3: Hammer and pull combined

G|-5h7p5-5h7p5-5h7p5-|

One pick, three notes. This is called a "trill" when done very fast. Start slowly and keep each note even.

Exercise 4: Across the strings

e|-----------------5h7-|
B|-------------5h7-----|
G|---------5h7---------|
D|-----5h7-------------|
A|-5h7-----------------|

Use your index and ring fingers. Then try it with index and pinky at frets 5 and 8.

Exercise 5: Three-note legato

G|-5h7h8-8p7p5-|

Pick once and hammer through three notes, then pick once and pull through three back down. This builds strength in all four fingers. Our guide to guitar finger exercises has more drills like this.

Hammer-ons and pull-offs with chords

You don't need to be a lead player to use these techniques. Rhythm guitarists use them all the time to decorate chords, especially in folk, country and acoustic rock.

The C chord hammer

Hold C, but lift your middle finger off the D string. Pick the A string bass note, then hammer your middle finger onto the 2nd fret of the D string as you strum.

   C
e|-------0-|
B|-------1-|
G|-------0-|
D|---0h2---|
A|-3-------|

The Am and Asus2 flick

Play Am, then pull your index finger off the B string to the open string and hammer it back on. It gives a lovely moving feel to simple strummed progressions.

The D chord hammer

Strum D without your middle finger on the high E string (that's Dsus2), then hammer it back on to the 2nd fret. Combined with Dsus4, this is one of the classic acoustic sounds; see our guide to sus chords.

Licks using hammer-ons and pull-offs

Pentatonic hammer lick

e|-----------5---|
B|-------5h8-----|
G|-5h7-----------|

Pull-off cascade

e|-8p5-------------|
B|-----8p5---------|
G|---------7p5-----|
D|-------------7p5-|

Both licks come from the A minor pentatonic scale. The pull-off cascade is a classic rock and blues descending run.

Blues hammer-on

G|-5-7h8p7-5-|

This passes through the "blue note" for a gritty, bluesy sound. See our guide to the blues scale.

Common mistakes

• Weak hammer-ons. Hit faster, not harder, and land right behind the fret.
• Lifting straight off for pull-offs. Use a slight flick down toward the floor to keep the string ringing.
• Uneven volume. The picked note is usually louder. Practice slowly, aiming for both notes at the same volume.
• Accidental noise. Pull-offs can sound neighboring strings. Mute them with the underside of your fretting fingers or your picking hand.
• Bad timing. Legato notes still need to be in time. Use a metronome and count.
• Squeezing too hard. Tension makes everything slower and more tiring.

Practice routine

1. 2 minutes: open-string hammer-ons and pull-offs on each string.
2. 3 minutes: fretted hammer-ons and pull-offs at the 5th fret with index-ring and index-pinky.
3. 2 minutes: trills on the G string, 30 seconds per finger combination.
4. 3 minutes: a chord embellishment and one lick, slowly with a metronome.

Slides: the third legato technique

A slide connects two notes by sliding the fretting finger along the string while keeping pressure. In tab it's written with a slash: 5/7 for sliding up, 7\5 for sliding down. Slides combine beautifully with hammer-ons and pull-offs. Once you're comfortable with the techniques in this guide, add slides and vibrato for even more expressive phrasing.

How hammer-ons and pull-offs make you faster

Every picked note requires coordination between both hands. Legato notes only need the fretting hand. That's why many fast players use legato for their quickest runs. Even at a beginner level, combining picked notes with hammer-ons and pull-offs makes phrases easier to play at speed and gives them a smoother, more relaxed sound.

Building finger strength and independence

Hammer-ons with the pinky are hard for almost everyone at first. The pinky is the weakest finger and often doesn't land cleanly. Don't avoid it. Practice index-to-pinky hammer-ons at the 5th and 8th frets for a minute a day, and your pinky will catch up within a few weeks. A few extra tips:

• Keep fingers close. Hover your fingers just above the strings so they have a short distance to travel.
• Use the fingertip. A flat finger mutes neighboring strings and lands less precisely.
• Thumb behind the neck. For legato, a thumb positioned behind the neck, roughly behind the middle finger, gives the fingers more reach and power than wrapping it over the top.
• Rest between sets. Legato drills are tiring. Short sets with breaks build strength without strain.

How legato appears in tab and notation

Different tab sources use slightly different symbols. You'll often see "h" for hammer-on and "p" for pull-off, but some tabs use a caret (^) for both, or simply a curved line over the numbers. In standard notation, a curved line called a slur connects notes that are played with one pick stroke. If the second note is higher, it's a hammer-on; if it's lower, it's a pull-off. When in doubt, listen to the recording: legato notes sound smoother and slightly softer than picked ones.

Hammer-ons from nowhere

Once you're comfortable, try a "hammer-on from nowhere": sounding a note purely by hammering onto the string with no picked note before it. It's much quieter at first and takes a firm, fast motion. Advanced legato players use it to start phrases on a new string without picking, but even at a beginner level it's a great strength exercise for your fretting fingers.

Quick recap

• Hammer-ons: pick, then bring a finger down quickly right behind the fret.
• Pull-offs: have the lower note ready, then flick the upper finger off downward.
• Aim for even volume between picked and legato notes.
• Use them in chords as well as solos: C, D and Am embellishments are a great start.

Spend a few minutes on these ideas every day for a month and legato will start to feel like a natural part of your playing rather than a special trick.

Next steps

Start with open-string hammer-ons and pull-offs today, then move to fretted notes. Within a couple of weeks, try adding the C and D chord embellishments to songs you already know. You'll be surprised how much more professional your rhythm playing sounds with this one small addition.

Fretwork's path takes you from your first scale to blues, rock and other styles, one manageable step at a time. The first two stages are free, no card required.

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