Exercises for Hammer Ons and Pull Offs

The following are some exercises to strengthen and develop hammer ons and pull offs. Take them slow and work on them. Try to make each hammer on and each pull off the same volume. Most beginners find there hammer ons are louder then there pull offs but these exercises should help correct that. Remember to use proper technique for pull offs. Just lifting your finger off the string is not enough, you need to pull your finger off. Read Part I to review this technique.

The first exercise is to develop hammer ons. Working 4 neighboring frets on each string gradually working your way up the neck of the guitar.

The second exercise is to develop pull offs. Once again working 4 neighboring frets on each string gradually working your way up the neck of the guitar.

The third exercise now uses both hammer ons and pull offs, continuing working 4 neighboring frets on each string gradually working your way up the neck of the guitar.

It is these type of exercises that will develop your hammer on and pull off technique. Obviously these are not the only exercises available. You can try playing these backwards, start at the top of the neck, whatever you want. Even develop your own exercises, anything like the ones above will be strengthen your technique.