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Hammer ons
Is it common to not have enough vibration left in the string so much so that the hammer on is silent? It just seems that I am making the correct movements but no matter how quickly I drop my finger, there’s nothing left for the hammer on.
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7 Replies
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All of us have this problem when learning to hammer on and get a clean tone. The finger you are using to hammer on with needs to strike the new fret position at a 90 degree angle, the finger tip right below the finger nail should be firmly pressing the string down to the fret board and it is landing very close to the new fret. Not the middle of the fret. Practice on the open G, B or treble E. Pick the open string note and with your index finger press quickly and firmly down on the 2nd fret board. When that becomes comfortable Move the index finger to the 2nd fret of the G string and Pick and hammer on using the middle finer on the 4th fret of the G string. Practice that position until you are comfortable and achieving a clean tone. a lot of folk and country pickers hammer on the open D string to the 2nd fret E note when playing an C chord. If you learn to hammer on to that note while fingering a C chord you are well on the way to learning hammer on’s.
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Thanks, that was extremely helpful!
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Also make sure you maintain a good pressure on the fretted (initial) note until the hammer on is completed. If you release it, it will damp the sound.
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@barbandjim24gmail-com also, if you have worked a carpenter’s hammer you understand that tapping it is not very effective. You need to drive nails by hitting them with significant velocity. On the guitar you hammer-ons will ring much more fully if you come down quickly on the string. A soft tap will not produce any sound. @jorgemac did mention to press it quickly but I thought giving you the visual of literally hammering might hit on the nail for you.
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Thanks Ben64, good tip.
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Thanks Pete for the specifics.
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Thanks to everyone for their direction.
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