pull offs

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pull offs

Posted by Ron-A on February 10, 2026 at 3:08 pm

OK TAC Family. Need some help. I’ve been at this for over a year. Today’s Head over Heals challenge is my 385th session. So why are pull offs so hard? There must be some simple technique I just don’t know about or I’m never going to get it. I do have stiffness in my finger joints, some days worse than others and calluses on my fingers. I’m even seeing improvement at hammer-ons. Just can’t get clean audible tones with pull offs, regardless of which finger I’m using. Thanks in advance.

Ron-A replied 1 month, 1 week ago 6 Members · 10 Replies
10 Replies

petelanger

Member
February 10, 2026 at 5:04 pm

To get a sound out of your pull off you have to give the string a little “pluck”. I slide my finger downwards (perpendicular to the string) while continuing to hold it against the fret and slide off flicking the string slightly. I don’t even have to use the strumming hand at all to get a sound out of the pull off.

Hoping this helps and it’s not something you’ve been told already.
- Ron-A
  
  Member
  February 11, 2026 at 7:12 am
  
  Thanks Pete. For some reason, because of my calluses, I have a hard time getting my finger to slide off the string. Also the next string rings when I hit it. I’ll keep working it.
  - gmhendersonme-com
    
    Member
    February 11, 2026 at 7:35 am
    
    I’m having the same problem with my callous, especially on my index finger. If I try to slide it off, the callous catches and plucks the string rather than giving it a little flick. Hopefully it’ll smooth out after a while.
  - petelanger
    
    Member
    February 11, 2026 at 2:57 pm
    
    Wow! It sounds like you’ve been doing a lot of playing to get such a callous build-up! I don’t ever get anything caught on mine. But I do wash dishes a lot, so that’s likely softening them constantly. I only rarely run my dishwasher, just seems to be more work than handwashing!
Loraine

Member
February 11, 2026 at 12:04 pm

For the calluses, I suggest two things. First soften up the calluses after a shower is a great example of when they would be softened or you can soak them in a small bowl of warm water with some dish, soap or some salt, or some what type of vegetable oil or any type of oil. Then, I would use either a nail file or a small piece of sandpaper and rub your finger against the grain. And then with the grain over the calluses don’t do it to wear it, please or causes pain, but do it enough. That it will wear down part of the callus that sticks up.

So the other question I have is, where are your calluses? Are they on the tips of your fingers? Or on your cushions of the fingers. Your calluses should only be on the tips of your fingers. If they’re on the cushions, then you’ll want to revisit proper placement of the tip of fingers for fretting.

So when you do a pull off it is a quick flick on the string. It is not necessarily where you’re holding down the string and then flicking. It is more quickly flicking downward.

I agree pull offs are more challenging than hammer ons. But it gets easier.
- DennisW
  
  Member
  February 11, 2026 at 3:39 pm
  
  Thanks for the suggestions. I thought I was the only one having pull-off interference from my callouses. Truth is, though, if it weren’t for the callouses I wouldn’t be getting any volume at all lol.
- gmhendersonme-com
  
  Member
  February 12, 2026 at 7:49 am
  
  My callouses are right on the finger tips…. seems the index finger is the worst. This is different than years ago when my callouses were more on the pads, but Tony’s instruction is really helping me refine my technique. ( it’s probably why I enjoy playing so much more now !) The only problems I have with pull off are on the B and high E strings, since they aren’t wound. I’m trying to to rotate that index finger a bit so it flicks as I pull off rather than catch the callous and “pluck”. The other problem is the shape of my finger tips…. the tip of my finger naturally is LOWER than the fingernail, so I have to be careful to keep the nails as short as possible, or I’ll catch that on the pull off / roll off.
- Ron-A
  
  Member
  February 12, 2026 at 8:55 am
  thanks. they are on the tips. I think my biggest problem is in the technique I’m using. will keep working on it. I will also work on soaking them
  - This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Ron-A.
jorgemac

Member
February 11, 2026 at 10:19 pm

I don’t know why but I have very small callus’s for all of the picking that I do daily. They are on the finger tips though. maybe it is because I tune down a half or whole note for most of my practice and playing. My natural singing keys are usually flat keys so it suites my strangled cat singing tone better.

If you do use a nail file or sandpaper be sure to put some disinfectant. on them just to be safe from infection.
- Ron-A
  
  Member
  February 12, 2026 at 8:58 am
  
  thanks

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