31. Guitar Techniques

Percussion

• The guitar can be used as a percussive instrument.
• Instead of plucking the strings, tap the body of the guitar to create a drum-like sound.
• Use your thumb to flick the low E string for a snare drum effect.

Hammer-On

• After a string has been plucked or is already ringing, press down firmly on a higher note with another finger. The sudden pressure will cause the new note to sound without needing to pluck the string again.
• Allows you to play notes quicker, making it useful for solos.
• You can hammer on multiple notes, but typically one or two at a time.

Pull-Off

• Pull off the string slightly when releasing your finger to produce a sound.
• Allows for additional notes without additional picking.
• Can be used in combination with hammer-ons on the same string.

Bending

• Use three fingers to bend a string to raise its pitch.
• The further you bend a string, the higher its pitch will become.
• You can bend the string by a half-step, whole-step, or even a step and a half (one, two, or three frets' worth of pitch).

Sliding

• Slide between notes using any finger for smooth transitions.
• There are different ways that you can slide; for example:
  • Immediate Slide (One Note) – Pluck a note and immediately slide to another note without pausing.
  • Delayed Slide (Two Notes) – Pluck a note, hold it for a beat, then slide to the next note on the next beat.

Vibrato