The Hammer on

Lesson 7/91 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Bass Guitar Method

The Hammer on

A "hammer on" refers to the technique of sounding a note without actually picking the string with the pick. The sound is produced by striking the string with one of the left hand fingers. In the following example, only the D note is picked, and the third finger "hammers on" firmly to produce the sound of the E note.

The hammer on effect is indicated by the curved line, the small "H" between the two notes in question. Remember that the second note (E), is not picked; the sound is produced entirely by the second finger "hammering on" to the string.

You must be very careful with the timing of the hammer on. Both the D and E notes are eighth notes and each should have an equal time value when played (regardless of the hammer on technique).

Play riff 22 using hammer ons as indicated.

To create a different feel with the hammer on it can be played faster. Compare the following:

Slow Hammer On

Quick Hammer On

In this example the E note is played immediately after the D note.

If the quick hammer on is applied to the first two beats of riff 22 it is written as such:

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Gary Turner and Brenton White

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1- Minor Chord Riffs 2- Notes on the Fretboard 3- SECTION TWO 4- The 12 Bar Blues Progression 5- Alternate Picking 6- 12 Bar in A 7- Riff No. 8 8- INTRODUCTION 9- Rhythm Variations 10- Turnaround Pattern Two 11- Passing Notes 12- The Slide 13- SECTION THREE 14- Creating A Bass Line 15- Minor Chord Construction 16- Major 7th*, Minor 7th and Ninth Chord Construction 17- Augmented Chord Construction 18- Comparison of Styles 19- SECTION ONE 20- Notes on the First String 21- 12 Bar Blues 22- The Half Note 23- Fretboard Diagram 24- Turnaround Progression No. 2 25- The Major Scale 26- Riff No. 5 27- Sharps and Flats 28- Shuffle Rhythm 29- Examples on the First and Second Strings 30- Octaves 31- Tuning Your Bass 32- Walking Bass 33- Staccato 34- Riff No. 9 35- Turnaround Progression No. 1 36- Open String Notes 37- Timing Combinations 38- Sixth Chord Construction 39- C Major Scale 40- Chord Construction - Major Chords 41- Riff No. 2 42- 12 Bar Blues Riff No. 1 43- Notes on the 4th and 5th Frets 44- Minor Chord Arpeggio 45- Suspended Chord Construction 46- Extra Progressions 47- Eighth Notes 48- Arpeggio Patterns 49- Walking Bass Examples 50- Major Chord Arpeggio 51- Syncopation 52- 8 Bar Minor Blues 53- Diminished Chord Construction 54- Notation 55- A Major Scale 56- 8 Bar Blues 57- 12 Bar in C 58- Riff Variations 59- Transposing 60- The Tie 61- Turnaround Pattern One 62- Open String Notes 63- 12 Bar Blues Pattern Two 64- Riffs 65- The Minor Pentatonic Scale 66- E Flat Major Scale 67- Music Notation 68- 7th Chord Construction 69- Blues in G 70- Section Two Summary 71- 12 Bar Blues Pattern Three 72- Rock Progression 73- Eighth Note Rest 74- Syncopation Examples 75- Jazz Turnaround 76- 12 Bar Blues Pattern One 77- Syncopated Rhythm Styles 78- The Bass Guitar 79- Triplet Timing 80- Minor Pentatonic Triplets 81- 7th Chord Arpeggio 82- Higher Position Examples 83- The Hammer on 84- Minor Pentatonic Scale Over the Entire Fretboard 85- 12 Bar in A 86- The I -V Formula 87- Triplet Riff 88- Note Reading Examples 89- Riff/Scale Relationships 90- Triplet Blues Riff 91- Section One Summary

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The Hammer on

The Hammer on

Slow Hammer On

Quick Hammer On

Gary Turner and Brenton White

Class Sessions

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