Left Hand Technique

Lesson 2/62 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Rock Guitar

Left Hand Technique

Although it is possible to make a good sound picking every note, it is more common to use a variety of left hand techniques to add expression to some of the notes. These techniques are essential in all styles of guitar playing and should definitely be mastered. Be sure to play right on the tips of the fingers when practicing these techniques.

The Hammer-on

The hammer-on is executed by picking a note and then hammering a left hand finger onto the string. The hammer-on is indicated by a curved line and the letter "H".

Begin by playing the note on the 5th fret, fourth string.

Hammer third finger onto 7th fret of fourth string.

Here is an exercise to help you develop the use of hammer-ons.

The Pull-off

The pull-off is executed by playing a note and then pulling the left hand finger off the string towards the floor. This causes a new note to sound. The pull-off is indicated by a curved line and the symbol "P".

Begin by playing the note on the 7th fret, fourth string.

Pull third finger away to produce note at 5th fret.

Here is an exercise for developing control of pull-offs.

The following lick makes use of both hammer-ons and pull-offs. The term "lick" means a short musical phrase. Licks are very common in lead guitar playing.

The following example consists of several licks joined together to form a solo. Notice the extensive use of hammer-ons and pull-offs. This solo is played over a chord progression in the key of A minor.

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1- Syncopation 2- Playing Two Strings Together 3- Chords 4- Rests 5- Minor Chords 6- Arpeggios 7- Learning All the Notes 8- Using An Electronic Tuner 9- The Release Bend 10- Vibrato 11- Bending Notes 12- The Half Bar 13- Using the Whole Fretboard 14- The Slide 15- The Minor Pentatonic Scale 16- Sixteenth Notes 17- The Triplet 18- Left Hand Technique 19- Moving to Different Keys 20- Moving Between Forms 21- How to Read Music 22- Notes on the Fourth String 23- The Eighth Note 24- Five Forms of the Pentatonic Scale 25- Notes on the First String 26- Scale Degrees 27- Electric Guitars 28- Pentatonic Blues Solo 29- The Symbols 8va and Loco 30- Notes on the Sixth String 31- Music Notation 32- Left Hand Technique 33- Analyzing What You Play 34- The Lead-in 35- Slight Bends 36- Notes on the Second String 37- Tones and Semitones 38- Identifying Scale Patterns 39- Slash Chords 40- Chord Shapes 41- Alternate Picking 42- Rhythm Notation 43- Notes on the Fifth String 44- Vibrato With Bent Notes 45- Power Chords 46- Sharps 47- Jam Along Progressions 48- Notes on the Guitar Fretboard 49- Riffs 50- Major Chord Formations 51- Movable Power Chords 52- Notes on the Sixth String 53- Notes on the Third String 54- Bar Lines 55- Electric Guitar Pickups 56- The Chromatic Scale 57- Chord Symbols 58- Amplifiers 59- Listening 60- Flats 61- Picking the Open Strings 62- Types of Amplifiers

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Left Hand Technique