Guitar technique · Fingerings
Hammer-on vs pull-off: why one of the two is almost always weaker
In short
The hammer-on and the pull-off are opposite motions: one strikes the string, the other plucks it. They’re very rarely at the same level. To find out which one holds you back, play the same fingerings as hammer-ons only, then as pull-offs only, and compare the tempos. Most often the pull-off falls behind, because the finger lifts off instead of pulling the string.
We talk about legato as a single technique. In reality it alternates two motions that have almost nothing in common. A guitarist can have fast, powerful hammer-ons and limp pull-offs that drop the volume on every descent. As long as you practice them together, you can’t see which one is dragging the other down.
Two very different motions
A hammer-on is a strike: the finger lands on the string just behind the fret, fast enough to make it sound without the pick. Its quality depends on the accuracy of the landing point and the speed of the fall, not on how high you lift the finger.
A pull-off is a pluck: the finger leaving the string pulls it slightly sideways before releasing it, like a small flick, to set it vibrating on the lower note. It requires the target note to be already held by another finger.
Why the pull-off often falls behind
The most common mistake is lifting the finger instead of pulling the string. The next note then sounds weak, or not at all, and the guitarist compensates by slowing down or picking it.
A pull-off also needs the finger holding the target note to press firmly, or the string gets pulled out of the fret. So it’s a two-finger motion, where one pulls while the other holds.
And when the hammer-on is the problem
Less common, but it happens: the finger lands too far from the fret, too slowly, or lifts very high before falling. The hammer-on’s volume is then weak and uneven. Often the finger looks for power in height, when it actually comes from speed over a short distance.
How to tell which one holds you back
Play the same fingering as hammer-ons only (ascending), then as pull-offs only (descending), with a metronome, and note each one’s clean tempo. Repeat with several finger pairs: if one motion is consistently slower whatever the fingering, that’s your weak spot. The RIFFLEX report answers it as “Which technical motion costs you the most BPM?”.
Your average tempo motion by motion: pull-off, trill, hammer-on, and both chained. The gap between them shows which one holds you back.
Targeted exercises
- Pull-off: play the descent alone, slowly, exaggerating the small sideways motion that plucks the string. Listen to the target note’s volume: it should match the picked note.
- Hammer-on: strike from a low height, aiming for speed and accuracy behind the fret, not force.
- Even volume: alternate picked notes and legato notes, until your ear can’t tell them apart.
- Raise the tempo in small steps, only while the weak motion stays clean.
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t my pull-offs sound?
Most often the finger lifts off instead of pulling the string slightly sideways. The finger holding the target note also needs to press firmly.
Should I lift my fingers high for a powerful hammer-on?
No. Power comes from a fast strike over a short distance and from landing right behind the fret. Lifting your fingers high slows your playing down.
Should hammer-ons and pull-offs be practiced separately?
For diagnosis, yes: it’s the only way to see which one holds the other back. Then you put them back together in trills and full patterns.