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Guitar Techniques 101: The Basics

In order to add some style to your guitar playing; there are a number of techniques for you to learn. Now, there are a number of advanced techniques, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll just stick to the basics and cover the techniques that are easiest for beginners to pick up and learn quickly.

The Hammer-On and Pull-Off

These are probably the first techniques that beginners learn, and they go hand in hand with each other. They are also known as slurs and help to create a smoother sound between different notes. Think about a violin playing a group of notes with only one strike of the bow.

In order to perform a hammer-on, you need to use two different notes. Pluck the first note, and then use another finger to slam or “hammer” a higher fret on the same string. A pull-off is performed in the opposite way. Fret two notes on the same string, for example the 5^th and 7^th fret. Play the note at the 7^th fret and then “pull off” the finger that frets that note in order to hear the note you’re fretting two frets below.

Remember, your playing hand only plucks the string once. With guitar tablature, hammer-ons and pull-offs are shown using the symbols of “h” and “p”. If you don’t understand the tablature below, read our “How to Read Guitar Tabs” guide.

e|---------|
B|---------|
G|---------|
D|---------|
A|-5h7—7p5-|
E|---------|

Bends & Slides

These are probably the easiest techniques for beginners to learn. In order to perform a bend simply play a note and using the finger that frets that note to “bend” the string to the left or right. This technique works best around the 12^th fret (indicated on most guitars by two dots on the neck) as the strings move slightly easier there.

A slide is performed by selecting two notes; for example the 2^nd and 7^th frets on the A string. To perform the slide, simply play the note at the 2^nd fret, and, while still holding your finger down on the string; slide it all the way up to the 7^th fret. Remember, you only have to play the note once. The sliding finger will do the rest. Obviously the slide can be performed both ways.

Here is what a bend and a slide look like when tabbed out. The “/” and “\” symbols are often used indicate the direction of the slide. In this case, up and down.

e|-------------|
B|-------------|
G|-------------|
D|-------------|
A|-12b—2/7-7\2-|
E|-------------|