3 Shape Pattern Of Hammer-On Technique

The following exercises are designed to be played firstly at a slow speed so you can evenly sound out the notes. Only when you are comfortable with it should you increase the speed. This 3 shape pattern will let you appreciate the power of the 'rolling hammer-on' or 'double hammer-on'. I am writing this presuming that you people already know what a hammer-on is. Please refer to hammer-ons in the main lessons section if you are unsure.

We will start with the first of the 3 shapes, this shape being the 2, 3, 5 (2nd fret, 3rd fret, 5th fret). The 2nd fret is picked. The 3rd fret is a hammer-on, as is the 5th fret. I have included the left hand fingering underneath.

The First Shape

2, 3, 5.

Fig.1
|-------------------------------2h3h5--|E
|-------------------------2h3h5--------|B
|-------------------2h3h5--------------|G
|-------------2h3h5--------------------|D
|-------2h3h5--------------------------|A
|-2h3h5--------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

For anyone who doesnt't understand the meaning of 'left hand fingering' -- follow the numbers running underneath the tab. 1=1st finger, 2=2nd, etc.

Like the other 2 main shapes to come, you can run up and down the fretboard with this basic shape, wherever you want. Try playing just 2 or maybe 3 strings with this shape: eg. Using only the D and G strings, play the first shape of 2, 3, 5 on the D string, then the same shape on the G string straight after, then back to the D string. Play in a loop like this:

Fig.2
|------------------------------------------|E
|------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------2h3h5-------2h3h5------|G
|-2h3h5-------2h3h5-------2h3h5------------|D
|------------------------------------------|A
|------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

Now try adding something new to this 'rolling' pattern. Try ascending the 2, 3, 5 shape one fret at a time after you've played both the D string and the G string. It can go as high as you like up the strings, like this:

Fig.3
|-------------------------------------------|E
|-------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h4h6-------4h5h7-------|G
|-2h3h5-------3h4h6-------4h5h7-------------|D
|-------------------------------------------|A
|-------------------------------------------|E

Please note that the same 'shape' as the 2, 3, 5 is applicable, with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers.

The Second Shape

3, 5, 7.

This is a very similar pattern as in Fig.1, only this time we've spread out the 1st and 2nd fingers that were forming the 2nd fret and the 3rd fret.

Fig.4
|-------------------------------3h5h7-------|E
|-------------------------3h5h7-------------|B
|-------------------3h5h7-------------------|G
|-------------3h5h7-------------------------|D
|-------3h5h7-------------------------------|A
|-3h5h7-------------------------------------|E

And same as before, you can play this shape over just 2 or 3 strings, like in Fig.2. You can also take this shape one fret higher each time like in Fig.3.

The Third Shape

5, 7, 8.

This shape is just a mirror image of our first shape, the 2, 3, 5.

Fig.5
|-------------------------------5h7h8------------|E
|-------------------------5h7h8------------------|B
|-------------------5h7h8------------------------|G
|-------------5h7h8------------------------------|D
|-------5h7h8------------------------------------|A
|-5h7h8------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Note that some players may like to use a different method of fingering for this shape and introduce their 3rd finger onto to 7th fret and the 4th finger onto the 8th fret, and it doesn't really matter as long as the notes are there. Although the existing fingering is merely a recommendation, keep in mind that everyone will find one of the suggested ways more comfortable than the other. Also, as you take this shape higher one fret at a time like the previous shapes (Fig.3), you'll find your shape shrinking, that's why I allow for the fingering pattern of 1, 2, 3. To save space when we start running out the higher we go.

Now, all that's left to do is split up the shapes into their appropriate order. Fig.1/Fig.4/Fig.5 is displayed (ascending) over the D string and G string below:

Fig.6
|-------------------------------------------|E
|-------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------|G
|-2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------------|D
|-------------------------------------------|A
|-------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 3 1 2 3

The above exercise shows how use of the 3 specific shapes can be seamlessly carrying on from the one before. As you can see, each shape is played twice; once on the D string, and once on the G string. Using your own creative playing styles, try making up your own patterns like this. Now for one last exercise to really open up the possibilities for shredding/left hand speed. We can use one or all of the above shapes as shown in Fig.7. to introduce the inbred half-cousin of the hammer-on, the pull-off. Knowing that Pull-offs are like the exact opposite of a hammer-on, try combining the two techniques of hammer-ons and pull-offs into a loop:

Fig.7
|-----------------------------------------------|E
|-----------------------------------------------|B
|--------7h8h10p8p7-------------7h8h10p8p7--etc-|G
|-7h8h10------------10p8p7h8h10-----------------|D
|-----------------------------------------------|A
|-----------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 1 4 2 1 2 4 1 2 4

The above exercise shows how use of the 3 specific shapes can be seamlessly carried on from the one before. it's quite good because it allows your right hand freedom. We only have to pick a total of 4 times in Fig.7. But get a total of 18 notes out of it! For a real challenge, try picking every note. Fig.7 is exactly the same shape as in Fig.1 - except it starts on the 7th fret instead of the 2nd. You can follow on in this way, creeping your way higher and higher each time. Try playing the 3 shapes in order like in Fig.6 but this time add the first shape again from your 7th fret, to start the 3 shape cycle all over again, like this:

Fig.8
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|E
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8--------7h8h10---------8h10h12--|G
|-2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------7h8h10--------8h10h12----------|D
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|A
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

If you feel like doing something different or you just want to get your pull-offs better, try going backwards. You can turn Fig.8 into a mirror image and play from high all the way back, using pull-offs instead of hammer-ons. Again, for a challenge try picking every note and see how fast you can get it.

There's so much you can do with these 3 simple shapes, the list could go on. I hope this gives you something new and unusual to play with and has helped you to advance your playing style and/or helped you to become a more well-rounded guitarist. As we all know, you can never have too much information regarding various techniques.

Comments

[InTheFlesh!]

Good article, not many people go in-depth on this subject!

[AmyRayFan]

inthe flesh is right...this is really good but many who play usually pick this up on their own like me...

[fingersofflame]

Dude I like this lesson a lot, I've picked this up already, but it really a good lesson; The thing is for me it was almost something that I did subconsciously, but after reading this I realized that this shit is great ^_^ Nice job dude

[sTx]

Very, very helpful.

[Bongofdestiny]

good stuff

[warlock hero]

off the hook

[burning_snowman]

Nice article. Having the shapes bases on scales would have killed two birds (this technique and memorizing scales shapes.) with one stone; It still got the ideas across, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

[Jastul]

good article, these excercises are really pretty damn good since they're easy, not too boring (like most excercises) and pretty useful, thanks for this one

[crimsonking82]

great way to warm up your fretting hand!

i use this exercise all the time.

[tennisace]

Very good lesson. I used hammer ons, but this helped a lot anyways.

[mattattak28]

Using these exercises will improve even the best guitarist's technique. It allows one to finely tune each and every tone as well as become comfortable in all areas of the fretboard. Thanks for the lesson! I've played classical violin for 21 years and I still warm up with basic scales and exercises such as this.

[Ian_Hendrix]

man I thaught I had hammer ons down guess I didnt.
Nice work

[EntropyCorp.]

ive used these patterns 4 a while, it helps 2 play em in a familiar scale. Also, the next step is to role through 3-4 strings moving one note at a time. Ex G 532 32 D 5 53 and keep moving taking away the 1st note and adding the next play in sequences of 4

[EntropyCorp.]

sry (G) 532 (D) 5 (G) 32 (D) 53 (G) 2 (D) 532 (D) 532 (A) 5 and so on (string)

[Alex Growllin]

good job it helped me a lot

[claudman]

this is the first time in a long time that my my left hand started to hurt after doing a lesson. good job

[giveusascream]

sweet lesson dude, can u show us how to apply these into a song/solo

[TheSixthWheel]

Thanks guys, genuine questions will get a reply at [e-mail] (sorry I'm short on time to come on UG very often, hence this being my first lesson)
giveusascream: Please note this is only an exercise for your left hand, and is NOT specifically designed for direct input into songs/solos in its raw format. Its just displayed like this to start giving you ideas. I can't take all the fun out of it for you!However, there's nothing stopping you from taking this (basic) idea or any other and changing it to suit your needs. Good luck though and thanks.

[Key Master]

great

[Evilell]

yeh thats a nice lil exercise man, helped me out. sweet

[If I Was Amish]

I pick more than hammer...but okay..

[mgdmk]

One of the best in a long time

[chocobo rally]

decent although basic not such a great warm up you guys should try petruccis rock discipline

[ZebraAlb]

Thanks TSW - I will add this exercise to the my ever growing list. P

[rocker_dude_sil]

not bad helps a bit when u need to practice bu basic

[skankinallthewa]

Hey Brilliant Lesson, its like the CAGED idea for legato style, but i think you missed out the fingerings for left hand in FIG 4, but apart from that nice one!, thats help me make a new warm up method

[poisonzombie]

I definitely need to start doing this sort of practise. Thanks for this awesome lesson. I shall add it to my list

[_RoMa_]

NICE.... simply nice & helpful!

[_deeperthewound]

Very helpful, thanks. Helped me out a lot already.

[Zlatorok7]

decent although basic not such a great warm up you guys should try petruccis rock discipline

[kaalplaysguitar]

yeah dude great warm up simple and good for all levels

[Semisane]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Greatl appreciated. Try doing hammer down and pull offs up. For example: E:2h3h5 A2h3h5...e2h3h5 then e5p3p2 B5p3p2... E5p3p2. Adds nice touch I think.

[Shadows_Fall#1]

[b]Now i can prove to my gf i can play fast(er)!lol
UG i ow it to you. cheers!

[Jim de Mighty]

Isn't that why all of us learned guitar - to impress chicks? lol jokes but you gotta admit it did occur to you.

[♣LakeBodom♣]

Well done! Good way to apply the subject

[gnarrock666]

i nvr really thought abouhelpt the different combination hammer on u could do like the 4 note per string it really

[gnarrock666]

gnarrock666 wrote:

i nvr really thought about the different combination hammer on u could do like the 4 note per string it really helped

[sueycide]

This reminded me of Roadhouse Blues. It's good. 10*

[Wilomentena]

thats sweet, really great exercises

[meilin]

yea thanks for the lesson

[Ash on fires]

This would have been nice about year ago...very good.

[mcrguitarhero]

very great excersize. really easy to understand. thanx a lot!

[brush200400]

this is excellent for getting pulloffs stronger, I can do hammerons fine

[jasonho1987]

pull-offs ae always harder arent they, lol. good exercises, didn't improve my playing all that much but they keep you in shape.

[Snuggler]

WOW this is really good, this has really helped me gain hammer-on speed and agility. Thumbs up!

[naitrose07]

That was very good. Well explained and good examples. The only thing I think I would have added was maybe one or 2 examples of some well known riffs that employee these techniques, i.e. a Zakk Wylde or Dimebag lick or something even simpler. But still this was a solid article and has kinda led me back to some of the basics. Good on ya Mate!

[cyrus_101]

good lesson bro... many ppl pick this up on their own (as noted above by many)... but its good to let them know their not just messin around and playin sumthing that doesnt exist... lol Keep it up man...

[Metal101]

Quite good. I liked it. I thought I had hammer ons down pat.... but I guess I just have to practice more!

[pprch93]

its really good for practice, i like a lot this article.Nice job!!!

[Metallica_Man55]

yeah this one is good for people just learning somewhat fast stuff and have yet to master hammer-ons. i'm already a somewhat experienced guitar player, but even the pros need to practice the basics sometimes. good job, man.

[isolational]

I like it

[Sixx_shredder]

giveusascream wrote:

sweet lesson dude, can u show us how to apply these into a song/solo

All you have to do is run through modes. Minor to Phrygian etc... only some sound good though, I like that one, and minor throught major... I not gonna explain this here, but I have a lesson waiting on approval on modes

[tyrons]

wow so cool... thx for the lesson

[ShreddingBlood]

this was a very useful lesson, i did do this subconsiously, but now i fine tuned it and it made me much better.
Great job man, very good lesson.

[kristoffer.dau]

cool man!

[Radicall]

Simple, effective and great to use in a daily practice scedule. Thanks for this!

Checked.

[rokstar666]

its been said already but these are very good for warming up AND increases frethand speed. good lesson bro 9/10

[J-E-N-O-V-A]

I think it's a cool lessons, thank you very much
Keep up the good work!

[colrock]

Good Job, this helped me allot!
I Appreciate.
Jose Rico
colrock.com

[colrock]

Thanks!
great job, I'm not a beginner, but this helped me a lot!
I Appreciated!
Rico

[homydevil]

great lesson!!!!!

[JacobCork]

The only thing that would have made it better (helped me more) is putting in some stuff about the actual scales these patterns make up. But I like how you leave it up to the player to expand on these basic shapes. It leaves room for you to grow on your own. Great Job!

[BFMV fan]

i think this will help me so i can try the song "To end the rapture" from A7X, cuz they do this a lot and i get mad cuz i try to play along and im slower than SYNYSTER GATES

[Wisdom_of_a_man]

Great read man! It really did help me build up some dexterity. A lot better than what I was doing before.

[art_of_shred]

Great Lesson, nice to see an in depth lesson like this one. i think its important to mention the importance of starting to learn this technique playing the exercise slowly, this will allow the left hand to train in playing each note fully, so when the tempo is increased the notes will sound fuller lacking any mistakes and increasing the impact that the technique will have.

[art_of_shred]

great lesson. i think its worth embelishing how important it is to practice this technique at a slow tempo. that way the fretting hand has time to train on playing the notes correctly, then when the tempo is incresed there will be no sloppiness, only accuracy with no mistakes or dud notes. players often try to practice and progress too quickly. so turn off the distortion and try it at full speed. a clean sounding guitar wont cover the mistakes like the distortion will. Great lesson.

[NYMTDrebel]

Great lesson. art of shred, you think too much haha:-D It's all about how the band presents each riff, not the technique used.

[HOOKZ19]

Nice Dude n a great lessons too..i'm gonna practise them everyday...thanx once again

[DDOG1230]

thanks man, people say im stupid and dont know what the f*** im doin when i do these but you showed me theyre wrong and im right

thanks

Checked.

[BennyStruggle]

yeah its an excellent warm up / dexterity lesson for anyone really, I guess more beginner/intermediate than expert but still really good in my opinion. thanks bro, i knew this subconsciously but its funny how you lose attention so quickly when ur stoned lol. peace

[majikmik]

that gets the fingers moving dude cheers i can fit this style in with some of my songs and really liven them up

[tacoma12]

great lesson! i think one thing needs to be emphasized here. a lot of players claim to have hammer-ons and pull-offs down like a pro. but it's important to listen to how loud the notes are, primarily by listening to your own recordings. consistent volume between the pick and hammer/pull is tricky, and different pressure is required up and down the fretboard/different strings to get that. great exercises!

[rockerboy40]

Very good lesson thanks man.

[warlighter]

thanks fo everything,it really helped

[Blue Blur]

Great! I've already knew this, but this kind of stuff is what I base most of my origional work from. I'm glad you made this for others to understand.

[t0ker420]

Just when i couldnt find anything to learn that wasent above or under my playing level and i was going stale i found this. Awesome lesson thanks for rekindling my passion to learn guitar!

[Dn'S8]

thanx..I can see this helpin alot!!

[davedt]

Good lesson, I include some of this in my warm-ups. I move up one fret and one string after each set and then back down. I'd like to see you include a lesson on left and right hand combo hammer-ons as well.

Well done...

[mrpotter]

even though it was an easy subj. you thoroly covered it. nice job i gave 10 to ya

[evan847]

nice man

[DustyBannister]

It's an easy subject, but you did a great job on it. Though I think a lot of metal heads just pick up the pattern pretty easily, but for those who don't or are beginners this is a great start. I like how you were thorough but it didn't sound like text book gah gah.

[rocktag]

nice dude
i mean I know it but a good lil workout and lesson

[Ryancaster]

Thats a good lesson man, great pracice

[SmokinGoodfella]

that god dam 3h5h7 is ****in hard

[Dark Wind]

Great Work man. Im an amatuer and this really helped me with my hammer ons. Gave you a 10.

[justinb904]

this is good stuff, form beginner to expert these things are good to practice

[ug_fan]

i like how easy it was taught. COOL!!!

[jcj]

very good lesson

[Samothomas]

Very good. I'm doing this 15 minutes twice a day. It really helps.

[asfastasdark]

I could already do hammer-ons but I'm definitely recommending this to my friend who can't.

[acoustix70]

Nice lesson..

[metallica-arron]

fantastic lesson thanks

[amp920]

Thanks. I'll use this... I was having trouble trouble in some of the hammer-ons in Pushed Again (Die Toten Hosen)