Hammer-on and pull-off
Ex. #1

Here is a series of very interesting exercises to play using ligatures. We will begin working on the coordination needed to play a continuous series of hammer-on's and pull-off's. Pay attention to the use of the left hand, where you will use only the index and ring fingers on the fifth fret. Play this very slowly.

Ex. #2

Ex. #3

The following exercises are set up using a technical learning system similar to that used in the section regarding the development of alternate picking. In fact we need to use the finger for every fret technique, playing groups of four notes on each string from a single position. Position the left hand in the first position so that the index finger plays on the first fret, the middle finger on the second, the ring finger the third and the little finger on the fourth fret. Play the first four notes on the first string, picking the F in hammer-on to F# and the G to G#.
The same thing must be done on the other strings, one by one up to the sixth string, then move to the second position with the same type of execution as the first string. Once you have reached the first string, move up one position and then down again, performing a position change until you have reached the sixth. Play up to the highest part of the fretboard.

The following four exercises must be performed using the system seen above. Therefore memorize the pattern of four notes on the first string, then play them on other strings and in other positions. In the stave you will find exercises written only for the first two strings, but as mentioned, you should perform them on all strings. Pay attention to the coordination of the hands when using ligatures, initially playing every exercise very slowly, then with the aid of the metronome.

Up to this point, we have only used ligatures in beat, therefore on the notes that fall on the strong time and accented by the movement. We need to see what happens if the ligature is done on weak time. The note that will give the attack to the hammer-on or pull-off is played with the pick up. Below are two exercises that can help you get familiar with this technique. As before, play all the strings moving your position.

Ex. #8

Ex. #9

Ex. #10

In this exercise, to transpose on all the strings, the left hand plays a continuous series of alternate hammer-on's and pull-off's. Try to maintain a constant volume in the notes obtained from ligatures: to do this it is necessary to press hard during the hammer-on and pull-off.

Getting to this point you should now have good technique and control as well as good right-left hand coordination for the use of ligatures. Study this page, because it is very useful and interesting for the development of the exercises that we will see in the next page, which are technically difficult exercises that require a good base before you can perform them.