Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Hammer on and pull off
- Thread starter mok
- Start date
here are some ideas
-hammer on harder (like you're tapping it)
-flick the string sort of when you pull off (rather than just lifting your finger off)
-Turn up the gain or add overdrive for more sustain
-Start out in the middle of the neck (5th -10th fret zone) since string tension is lowest over there.
-If these don't help, it could be because your set up is lousy. Have a professional technician fix it up.
Hope this helps
-hammer on harder (like you're tapping it)
-flick the string sort of when you pull off (rather than just lifting your finger off)
-Turn up the gain or add overdrive for more sustain
-Start out in the middle of the neck (5th -10th fret zone) since string tension is lowest over there.
-If these don't help, it could be because your set up is lousy. Have a professional technician fix it up.
Hope this helps
Try not to use it all the time once you learn it. Its all I do. I can't help it! It's like I'm cursed. I cannot for the life of me pluck 5 to 7 on E then 5 to 7 on A without hammering. I'm not sure if I'm plucking too slow or what.
Keep this in the far back of your mind until you get a new amp or an OD pedal.Try learning Ho/Po on the guitar first. Thinner strings makes it easier. and once you are great at hammering on the guitar, try the bass. Be quick about things though.
Put your right hand in your pocket (seriously) and perform a continuous series of hammer-ons/pull-offs with your left hand. This is called a "trill" and will build your left-hand technique in a hurry.
If you have a teacher (highly recommended) then work on this in your lessons. Strangers on the internet can't hear and see you playing to tell you what you're doing right/wrong.
If you have a teacher (highly recommended) then work on this in your lessons. Strangers on the internet can't hear and see you playing to tell you what you're doing right/wrong.
I'll ask another question if you guys don't mind, I'm practicing a song right now with parts where I need to do a slide (I tried skipping on the sliding parts at first but the it sounded bad without the slides) - but whenever I do it the strings silences... Do I need to press lighter on the strings or did I miss something?
Thanks again for all of your inputs it was very helpful
Thanks again for all of your inputs it was very helpful
Try holding the string harder on the slide. If the note is being deadened, you might not be pushing the string hard enough.
Again, put your right hand in your pocket and practice audibly sliding up and down a string with the left hand. Try on all four strings. If you can't get the initial note to sound with just a slide, hammer that first note then slide.
Out of curiosity what song/piece are you learning with the slides?
Again, put your right hand in your pocket and practice audibly sliding up and down a string with the left hand. Try on all four strings. If you can't get the initial note to sound with just a slide, hammer that first note then slide.
Out of curiosity what song/piece are you learning with the slides?
I had a listen to the song on YouTube. Cool song. You will get a lot out of learning to play that song!
You do want to dig in a bit to ensure enough pressure on the neck while sliding to make the notes ring clear, especially when sliding that high on the neck.
And here's a video of me sliding on the intro of a song...for no reason except to perhaps remove any credibility I may have earned on TB
http://www.youtube.com/user/xOndrayusx?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/USPWm5--uxM
You do want to dig in a bit to ensure enough pressure on the neck while sliding to make the notes ring clear, especially when sliding that high on the neck.
And here's a video of me sliding on the intro of a song...for no reason except to perhaps remove any credibility I may have earned on TB
http://www.youtube.com/user/xOndrayusx?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/USPWm5--uxM
The lighter the strings, the cleaner and easier hammer on / pull offs and tapping will be.
35-90's or something along those lines...
35-90's or something along those lines...
I wouldn't stress too much about it, it's one of those things that will improve with practice, just keep trying it and don't give up. A lot of it has to do with finger strength and proper positioning of your fingertips just behind the fret.
Start slow!
As with all techniques, hammer-ons/ pull offs and slides benefit from begin practiced slowly.. You want your muscles/brain to get used to the correct motion first, then slowly work the technique up to speed. Trying to play at speed right off the bat can lead to sloppy technique habits, with compromises made just to get the notes out fast enough. Establish control first, speed after.
As with all techniques, hammer-ons/ pull offs and slides benefit from begin practiced slowly.. You want your muscles/brain to get used to the correct motion first, then slowly work the technique up to speed. Trying to play at speed right off the bat can lead to sloppy technique habits, with compromises made just to get the notes out fast enough. Establish control first, speed after.
Thanks for your ideas! I practiced doing the slide a few days ago and got some of the technique although it's a bit slow. XD
But whenever I do the slide correctly though, the string vibrates loudly whenever I pass through each fret - is that normal or I'm just doing it wrong?
But whenever I do the slide correctly though, the string vibrates loudly whenever I pass through each fret - is that normal or I'm just doing it wrong?
The vibration increases a little as the string length between finger and fret gets shorter. It's normal, inaudible when playing in a band mix, and you'll get used to it in time.
If its excessively loud, you may need to have the setup of the bass checked. The action may be too high (i.e the strings are too far from the fretboard) or too low (strings too close, perhaps even touching frets at some points of the neck).
But a little 'zing' during slides is normal, especially big/strong slides that require pressure to maintain volume.
Hope that helps.
If its excessively loud, you may need to have the setup of the bass checked. The action may be too high (i.e the strings are too far from the fretboard) or too low (strings too close, perhaps even touching frets at some points of the neck).
But a little 'zing' during slides is normal, especially big/strong slides that require pressure to maintain volume.
Hope that helps.
