hammer-on
A guitar technique where a fretting-hand finger strikes the string onto the fretboard to sound a note without picking.
In Depth
Hammer-ons produce a smooth, ascending slur between notes. The player picks the first note, then forcefully drops another finger onto a higher fret, causing the string to vibrate at the new pitch. Hammer-ons are fundamental to legato playing, tapping, and fast scalar passages. Combined with pull-offs, they enable fluid lines that would be impossible to pick at speed. Strength and accuracy in the fretting hand are essential for clean hammer-ons.
Classical guitarists have used hammer-ons (called ascending slurs) for centuries, but rock guitarists dramatically expanded the technique by using heavier strings and higher gain.