Lesson 22 / 30 8 min
Bends, slides, hammer-ons and vibrato
The expressive techniques that make a solo sing.
Lead guitar isn't just about which notes you play — it's about how you play them. These techniques make the guitar sing, cry and scream.
Hammer-on (h)
Pick a note, then slam another finger down on a higher fret of the same string without picking again. The second note sounds from the force of the "hammer".
e|-----------------------|B|-----------------------|G|-5h7---5h7---5h7-------|D|-----------------------|
Pull-off (p)
The opposite: with two fingers down, pick the higher note, then pull the finger off slightly sideways, "plucking" the string so the lower note sounds.
e|-8p5---8p5---8p5-------|B|-----------------------|
Hammer-ons and pull-offs together are called legato: smooth, flowing lines with few picked notes.
G|-5h7p5h7p5h7p5h7p5-----|
Slides (/ and )
Pick a note and slide the same finger to another fret, keeping pressure so the note keeps sounding. Slides connect positions and add a vocal quality.
B|-5/8---8\5---10/12-----|
Bends (b)
Bending is the most expressive technique in rock. Push (or pull) the string across the fretboard to raise its pitch.
- Half-step bend (½): raise the pitch by one fret.
- Whole-step bend (full): raise it by two frets. This is the most common.
- Release (r): bring the bent string back to its normal pitch.
G|-9---7b9---7b9r7-------|
Play the target note first (fret 9) to know where you're going, then bend fret 7 up until it matches.
Bend with three fingers
Support the bending finger with the fingers behind it (e.g. ring finger bends, middle and index help). Hook your thumb over the neck for leverage and rotate your wrist — like turning a doorknob — instead of pushing with one finger.
Bend in tune
An out-of-tune bend is one of the most obvious mistakes in a solo. Always check your bends against the target note.
Vibrato (~)
Vibrato is a small, repeated bend-and-release that makes a held note shimmer. It's like a singer's voice — and it's what gives each guitarist a personal sound. Use your wrist, not your finger, and keep it steady and in rhythm.
B|-10~~~~~~-----8~~~~~~--|
Putting it together
A pentatonic lick in A using all the techniques:
e|-----------------5-8b10r8-5-----------|B|-----------5-8-------------8-5--------|G|-----5h7-------------------------7~~~-|D|-5h7----------------------------------|
Our playback approximates techniques by playing the notes involved. To really learn the feel, listen to your favorite guitarists and imitate the details: how fast they bend, how wide their vibrato is, where they slide from.