Hammer-on: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:G run in G.png|thumb|300px|[[G run]] in [[key (music)|G]] [[major and minor|major]] variation<ref name="Traum">Traum, Happy (1974). ''Bluegrass Guitar'', p.25. ISBN 0-8256-0153-3.</ref> {{audio|G run in G.mid|Play}} contains both hammer-ons and a pull-off.]] |
[[Image:G run in G.png|thumb|300px|[[G run]] in [[key (music)|G]] [[major and minor|major]] variation<ref name="Traum">Traum, Happy (1974). ''Bluegrass Guitar'', p.25. ISBN 0-8256-0153-3.</ref> {{audio|G run in G.mid|Play}} contains both hammer-ons and a pull-off.]] |
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'''Hammer-on''' is a playing technique performed on a [[stringed instrument]] (especially on [[fret]]ted string instruments such as [[guitar]]) by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the [[fingerboard]] behind a [[fret]], causing a [[note]] to sound. This technique is the opposite of the [[pull-off]]. Passages in which a large proportion of the notes are performed as hammer-ons and pull-offs instead of being [[pizzicato|plucked]] or [[plectrum|picked]] in the usual fashion are known in classical guitar terminology as ''[[legato]]'' [[phrase (music)|phrases]]. The sound is smoother and more connected than in a normally picked phrase, due to the absence of the |
'''Hammer-on''' is a playing technique performed on a [[stringed instrument]] (especially on [[fret]]ted string instruments such as [[guitar]]) by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the [[fingerboard]] behind a [[fret]], causing a [[note]] to sound. This technique is the opposite of the [[pull-off]]. Passages in which a large proportion of the notes are performed as hammer-ons and pull-offs instead of being [[pizzicato|plucked]] or [[plectrum|picked]] in the usual fashion are known in classical guitar terminology as ''[[legato]]'' [[phrase (music)|phrases]]. The sound is smoother and more connected than in a normally picked phrase, due to the absence of the necessity to synchronize the plucking of one hand with the fingering on the fingerboard with the other hand; however, the resulting sounds are not as brightly audible, precisely due to the absence of the plucking of the string, the vibration of the string from an earlier plucking dying off. The technique also facilitates very fast playing because the picking hand does not have to move at such a high rate, and coordination between the hands only has to be achieved at certain points. Multiple hammer-ons and pull-offs together are sometimes also referred to colloquially as "[[banjo roll|rolls]]",{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} a reference to the fluid sound of the technique. |
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A hammer-on is usually represented in guitar [[tablature]] (especially that created by computer) by a letter h. |
A hammer-on is usually represented in guitar [[tablature]] (especially that created by computer) by a letter h. |
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A rapid series of alternating hammer-ons and pull-offs between a single pair of notes is called a [[trill (music)|trill]]. |
A rapid series of alternating hammer-ons and pull-offs between a single pair of notes is called a [[trill (music)|trill]]. |
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Revision as of 05:07, 27 January 2013
Hammer-on is a playing technique performed on a stringed instrument (especially on fretted string instruments such as guitar) by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off. Passages in which a large proportion of the notes are performed as hammer-ons and pull-offs instead of being plucked or picked in the usual fashion are known in classical guitar terminology as legato phrases. The sound is smoother and more connected than in a normally picked phrase, due to the absence of the necessity to synchronize the plucking of one hand with the fingering on the fingerboard with the other hand; however, the resulting sounds are not as brightly audible, precisely due to the absence of the plucking of the string, the vibration of the string from an earlier plucking dying off. The technique also facilitates very fast playing because the picking hand does not have to move at such a high rate, and coordination between the hands only has to be achieved at certain points. Multiple hammer-ons and pull-offs together are sometimes also referred to colloquially as "rolls",[citation needed] a reference to the fluid sound of the technique. A hammer-on is usually represented in guitar tablature (especially that created by computer) by a letter h. A rapid series of alternating hammer-ons and pull-offs between a single pair of notes is called a trill.
The term hammer-on was first invented and popularized by Pete Seeger in his book How to Play the 5-String Banjo. Seeger also invented the term pull-off.[2]
In the Banjo tutor book "Ellis's Thorough Course For 5 String Banjo" published prior to 1900, the term 'Hammer on' is used to describe the action of performing an embellishment called 'the Shake'. The description is :- " The Shake, which is marked 'tr', is played in the following manner. Strike(pick) the first note only with the right hand & the remainder of the passage with the 2nd finger of the left hand, by 'hammering on' the string while it is vibrating". In the same tutor book, the action 'pull off' is termed the 'snap'. [3]
It would appear that it's possible that Pete Seeger came up with the term independently rather than invented it as a totally new term. However he may very well have placed the term firmly in the public domain & popularized its use.
See also
Sources
- ^ Traum, Happy (1974). Bluegrass Guitar, p.25. ISBN 0-8256-0153-3.
- ^ PBS Documentary Give Me the Banjo and the book Southern Mountain Banjo, p. 24: http://books.google.com/books?id=EDaj1IzYA74C&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24#v=onepage&q&f=false
- ^ (Ref. www.classicbanjo.com/tutors/Ellis5/Ellis5.pdf)
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