Slide Technique, Part 4: Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

This lesson is part of the course Beginning Dobro with Mike Witcher.

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Learn the basics of the lap-style resophonic slide guitar, with essential tips on right- and left-hand technique as well as arrangements of classic tunes and songs.

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Amazing Grace

In this lesson, you'll learn the popular gospel classic "Amazing Grace." The melody can be played almost entirely on the first string of the dobro, and besides being a great melody, makes a great exercise for practicing your intonation on the first string. It's also a great way to start developing the natural "singing" quality of the dobro in your playing. The best way to do that is to work on playing on one string at a time, which this arrangement does, of course. Once you've learned the melody see if you can play the melody on the first string cleanly without lifting the bar. Mike also talks about using a shallow vibrato on certain notes, adding texture to the note without really changing the pitch very much.

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SLIDE TECHNIQUE

Slide Technique, Part 1: Getting Started

Slide Technique, Part 2: Battle of the Buzz

Slide Technique, Part 3: Arpeggios and Muting

Slide Technique, Part 4: Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

In this lesson, you’ll learn the best way to play hammer-ons and pull-offs. For example, to play pull-offs, keep your bar about a quarter inch above the strings and just set your bar on the string. You don’t need to push down with any force. To play pull-offs, pull the bar horizontally back off the string, so that you’re essentially plucking the string with the edge of the bar. You’ll learn a couple of exercises to help you work on your hammer-on and pull-off technique.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs (Available to subscribers)

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Exercises for Both Hands →

Previous Lesson

← Slide Technique, Part 3: Arpeggios and Muting

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Exercises for Both Hands →

Previous Lesson

← Slide Technique, Part 3: Arpeggios and Muting

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