Below is the description & audio examples of common Techniques used in Guitar Playing.
Palm Muting (P.M)
One of the most common techniques in Guitar playing is the use of the picking hand Palm to mute strings that are being picked. It is used a lot to get the "chug" sound while playing Power Chords. Muting single bass notes - usually root notes - in between Power chords gets the single notes to pop out and get a tight rounded sound, commonly heard in a lot of Rock & Metal riffs.
How to Palm Mute - Keep your picking hand on the strings, lightly, just ahead of the bridge and pick the Low E string. Mute it just enough so that you hear a chug but beware not to over mute or the note will sound dead and decrease in volume. The volume of the muted note and the non muted low E should be the same. Start by playing 8 open Low E notes without Palm muting. Now without missing a beat try placing your picking hand palm, at the right spot to get the perfect mute.
Hear the Audio below to hear the difference between the Palm muted low E and the one without Palm Muting.
How to Palm Mute - Keep your picking hand on the strings, lightly, just ahead of the bridge and pick the Low E string. Mute it just enough so that you hear a chug but beware not to over mute or the note will sound dead and decrease in volume. The volume of the muted note and the non muted low E should be the same. Start by playing 8 open Low E notes without Palm muting. Now without missing a beat try placing your picking hand palm, at the right spot to get the perfect mute.
Hear the Audio below to hear the difference between the Palm muted low E and the one without Palm Muting.
Playing Ghost Notes (x)
Ghost notes is nothing but muting the strings with your fretting hand. For right handers that would mean the Left hand. It is exactly the opposite of Palm Muting. The strings are gripped lightly with the fretting hand to deaden the note or chord while picking/strumming to create a percussive effect. The Ghost note will receive a rhythmic value but will not have a pitch.
How to play Ghost Notes - Play a Cm Major Barre Chord (10th position) and strum Π V Π V (Down-Up-Down-Up). Now lift your fretting hand just enough so that the chord is not heard and strum exactly the same way.
Hear the audio example below.
How to play Ghost Notes - Play a Cm Major Barre Chord (10th position) and strum Π V Π V (Down-Up-Down-Up). Now lift your fretting hand just enough so that the chord is not heard and strum exactly the same way.
Hear the audio example below.
Slides & Pick Scrapes / or \
An essential tool to get from one note to the other on the same string is a slide. Sliding and connecting two notes yields a very musical and desirable result.
Its essential to slide with the same finger as the finger used to play the first note. Usually slides are played from the lower fret to the higher fret.
How to play - With your 3rd finger fret the D note on the 7th fret of the 3rd string and slide to the 12th fret G note with the same finger. (Hear audio titled Ex 1 below).
However reverse slides are extremely effective and expressive especially when you use a reverse slide from the grace note (this technique is explained below) which is on a higher fret.
How to play - For this particular exercise play the A note on the 14th fret on the 3rd string and slide back to the 9th fret E note.
(Hear audio titled Ex 2 below).
It is also common to slide along the entire string & is used frequently in rock/metal songs. You may notice it very clearly in ballads during the transition from a clean guitar part to a distorted guitar.
How to play - Play the D note on the 10th fret of the 6th string and in one continuos motion without stopping, slide till the 19th fret and slide back till the 5th fret or as low as possible. Ensure that all this happens in one motion and a single pick stroke.
(Hear the audio example titled Ex 3 below.)
A Pick scrape is a slide done using the pick and usually done starting on the higher fret going to the lower fret and more often than not leads into a power chord. Pick scrapes usually involve 2 strings as it gives a better effect.
How to play - Using the side of your pick & hit the 5th & 6th strings with force right above your pickups let it slide towards the nut as fast as possible making sure you hear the scrape clearly, across the length of the fretboard and end with an upstroke on the E5 chord.
(Hear the audio example title Ex-4 below to know what it should sound like).
Its essential to slide with the same finger as the finger used to play the first note. Usually slides are played from the lower fret to the higher fret.
How to play - With your 3rd finger fret the D note on the 7th fret of the 3rd string and slide to the 12th fret G note with the same finger. (Hear audio titled Ex 1 below).
However reverse slides are extremely effective and expressive especially when you use a reverse slide from the grace note (this technique is explained below) which is on a higher fret.
How to play - For this particular exercise play the A note on the 14th fret on the 3rd string and slide back to the 9th fret E note.
(Hear audio titled Ex 2 below).
It is also common to slide along the entire string & is used frequently in rock/metal songs. You may notice it very clearly in ballads during the transition from a clean guitar part to a distorted guitar.
How to play - Play the D note on the 10th fret of the 6th string and in one continuos motion without stopping, slide till the 19th fret and slide back till the 5th fret or as low as possible. Ensure that all this happens in one motion and a single pick stroke.
(Hear the audio example titled Ex 3 below.)
A Pick scrape is a slide done using the pick and usually done starting on the higher fret going to the lower fret and more often than not leads into a power chord. Pick scrapes usually involve 2 strings as it gives a better effect.
How to play - Using the side of your pick & hit the 5th & 6th strings with force right above your pickups let it slide towards the nut as fast as possible making sure you hear the scrape clearly, across the length of the fretboard and end with an upstroke on the E5 chord.
(Hear the audio example title Ex-4 below to know what it should sound like).
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Ex 1 - Slide from D to G
Ex 3 - Slide along the entire fretboard
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Ex -2 - Reverse Slide from A to E
Ex 4 - Pick Scrape
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String Bending (b & r)
String bending is one of the most expressive techniques in Guitar playing. Bending the string changes the pitch of the note by a half step or a whole step and can go up even by 2 whole steps. String bending is a very difficult technique to learn as it requires you to be absolutely accurate with the pitch. Also the effort required to bend a string a whole step on the third fret of a certain string will be different as compared to bending a 15th fret a whole step on the same string. Its advisable to practice this technique all along the fretboard and on all strings. If you are new to string bending expect painful fingertips and callouses for the first few weeks!
How to Bend & Release - Choose the G note on the 3rd string 12th fret & play it with your 3rd finger. Keep your 1st & 2nd finger behind it on the same string. This will enable you to have a good grip over your bend. Bending only using one finger is not at all a good idea and your bends will never be accurate and effortless. Now keep your thumb on top of the neck so as to gain additional support. Use the strength of your wrist along with the thumb & fingers on the fretboard to bend the string a whole step to A. Bringing the note back to its original pitch is called Release. Repeat the same exercise but now bend only a half-step to G# & release it back to its original pitch G. Notice the effort required to bend a whole & half step. You can do this with all the notes in a particular scale on different strings & frets.
Also note that it is common to bend the 1st, 2nd & 3rd string upwards and the 4th,5th & 6th string downwards. This is just a matter of convenience and not a rule.
Pre-Bend - A pre-bend is another very good expressive tool in guitar playing. In a pre-bend the note is bent silently, so that you only hear the release. This technique takes a while to perfect as it requires you to bend to the right note without actually hearing it!
How to play - Using your 3rd finger on the 14th fret of the 3rd string bend the note a whole step without picking. Ensure that the note does not ring while you bend. You can use your pick to mute the string by lightly touching it while you bend. Once you are sure you have bent to the note that you want, pick it and release it. Do it 3 times at a slow speed making sure the sound is exactly the same every time.
Hear the audio example below.
How to Bend & Release - Choose the G note on the 3rd string 12th fret & play it with your 3rd finger. Keep your 1st & 2nd finger behind it on the same string. This will enable you to have a good grip over your bend. Bending only using one finger is not at all a good idea and your bends will never be accurate and effortless. Now keep your thumb on top of the neck so as to gain additional support. Use the strength of your wrist along with the thumb & fingers on the fretboard to bend the string a whole step to A. Bringing the note back to its original pitch is called Release. Repeat the same exercise but now bend only a half-step to G# & release it back to its original pitch G. Notice the effort required to bend a whole & half step. You can do this with all the notes in a particular scale on different strings & frets.
Also note that it is common to bend the 1st, 2nd & 3rd string upwards and the 4th,5th & 6th string downwards. This is just a matter of convenience and not a rule.
Pre-Bend - A pre-bend is another very good expressive tool in guitar playing. In a pre-bend the note is bent silently, so that you only hear the release. This technique takes a while to perfect as it requires you to bend to the right note without actually hearing it!
How to play - Using your 3rd finger on the 14th fret of the 3rd string bend the note a whole step without picking. Ensure that the note does not ring while you bend. You can use your pick to mute the string by lightly touching it while you bend. Once you are sure you have bent to the note that you want, pick it and release it. Do it 3 times at a slow speed making sure the sound is exactly the same every time.
Hear the audio example below.
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Ex 1 - Bending from G to A
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Ex 2 - Bending from G to G#
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Ex-3 - Pre-bend
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Vibrato
Vibrato is another very effective tool for expression. Vibrato is a series of quick small bends & releases which generally don't give you the feeling that the pitch has changed. It is very common to use vibrato on notes that are to be sustained. Vibratos can be done very slowly as well as extremely fast. Using fast vibratos with pinch harmonics on lower strings can sound very aggressive a la Zakk Wylde.
How to play a vibrato - Play the E note on the 9th Fret of the 3rd string with the 3rd finger. Keep your 1st and 2nd finger on the same string as well. Now let your wrist move towards the floor, which will help you bend the string just a wee bit, more like a 1/4th bend or may be lesser and then let it go back to the original position which will in turn take you back to the original pitch as well which is E. Do it slowly to begin with and then build up speed. Once you are comfortable with the 3rd finger you could try with the 1st and 2nd finger as well.
Hear Vibratos at 3 different speeds in the audio example below
How to play a vibrato - Play the E note on the 9th Fret of the 3rd string with the 3rd finger. Keep your 1st and 2nd finger on the same string as well. Now let your wrist move towards the floor, which will help you bend the string just a wee bit, more like a 1/4th bend or may be lesser and then let it go back to the original position which will in turn take you back to the original pitch as well which is E. Do it slowly to begin with and then build up speed. Once you are comfortable with the 3rd finger you could try with the 1st and 2nd finger as well.
Hear Vibratos at 3 different speeds in the audio example below
Natural Harmonics & Artificial Harmonics (Pinch Harmonics)
Harmonics are high pitched bell-like notes that can be played by lightly touching the string 12frets or 7frets or 5frets above the note that is played.
How to play a natural harmonic - Play the open high E string while using your 2nd finger of your fretting hand to lightly touch the fret directly above the 12th fret. Repeat the same by touching the string above the 7th & and 5th fret. Hear the audio example below for reference.
How to play a natural harmonic - Play the open high E string while using your 2nd finger of your fretting hand to lightly touch the fret directly above the 12th fret. Repeat the same by touching the string above the 7th & and 5th fret. Hear the audio example below for reference.
How to play an artificial harmonic - Artificial or Pinch harmonics are achieved by touching your thumb immediately or almost simultaneously while picking a note. Pinch harmonics allow you to get harmonics while picking and fretting almost any note on the fretboard. It works really well with the bridge pick up and a decent amount of distortion. Play the B note on the 4th fret of the 3rd string and lightly touch your thumb as soon as you pick. Once you get a hang of how to play it, add a fast vibrato and bring it to life.
Hear the audio example below.
Hear the audio example below.
Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs (h & p)
Hammer-ons (h) & Pull-Offs (p) is a way of playing a note without picking. This technique makes the transition from a picked note to the note that is hammered-on or pulled-off a lot smoother. Hammer-ons can be achieved while ascending and Pull-offs while descending. It takes quite a lot of finger strength and independence to get an effortless sounding hammer-on and pull-off and requires considerable amount of practice.
How to hammer-on - Pick the A note on the 5th fret of the 1st string with the 1st finger. Now without picking the B note on the 7th fret of the same string, get it to sound as loud as the picked A note, just by using the force that you can generate, by landing the 3rd finger on the 7th fret. It may so happen that you are unable to get the right sound but keep trying and you will succeed in getting it right. Feel free to try different set of fingers to help develop strength in all you fingers.
How to Pull-Off - Pick the A note on the 5th fret of the 1st string with the 3rd finger. Now without picking the G note on the 3rd fret of the same string, get it to sound as loud as the picked A note, by making a downward motion with your 3rd finger (almost as if you were using that finger to pick the note). The G note should now sound as clearly as if you were to pick it. It's common to sound sloppy when you first begin to employ this technique, but nevertheless, once you gain control over it its one of the most useful ways to play lot of phrases.
Hear the audio example below.
How to hammer-on - Pick the A note on the 5th fret of the 1st string with the 1st finger. Now without picking the B note on the 7th fret of the same string, get it to sound as loud as the picked A note, just by using the force that you can generate, by landing the 3rd finger on the 7th fret. It may so happen that you are unable to get the right sound but keep trying and you will succeed in getting it right. Feel free to try different set of fingers to help develop strength in all you fingers.
How to Pull-Off - Pick the A note on the 5th fret of the 1st string with the 3rd finger. Now without picking the G note on the 3rd fret of the same string, get it to sound as loud as the picked A note, by making a downward motion with your 3rd finger (almost as if you were using that finger to pick the note). The G note should now sound as clearly as if you were to pick it. It's common to sound sloppy when you first begin to employ this technique, but nevertheless, once you gain control over it its one of the most useful ways to play lot of phrases.
Hear the audio example below.
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Ex 1 - Hammer-On
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Ex-2 - Pull-off
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Trills
Two notes played back and forth in quick succession, number of times are called Trills. The easiest (yet very difficult) way of playing a Trill is to use Hammer-ons & Pull-offs.
How to play Trills - Pick the A note on the 1st string with your 1st finger. Hammer on the B note with your 3rd finger and quickly Pull-off back to the A note. Keep hammering on and pulling off between the A & B note making sure each note is heard clearly and the volume does not diminish as you continue to play.
Hear the audio example below.
How to play Trills - Pick the A note on the 1st string with your 1st finger. Hammer on the B note with your 3rd finger and quickly Pull-off back to the A note. Keep hammering on and pulling off between the A & B note making sure each note is heard clearly and the volume does not diminish as you continue to play.
Hear the audio example below.
Tremolo Picking
Tremolo picking is a quick series of Alternate picking on a single note, double notes and at times even a chord. It requires you to control the pick well especially when you tremolo pick a single note so that you do not accidentally hit other strings. The 1st exercise below is played on the 2nd string on the 5th fret.
Begin by playing at a slow speed and gradually build up speed. Once you get it right on one single note try playing a scale on One String and tremolo pick each for one bar and go up the scale. The 2nd exercise shows tremolo picking on notes E-F#-G-A-B (from the E natural minor scale) on the 2nd string.
Hear the audio of both the exercises below.
Begin by playing at a slow speed and gradually build up speed. Once you get it right on one single note try playing a scale on One String and tremolo pick each for one bar and go up the scale. The 2nd exercise shows tremolo picking on notes E-F#-G-A-B (from the E natural minor scale) on the 2nd string.
Hear the audio of both the exercises below.
Grace Notes
Grace notes are notes that don't have a note value and are always played right before a quarter note, 8th or 16th note. It is quite common to slide or hammer on/pull-off or even at times bend a grace note very quickly. Make sure you don't stay on the grace note too long and do not give it a note value of more than 64th note.
How to play a grace note - Choose 2 notes D & E on the 3rd string, 7th & 9th fret respectively. D will be the grace note.
Ex 1 - Grace note slide and an 8th note slide
Now the moment you pick the D note slide to the 9th fret without waiting a fraction of a second to listen to the D note. The first clip you hear is a grace note slide and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
How to play a grace note - Choose 2 notes D & E on the 3rd string, 7th & 9th fret respectively. D will be the grace note.
Ex 1 - Grace note slide and an 8th note slide
Now the moment you pick the D note slide to the 9th fret without waiting a fraction of a second to listen to the D note. The first clip you hear is a grace note slide and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
Ex 2 - Grace note Hammer-on & a 8th note hammer-on
Repeat the same notes from the above exercise, only now hammer-on to the E on the 9th fret as soon as you pick the D note. Use your 3rd finger on the E (9th fret) and 1st finger on the D (7th fret). The first clip you hear is a grace note hammer-on and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
Repeat the same notes from the above exercise, only now hammer-on to the E on the 9th fret as soon as you pick the D note. Use your 3rd finger on the E (9th fret) and 1st finger on the D (7th fret). The first clip you hear is a grace note hammer-on and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
Ex 3 - Grace note pull-off & an 8th note pull-off
A normal pull-off Using the same notes now pull-off to the D note immediately after picking the E note on the 9th fret with your 3rd finger. Be sure to have your 1st finger on the 7th fret as you will not be giving the E note any value. The first clip you hear is a grace note pull-off and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
A normal pull-off Using the same notes now pull-off to the D note immediately after picking the E note on the 9th fret with your 3rd finger. Be sure to have your 1st finger on the 7th fret as you will not be giving the E note any value. The first clip you hear is a grace note pull-off and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
Ex 4 - Grace note bend and an 8th note bend
Once again use the same notes. First play the D note on the 3rd string and immediately bend using your 3rd finger. Ensure that your bend is as quick as your grace note slide so that it has the exact same effect. The first clip you hear is a grace note bend and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.
Once again use the same notes. First play the D note on the 3rd string and immediately bend using your 3rd finger. Ensure that your bend is as quick as your grace note slide so that it has the exact same effect. The first clip you hear is a grace note bend and in the second clip both the notes are 8th notes.
Hear the difference.