Pull-Off

Techniques

A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer-on. With two fingers on the same string at different frets, you pluck the string by pulling the higher finger off and slightly sideways, letting the lower note ring. The pulling motion should be a small downward flick, almost like a tiny pluck.

Pull-offs are notated in tablature with a "p" between fret numbers (e.g., 2p0 means fret the 2nd fret, then pull off to the open string). When combined with hammer-ons, you can play fast runs and ornaments using minimal picking.

A common beginner exercise is the "trill" — rapidly alternating between a hammer-on and pull-off on the same string (e.g., 0h2p0h2p0). This builds finger strength and coordination for both techniques.