Pull-off — Flick Down, Two Notes

Yesterday you went up with the hammer-on (E→G). Today it's the opposite. Flick down the fretting finger and the lower note rings by itself — this is the pull-off. Again one strike, two notes, only the direction is downward.

Today's two notes are G (4th string, 3rd fret, b3) and open E (4th string, R). Fret G at the 3rd fret with the left-hand ring finger, slap it with the thumb, then release that finger as if flicking slightly downward. Not just lifting up, but a hook the string a little, pull, and let go feel. That's how open E rings on its own.

The knack is snagging the string with the fingertip. Just lifting up makes no sound. Start slowly at BPM 75 and focus on whether the flicked-down E is as clear as the first note G. Since it's an open string the ring lasts long, so deaden it slightly on the next beat to keep the rhythm. This one flick gives the slap a downward-flowing melody. If yesterday's hammer-on was a rising melody, today's pull-off is a falling melody.

On a 5-string, the notes and the hand shape are the same as on a 4-string. Keep the low B deadened with the thumb, and carve just the pull-off feel into your hand. Once a clean pull-off is set today, tomorrow you'll weave the hammer-on and the pull-off into one over the pentatonic. Once both techniques settle into your hand, the slap no longer stays mere rhythm backing — the little melody your fretting hand makes lays a song over the groove. First mark the two spots on the fretboard — the b3, G, and the root E.

▶ 4-string. 3rd fret G (fretted, slapped), below is open E (pull-off). Flick the finger and descend from high to low.

▶ 5-string. The hand shape is the same as on a 4-string. Keep the low B deadened with the thumb.

Today you carve one pull-off into your body. First warm the fretting hand with a G pulse, then repeat thumb + pull-off, two notes. Each example comes in both a 4-string and a 5-string version.

First, the G pulse. Fret G at the 3rd fret with the ring finger and slap it in even quarter notes to settle the pull-off's starting note into your hand.

▶ BPM 75, 4-string. The four G's are the pillars the pull-off will start from.

▶ 5-string. The notes are the same as on a 4-string. Keep the low B deadened with the thumb.

Now add a pull-off to every slapped G. It's thumb + pull-off. After slapping the 3rd fret, flick the finger down to ring open E, so one beat yields two notes.

▶ BPM 75, 4-string. From the slapped G, flick the finger down to E for two notes at once. The two notes must be even in size.

▶ 5-string. The notes and spots are the same as on a 4-string. Keep the low B deadened with the thumb so it doesn't leak.

0–10 min · Warm-up Flow yesterday's hammer-on lightly at BPM 60 to wake the hand. Today, ready the left hand in the pull-off posture in advance.

10–20 min · Brain training As below, very slowly, flick the finger from the slapped G down to E. Measure 1 is G only, measure 2 is the pull-off.

▶ BPM 60, 4-string. Measure 1 G pulse, measure 2 pull-off. Check by ear that the flicked-down E is clear.

▶ 5-string. The notes and spots are the same as on a 4-string. Keep the low B covered with the side of the thumb.

20–40 min · Real play Repeat thumb + pull-off, two notes at BPM 75. If the second note doesn't ring, drop the tempo and revive the feel of snagging the string first. Learn it on the 4-string, then confirm the same two notes on the 5-string.

40–50 min · Record/feedback Record 30 seconds and listen for whether the pull-off note is as clear as the first note. Note today's stable BPM too.

Done when: you can slap the 3rd fret G with the thumb, ring open E with a pull-off, and produce two notes from one strike clearly at BPM 75.

Nudge today's pull-off up to BPM 85 and check that the second note stays alive even as it speeds up.

▶ BPM 85, 4-string. Check that the pull-off E stays clearly alive even as it speeds up a little.

▶ 5-string. The notes and spots are the same as on a 4-string. Always keep the low B deadened with the thumb.

• The pull-off is weak. Just lifting the finger makes no sound. Hook the string a little, pull, and let go. It's not force but the snagging angle.
• The first note dies. Fussing over the pull-off, the thumb weakens easily. Sound the slapped G clearly too to match the size of the two notes.
• The ring smears. Open E lingers long and mixes with the next beat easily. Deaden it slightly on the next beat to keep the rhythm.
• Neglecting low B (5-string). Absorbed in the pull-off, B rings easily. Always keep B covered with the side of the thumb.