Here Comes the Sun - help with an open string to fourth fret hammer-on

Neil replies to questions from our members.
michelew
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:43 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:13 am

HI,

I'm learning 'Here Comes the Sun', which i'm really enjoying. I'm currently having trouble with the hammer-on in the 17th bar. It goes from an open A string to a hammer-on to the C#. I'm finding it hard. I need to take a swing at it to get the proper sound and I often miss and hit it with the pad (too flat) rather than the finger tip.

I assume that:
[ul] it is harder than a normal hammer-on because I'm not already anchored with the other fingers being on other notes that are near by and because I'm using my ring finger and
[/ul] that I just need to keep practicing.

But, I'd like to know:

- whether there is a knack, or trick to making this work better,
- whether you've had the same problem?

I'm currently practicing the hammer-on itself over and over and then the 3 bar phrase very slowly. I assume that that is the trick for the moment.

Thanks

Michele


willem
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Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:53 am
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Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:02 am

hey Michele,i work also on this and have there a problem,,but i lay my index finger over the A chord and pluck the 5-3 and 2 strings(pinch) on that A,,THEN fingerpick the 4 and 3 string on the A cHORD,then the A string with the hammer on(with pinky) and then the rest,,hope you understand for me it works..

From bar 19 to 24 thats a work...goodluck.


dennisg
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Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:34 am
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Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:18 am

Hey Michele,

What really helped me out with this run was to finger everything EXACTLY as Neil suggests: start the A chord the way Neil likes best (an easy transition from the D chord), hammer-on A to C# with your ring finger (go for clean and slow, they are two separate 8th notes), E on 4th string with index finger, F on 4th string with ring finger....this sets you up perfectly to lay the rest of the chord for the next two notes. The rest of that run should be no problem for you. The timing of the bass notes that occur during the hammer-ons in measures 20 and 21 were a little tricky at first. Practice that slowly a few times...and that should come without much difficulty as well.

Hope that helps, Nancy


michelew
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 5:43 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:31 pm

Willem and Nancy - thanks. I've watched Neil's video a few times, but I'll do it again. He makes it look so easy.

pinky or ring fingre - I'll watch. The rest of the section, and the hammer-on as it happens, is coming together.

The next section is a little tricky too - but, I only just started practicing it. THe simultaneous bass note pluck and hammer-on (no pluck). I'm able to do it already - I just have to incorporate it and get the muscle memory happening.

Thanks for letting me know that it made you work a little too.

This is a cool song!

Michele


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