Hammer On (Ventura Hwy Intro)

[eagle670]

Just a quick question about the hanmmer on in the intro to Ventura Hwy. I can't seem to get any volumn out of the string when I do the hammer on with my little finger. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't believe that you pluck the string seprately as you do the hammer. What I am doing is hitting both strings at the same time as I do the hammer on. Is that right? I have pretty much gotten down the changes for this, but it won't sound very good unless that high E string really rings out.

Thanks!
Kevin

[AndyT]

For good hammer ons, you have to build strength in your fingers. You really have to hammer it on.

[Chasplaya]

A trick with Hammer On's is eg with Ventura Highway (and Others)which is really a Hammer on and Pull Off, Firmly pick the first note held by your index finger leave it there for the pull off, then hammer on with your ring finger, and as you release slightly drag the ring finger down and off the string, only ever striking it once, but the dragging off is almost like you are plucking the string with your ring finger left hand. NOw I haven't seen Neils version of Ventura, but I do the opening riff on the 5 to 7th fret Estring so its Pick 5th Hammer on to 7th pull off to 5th, then is a single picked note on the B string at 7 fret, then do the Hammer on Pull Off thing on the B string same frets as E.

[Chasplaya]

Chasplaya wrote:

A trick with Hammer On's is eg with Ventura Highway (and Others)which is really a Hammer on and Pull Off, Firmly pick the first note held by your index finger leave it there for the pull off, then hammer on with your ring finger, and as you release slightly drag the ring finger down and off the string, only ever striking it once, but the dragging off is almost like you are plucking the string with your ring finger left hand. NOw I haven't seen Neils version of Ventura, but I do the opening riff on the 5 to 7th fret Estring so its Pick 5th Hammer on to 7th pull off to 5th, then is a single picked note on the B string at 7 fret, then do the Hammer on Pull Off thing on the B string same frets as E.

I've since checked out Neils version and its way cool, combining the two guitars. The principle of hammer On and Pull off I think is still the same though to get that ringing effect. After the hammer On drag the fingers of the strings, try slowly and exaggerate the dragging off to begin with to get the idea, then build up to the right tempo.

[Chasplaya]

Since, my post here I just had to check out how America played it, interestingly enough Dan Peek used a 12 string capoed at the second fret and played it relative to the capo the same way I do, also Dewey played it on a 6 string same as me, whilst Gerry strums furiously in the background.

[eagle670]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe it is just a matter of building some more strength with the pinky. Pull offs don't seem to be a problem and Hammer ons with other fingers seem to be okay.
So I guess it is back to practice, practice and more practice.

Kevin

[Chasplaya]

eagle670 wrote:

Thanks for the replies. Maybe it is just a matter of building some more strength with the pinky. Pull offs don't seem to be a problem and Hammer ons with other fingers seem to be okay.
So I guess it is back to practice, practice and more practice.

Kevin

I wouldn't say so much strength in the fingers its more of a technique, Neil has a lessons on both hammer Ons and Pull Offs check them out. I did after I posted here just to make sure I wasn't at odds with Neils teachings, and yeah we almost used the same descriptors for them both. So yep practice will do it.