Pull-off
Sounding a lower note by pulling a fretting finger off the string with a slight sideways flick, so the string is plucked as the finger leaves.
Returning to an already-fretted lower note also produces a note, but a pure pull-off adds a small snap that evens out the volume, which is why the technique is a flick rather than a lift. It pairs with the hammer-on to produce legato lines, and like the hammer-on its volume depends entirely on the strength and speed of the movement. Pull-offs also let one finger produce a series of notes without any picking at all.
Example: a descending run made of pull-offs under a single initial pick stroke gives the smooth, connected legato sound characteristic of modern lead playing.
See also
Related
- PageHammer-on
- PageLegato
- PageAccent
- PageAction height
- PageAlternate picking
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock