Guitar playing consists of 19 basic moves, once you know how perform these basic skills you are ready to play anything on guitar. The importance of being able to recognise and perform these moves cannot be over emphasised as they are the foundations of being able to play by ear and developing your own individual style on guitar.

This article will focus on one of the most common guitar moves: the hammer-on.

Hammer-On's

The concept is to have your left hand fingers play extra notes that do not require any additional right hand picking (assuming you are a right-handed player). This produces a smooth melodic sound, very much like a vocalist or wind instrument such as a saxophone.

The technique is very simple: When you pick a note the string vibrates the entire remaining length of the string (if you look closely at the tick strings you will see these strings vibrating) the idea is to select another note on the sane string and hammer-down (hammer-on) to the desired note, with a strong hammer-like action. This produces another tone, higher in pitch, without requiring any right-hand move. Thus you are able to get two or more notes for the price of one picking stroke.

Another way to think of this 'hammer-on' action is to visualise the action of the little hammers striking the strings inside a piano.

Practising the hammer-on technique:

Strike first note with first finger. Hold this note and while the string is still vibrating place your second finger down firmly on the second fret. This will cause the pitch of the note to change resulting in a second note being heard without having to pluck the string with your right hand.

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Just imagine - you are on stage, the drums are beating and you're on for that iconic guitar solo. All eyes are on you! This is your chance to shine. This has been your dream for many years. All the hard work, blood sweat and tears come down to this moment. The crowd go wild...

In order for you to have reached this moment you will have dedicated many hours to your art and to learn guitar solo perfectly. You are probably in a rock band where these solos are waited with baited breath by your fans. However, guitar solos are also a key part to jazz, blues and even classical. This solo is basically a number of improvisations. You are prepared.

To play a solo with confidence you must get the basics right. Firstly you need to learn your scales - pentatonic, major and minor. Scales are placed into solos and form an integral part of the solo. So practice them. Once you have mastered them you can then start to add your own improvisations. Maybe combine one scale with another, but start by practicing the scales going froward and backwards - use alternate picking. Experiment, have fun and see what works!

There are some techniques to be learnt that will add to your solo - such as vibrato. You could use it at the beginning of a solo but try delaying it and just play naturally and effortlessly at the start of your solo, then incorporate some vibrato.

To add further dimension to your play try bending whilst playing arpeggio and scales. Try double picking for something more unusual. Basically try everything - there are no rules. The more creative you get and the more unique and individual you can be the more the audience will love it.

Technique is key. You must have a good one. Sometimes less is more. If you play a simple solo but play it incredibly well that can be far more impressive than a harder solo which isn't delivered well. Improvisation lets you approach in two ways - the vertical or horizontal approach.

The horizontal approach, the guitarist will follow the scale currently being played whist in the vertical approach; the guitarist will follow the chord being played.

To learn guitar solos and become a legend requires dedication and constant practice. Teach yourself as many tricks as possible. Practice tabs from your idol and inspirational guitarists, but also listen carefully to music, copy things you've heard and mimic their tricks and ideas, then throw some of your own in.
Above all get creative, use your imagination and have fun!

For More Information On Acoustic Guitar and How To Play Like A Pro PLUS There Is Lots More To Help You Learn Guitar Fast