Open String Hammer-Ons

In this course we'll be looking at the open string hammer-on technique. This versatile technique has been popularised by bassists such as Marcus Miller, Stuart Hamm and most notably, Victor Wooten, who has put it to good use on tracks such as the Béla Fleck and the Flecktones classic ‘The Sinister Minister’ as well as ‘A Show of Hands’ and ‘Classical Thump’ from his solo album A Show of Hands. It’s a technique that can open up the bass in many ways since it can be used to play more harmonically complex material than is usually performed with standard slap and pop technique. Although a technique should never dictate your note choices, you’ll find that this one really is ideal for playing fast, arpeggiated passages that just wouldn't be playable with slapped and popped notes alone.