Mel Bay or Hal Leonard Hammer-on and Pull-Off?

[RobBnTX]

I know this has probably been hashed out before, probably several times and I know at some point it is best to find a good teacher but....

I noticed in Mel Bay's Mastering the Guitar that Slur/Hammer-on/Pull-off is introduced almost at the beginning of the first book, at the same time when notes on the 3rd string are being introduced.

However in Hal Leonard's Guitar Method, Complete Edition these are not introduced until almost the end of the 3rd section under the title, "Articulation."

Anyone have any thoughts on what would be the best level to introduce those techniques, at near the beginning as in Mel Bay or much later on as in Hal Leonard?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Mike Bruce]

Depends on the capabilities of the student. Many don't have the power in their fingers and hands to do hammer-ons and pull-offs at all, never mind reliably, at the time the technique is introduced in whatever method book. Often the student needs to bypass the technique until they are physically ready. It's just another reason why method books need to be delivered and adapted by a competent teacher as part of an individual lesson plan for the individual student.

 

[RobBnTX]

I agree about the physical ability aspect.

 

[BartS]

I have been through plenty of mel bay and hal lenard books in my day. I'm not a fan of either.

As to the question a student should learn a open d, c, and g chord and be learning the major scale and minor petatonic in the first few lessons. As soon as they can struggle through those scales They should be learning to hammer on and pull off.

Hammer ons and pull offs should be second nature to a guitar player they shouldn't have to think about it when they do it. They are a basic rudiment like strumming and should be treated as such. As soon as they can struggle through hammer ons and pull offs they should learn some bends. There are guys playing in big name bands these days that can't bend a note.