Hammer-On (h)
Pluck the first note with finger 1 planted just behind its fret, then drop finger 3 from the knuckle onto the higher fret, fast and close to the wire. The second note should match the first in volume. TAB writes it as 3h5.
Step-by-Step Bass Tutorial
How to Play Slides, Hammer-Ons and Vibrato on Bass
Six bass guitar fretting-hand techniques with video clips, animation and TAB marks: slide, hammer-on, pull-off, vibrato, ghost notes and position shifts.
Step-by-Step Practice Guide
Pull-Off (p)
Put both fingers down first. Keep finger 1 pressed on the lower fret and pull finger 3 off with a slight flick toward the floor, so it plucks the string as it leaves. The lower note must speak at once. TAB writes 5p3.
Slide (/)
Fret a clean note with a relaxed thumb, then carry the whole hand to the target fret while keeping the pressure on. Stop just behind the target fret, not on it. An ascending slide is written 5/7, a descending one 7\5.
Vibrato (~)
Hear the fretted pitch first, then rock the string evenly from the wrist in a narrow motion that crosses the center pitch on every cycle. The note should never drift sharp. TAB marks it 7~.
Ghost Note (x)
Release the pressure until the string no longer touches the fret, lay two or three fingers across the string so no harmonic rings, and pluck as usual. The thud keeps time between the real notes. TAB wraps the fret in parentheses.
Position Shift
Lift the pressure but keep light contact with the string, glide thumb and fingers together along the neck, and land just behind the new fret before the beat arrives. Flying fingers cost time: keep them close to the strings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read h, p, / and ~ in bass TAB?
The sign sits before the fret you arrive on: 3h5 hammers from fret 3 onto 5, 5p3 pulls off from 5 to 3, 5/7 slides up, 7\5 slides down and 7~ adds vibrato. A fret in parentheses, (5), is a ghost note with no clear pitch. Basnote prints the same marks in its riffs, grooves and text TAB.
Where can I watch these techniques?
In the Learn area of the app each technique sits next to a short YouTube clip of a real fretting hand, the fretboard animation and its TAB. The clip loads only when you press play, so nothing is sent to YouTube before that.