hammer on/ pull off , what are they?

i'm a beginner, i wanted to know if anyone out there could recomend a beginner tactic? btw, what the hell is a hammer on/ pull off? i've heard a whole lot about them, but i haven't found anything to help me out, thanks, later...

ok a hammer on is when u ummm.....

ex. e |----------------------
b |-----------------------
g |------------------------
d |--------------------------
a |-------------------------
E |----5h7------------------
this means you strike the 5th fret and hit the 7th fret without picking it and vice versa with pulloffs
if that makes any sense to u . a good example is
metallicas "Am I Evil"

B|--0h5h8-----|0h4h7----|--0h5h8--|--0h7h10---
repeat
lots of times each one

if this makes no sense to u its because im really drunk right now

sorry

I'm not drunk so mabee i can explain this sobber!

Anyway for the hammer-on you can use the 5h7 on ,
any string on you guitar.
Use your index=1st finger on the 5 note=fifth fret,
strike it with your pick then use your third finger,
to hammer-on the 7 note with-out useing your pick.
execute the hammer-on while the note is still ringing.
Now for the pull-off do the same thing but use,
your third finger right after the hammer-on to,
pull down on the string then off of the string.(very fast)


Mark


P:S If you need more help let me know?

thanks guys, you helped a lot, by the way, do you know where i can get tab for the star spangled banner?

If you don't find a tab i'll send you one i think i got,
a few lying around that i use for my students.
Also they have the correct left hand fingering,
with them also written at the bottom of the tab!
peace Mark

i'm 12, grade 5 on classical guitar, play in band red hot chili peppers, i'm pretty good.

it's where with your fret hand suddenly tap one of the strings hard with one of your right fingers, sounds like a slur. pull off=you pull the string down or up the fret board the let go.

thanks so much guys, you've been a big help.

~jay

e |----5h7-------7p5-------|

okay try this to help you.. on the hi e string (the thinnest one) put your index finger on the 5th fret and play the string. have your ring finger hit the 7th fret (and remain there) so the note changes. to do a pull off keep your fingers in thsi current position (index finger on the fifth fret and ring on the 7th fret) and pluck the string. then pullyour ring finger off the string so that the 5th fret sounds.. .. if you do these to together you can get a trill (5h7p5). Hope this helps