Hammer-ons, pull-offs, and other markings

You are here: Finale Tutorials > Tutorial 7: Guitar Tab and Fretted Instruments > Hammer-ons, pull-offs, and other markings

Hammer-ons, pull-offs and other markings

We’ll continue to use the “Blues Scale” document to demonstrate how to enter hammer-ons and pull-offs. This method can be used to enter a variety of other markings as well. The Smart Shape Tool should still be selected.

Click the Slur Tool $image\Smart_Shape_Tool.gif$ in the Smart Shape Palette.
In the tab staff, double click the “1” on the last beat of the first measure. You should see a slur from the last beat of the first measure to the first beat of the second measure.
While pressing the (Mac: ) key, click the Custom Line Tool .
Scroll down until you find the H custom shape and click it so it is highlighted. There are several sets of these (H, P, B, and R) markings of different styles and fonts. For more details, choose one and click Edit. Then click OK to return to the Smart Line Selection dialog box.
Click Select.
Double click the “1” on the last beat of the first measure and drag across the barline to the first beat of the next measure. Remember, the direction of the slur and font of the “H” depends on the option chosen in the Smart Line Selection dialog box, and may not match the image below.

Now, you can use the arrow keys to make fine adjustments. To enter a pull-off, follow the same steps, only choose the “P” custom shape in the Custom Shape dialog box.

Use the above method to enter a variety of performance indications used regularly for fretted instruments. In the Smart Line Selection window you will find figures for bends (B), releases (R), palm mutes (P.M.), harmonics (A.H. and P.H.), picking, and others.

User Manual Home