Double Hammer-on Guitar Chords

In this video guitar lesson I’m going to show you how to use hammer-ons to spice up a couple of common guitar chords. And not just hammer-ons on one string but 2 finger hammer-ons on 2 strings. Double hammer-on guitar chords are double the fun 🙂

• Need Strumming Help? Check out my Rhythm Guitar Mastery Phase 1 Course

(Video Guitar Lesson)

 

Dm7 Double Hammer-on Guitar Chord

The first guitar chord we’re going to use a double hammer-on with is Dm7 (D Minor 7). If you know a basic Dm barre chord with the root on the 5th string. Dm7 is the same as that minor barre  chord….just without your pinky.

Now let’s spice up that Dm7 chord a little with a double hammer-on. So instead of just playing the Dm7 chord, I want you to lift up your 2nd and 3rd finger. So your first finger will just be barring across the top 5 strings. Then strum the top 5 strings, and immediately hammer-on your 2nd and 3rd fingers on to the 2nd string 6th fret, and 4th string 7th fret. Back to the full Dm7 chord.

The trick is to have both fingers hammer-on to the strings at exactly the same time. So you hear one rhythm as both fingers sound their notes. This can be a little tricky at first, but that’s the goal,

If duel hammer-ons with both fingers is giving you a little trouble at first, just practice the hammer-ons with each finger separately. So just barre your first finger across the 5 strings and hammer-on your 2nd finger to the 2nd string 6th fret.

Then do the same thing only just hammer-on your 3rd finger to the 4th string at the 7th fret.

You do also have to press down hard enough with your first finger so that all of the notes are sounding at the 5th fret…strings 5 thru 1.

Then once you have the hang of the hammer-ons separately, try going back to the double hammer-ons.

Another exercise you  might want to try very slowly bringing your 2nd and 3rd fingers down to the strings. Not even worrying about  hammering on or even making a sound. Just so you are focusing on your 2nd and 3rd fingers landing on the strings at the same time.

Then start landing your fingers faster, and using more force until you hammering on and the notes are sounding at the same time.

A7 Double Hammer-on Guitar Chord

The other double hammer-on guitar chord I’m going to show you is an A7 chord. If you know a basic A Major Barre Chord with the root on the 6th string, A7 is just like it only without your pinky.

This A7 chord is really just the same basic shape as the Dm7 chord that you have already learned, just barring all 6 strings at the 5th fret and your 2nd finger will play the note on the 3rd string and 3rd finger will play the note on the 5th string. Now try doing exactly the same double hammer-on with your 2nd and 3rd fingers that we did with the Dm7 chord.

Em7b5 Guitar Chord

I have a jam track for you to put your new chords into practice with, but I need to show you a bonus chord you are going to need. No hammer-ons, it’s just an Em7b5 chord. That E Minor 7 flat 5.

The Double Hammer-on Guitar Chords Groove

Here is the chord progression I was playing at the beginning of the video guitar lesson at the top of this page. The chord progression is going to have 4 beats of a Dm7 chord, 2 beats of a Em7b5…and 2 beats of a A7 chord.

Feel free to experiment with any rhythms, and use the double hammer-ons you have learned for the Dm7 and A7 Chords.

Funky Dm Jam Track with Horns

Here’s the guitar jam track for your to practice with. You can download the MP3 below as well.

 

(Right Click the link below and choose “Save As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”)

[DAP errMsgTemplate=”LONG”]Funky Dm Jam Track with Horns MP3[/DAP]

Have fun with your new double hammer-on guitar chords.