rockguitar
If you are new to playing rock guitar, you have to learn some basic techniques such as vibrato, string bending, alternate picking, hammer on and pull off. These are very basic techniques and you can’t skip them. Once you mastered them, you are ready to start advanced techniques such as sweep picking, tapping or string skipping. Let’s see the basic ones:
Vibrato
Vibrato is essentially a sound effect which makes a note oscillate up and down. It is a slight fluctuation in pitch, that gives more depth and sustain to a note (by the way, vibrato has nothing to do with tremolo). To get it, you have to move a finger up and down on the same fret in order to bend the string. You have to use index, middle and ring fingers. You can’t use thumb or little finger. Start by rocking your hand slightly, pulling the string towards the floor. You have to bend the sting, then release it at a constant rate. You have to practice a lot to master this technique.
Hammer on
This is a technique that allows you to play two or more notes for every one note that you strike with the picking hand. Hammer on and pull off are helpful to reach fast speed of the right hand. Place your index finger at the 5th fret on the B string (2nd string). Pick the string with the right hand, then move quickly the third finger of the left hand on the 7th fret in a hammering action. You have to hear two notes without having to pick the string two times. You will get the second note by hammering with your ring finger. Hammer on is used to move from a lower note to a higher one.
Pull off
This is almost the opposite of a hammer-on. In fact it is used to go from a higher note to a lower one. Place your index finger at the 5th fret on any string, and your middle finger at the 7th fret on the same string. Pick the string to hear the note at the 7th fret, then pull your third finger away from the string in a sideways motion. Again, you have to hear two notes without having to pick the string two times.
Alternate picking
To perform this technique you have to strictly alternate downward and upward picking strokes in a continuous run. If this technique is performed on a single note at a high speed, then it may also be referred to as tremolo picking. Good alternate picking involves a continuous down-up or up-down motion of the picking hand. You can put hammer-ons and/or pull-offs in the middle of picked phrases.
Tips
You can learn how to play rock guitar listening at classic guitar solos. Watch guitar videos with on-screen tab, and slow-motion replays. Listen guitar solos. Anyway guitar solos are usually too fast and you can’t pick out every notes. In these cases you have to slow down music in order to ‘grab’ each note of the solo easily (forget super fast methods to learn guitar and take your time: all you need is a lot of practice).
Helpful tools to learn guitar solos: slow down music software.
Paul Reedest, just a guitar addict 
