The DigiTech HammerOn Pitch Shifter is a pitch shifter pedal that raises or lowers the pitch of a played note by chosen intervals, instantly, with no expression pedal to rock. Its signature trick is the Pitch 1 foot switch, which is dedicated to the hammer-on effect and is momentary: the pitch shift holds for as long as you hold the switch down, and drops back to your normal pitch the moment you let go1. GuitarPlayer's reviewer, Jimmy Leslie, describes it as a new member of the DigiTech Whammy family, the line of pitch-shifting pedals that also includes the Whammy, Whammy Ricochet and Whammy DT1.
Modes and tracking
The HammerOn offers seven modes, which GuitarPlayer sums up as giving "instantaneous pitch shifting"1. Alongside those, there are two global modes that set how the pedal tracks your playing:
- Chords: the factory default, which handles multiple notes at once better. The reviewer notes it does not track single notes as well.
- Classic: tracks single notes better, which suits players who mostly shift single-note lines1.
The momentary Pitch 1 switch is what gives the pedal its name. Because the shift only holds while the switch is pressed, it works like a hammer-on on the guitar itself: hit the switch and the interval sounds, release it and you are back where you started1.
Power and connections
The HammerOn runs from a 9VDC jack, and an adapter is included in the box, so it works out of the package without a separate purchase1. It draws 300mA at 9V, which is more than some daisy-chain supplies comfortably share, so an isolated supply output with enough current is the safer pairing. Connections are a standard 1/4" input and a standard 1/4" output1. DigiTech lists digitech.com as its contact for support1.
The pedal draws 300mA at 9V1. If you power it from a shared supply rather than the included adapter, make sure that output can supply the full current.
Where it sits in the Whammy family
The HammerOn is DigiTech's pitch-shifting take on a family the company is known for, the Whammy line. It runs on 9V at 300mA, measures 5.12" x 3.57" x 1.84" (LxWxH), weighs 1.12 lbs, and lists for $279 USD1. The reviewer's verdict on it was that it is "Capable of awesome fantastical tones as well as many practical applications"1.
What reviewers said
GuitarPlayer's Jimmy Leslie found the pedal "Capable of awesome fantastical tones as well as many practical applications," and his review lists the HammerOn as the sole reason to buy, with no reasons to avoid, overall1.
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Questions
Is the DigiTech HammerOn true bypass?
Yes. GuitarPlayer's review lists True Bypass among the pedal's extras, so when the HammerOn is off, your guitar's signal passes through the pedal without going through its pitch-shifting circuitry. That helps keep your clean tone untouched on a pedalboard where the effect is only used occasionally.
Does the HammerOn come with a power adapter?
Yes. The HammerOn has a 9VDC jack and GuitarPlayer's review notes that an adapter is included with the pedal. It draws 300mA at 9V, so a standard isolated supply output rated for that current will run it.
What is the difference between Classic and Chords mode on the HammerOn?
The HammerOn has two global modes. The factory default is Chords, which handles multiple notes at once better, while Classic tracks single notes better. GuitarPlayer's reviewer noted that Chords mode does not track single notes as well, so players who mostly shift single lines may prefer switching to Classic.
How many modes does the HammerOn have?
Seven. GuitarPlayer's review describes the HammerOn as a seven-mode pedal that gives instantaneous pitch shifting, with Pitch 1 dedicated to the momentary hammer-on effect.
Is the HammerOn part of the Whammy family?
Yes. GuitarPlayer opens its review by calling the HammerOn a new member of the DigiTech Whammy family, the line of pitch-shifting pedals that also includes the Whammy, Whammy Ricochet, Whammy DT and the MonoNeon signature Whammy.
Sources (1)
- DigiTech HammerOn Pitch Shifter reviewed, GuitarPlayer, 2025-06-03
