Goal: 1 pull up

When I was working on them I did negative pull ups and band assisted and eventually could do 2.

^^ agree thats pretty much how you do it. there's really no short cut, nor really any comparable exercise that will help you get there. just got to keep going for it.

In the classes I take we used the straps at varying resistance to assist and that has really helped more than anything. Obviously, not a safe option unless you have someone to assist you. I use a pull up bar at home too. I am able to do 5 unassisted but my current goal is ten before the end of the year. I used to use the squat rack with my feet on the floor to pull myself up with the bar if that makes sense. Good luck.

I have tried the resistance bands and negative pull but to no avail...I still can't. Negative pull up hurt because I just fall uncontrolled.

might be best to use a chair and support yourself with your legs to do negatives until you can do a more controlled negative.

they are not easy. i think virtually everyone struggles with them. disagree that after the first one, more come easy lol. i suppose they do to a point but slows down very fast

A good way to get going is to get a box (improvise a box of some sort like flipped over laundry bin etc.) and put it about a foot behind the pull-up bar.

-Arms up on the pull-up bar and hang down.
-ankles crossed and top of feet resting on the box.
-try to do a pull-up, your legs can push off of the box just enough to get you up there for some reps.

As you become stronger move the box a little further back. The further back the box goes, the less amount of work your legs can assist you with your pull-up until suddenly you don't need the box anymore.

Once you can do at least one, start by doing your set without the box until you fail then add the box back in to finish your set.

No other specific movement can mimic the muscles used in a pull-up the same way as an actual pull-up can even if it's an assisted one.

Good luck.