Tapping ll

Alright. Before we start lets get one thing clear. Basic right hand tapping is not as difficult as you might think. I know it sounds intimidating but really there is nothin to it. However, some of the more advanced techniques are quite Demanding.

What is tapping?
First off, I spose I should mention that the letter T above he tab means you tap that note. Fret Tapping (also called tapping, right hand tapping) is an extension ofyour standard hammer on/ pull off technique. You should be able to do both these before you start. To execute the tap, you have to strike the string with one of your right hand fingers. (the middle finger is the most conveniant as it allows you to keep hold of your pick. You have to strike the string in a downward action. The striking of the string sounds the note while the downward movement makes for the pull off. Just like a left handed pull off ( I hope I explained that good).

Basic Tapping.
Tapping in its most basic form, involves two notes. the tap, and the note that is simply fretted. It is a different type of trill(a trill is a variation of hammer on and pull off, played rapidly,.. or whatever).

       T
B/--12p5--/

Obviously, with the 5th fret fretted, you wouldn't be able to fret the 12th with any finger of your fretting hand. Thats where the picking hand comes in. Try this little excersise:

       T    T   T    T    T    T   T    T
B/--12p5-10p5-9p5-10p5-12p7-10p7-9p7-10p7-/

This should get you used to moving both your tapping finger and your fretting finger along the fretboard while tapping.

Basic tapping 2.
This is like the last excesise only with a third finger added into the equation. This Tapping excersise demands timing. If you tap or pull off at the wrong time it'll probably sound wrong. When you sound the pull off from the tapped note is when you should pull off the fretting finger. The timing on each note should be around the same:

       T      T     T      T
B/--12p7p5-10p7p5-9p7p5-10p7p5--/

Again, moving the tapping finger along the fretboard can be very helpful when writing a big tapping solo. Another tapping technique, which is quite similar to the one above is tapping to an open string then hammering on a note:

       T      T      T      T
B/--12p0h5-12p0h7-12p0h8-12p0h7--/

Basic tapping 3.
Same as the last excersise only a fourth finger is added. This excersise makes you sound like your playing real fast.

       T        T
B/--12p8p7p5-12p8p7p5--/

Advanced Tapping.
Heres where things get. To make tapping sound more fluent and smooth, it helps to get a pattern going where you're not just descending notes. This excersise involves ascending, then descending.

      T            T
B/--5h7h8h12p8p7p5h7h8h12p8p7p5--/

For this excersise, the first note has to be picked. this is where tapping with your middle finger comes in handy. It allows for quick switching between picking and tapping. Your hammer ons and pull offs have to be smooth for this excersise to sound right.

Advanced Tapping 2.
This excersise isn't all that advanced really so I'm not quite sure why its here but... This involves tapping a note twice before pulling off.

          T T         T T
B/--12-12p8p7p5-12-12p8p7p5--/

Pretty easy really.

Advanced Tapping 3.
Scales can also be tapped out. For example this is a minor pentatonic scale

       T         T        T         T         T        T
E/--12p8p5-------------------------------------------------/
B/------------12p8p5---------------------------------------/
G/---------------------12p7p5------------------------------/
D/-------------------------------12p7p5--------------------/
A/-----------------------------------------12p7p5----------/
E/--------------------------------------------------12p8p5-/

This also demonstrates how tapping can be done on any string.

Advanced Tapping 4.
Heres where it gets crazy. If your a total tech head like myself, who wants to be able to play anything, as fast is humanly(or inhumanly) possible. Heres where its at. 8 finger Tapping. The God himself (thats Steve Vai in case you were wondering) uses this alot. This is where all the fingers of your picking hand are used to tap out notes. Usually they are each assigned to a different string. This is a tapping part to one of steves songs (its not perfect though, I figured it out myself, still a small bit rough).

"Down Deep Into The Pain:"
               T                 T
E/-----------------------------------
B/--7h9h10h15p10p9p7-----------------
G/----------------------------14p9p8-
                 T              T
E/----------------------------------
B/--7h9h10h15p10p9p7----------------
G/---------------------------14p9p8-
                 T                         T
E/----------------------------7h9h10h17p10p9p7-
B/--7h9h10h15p10p9p7---------------------------
G/---------------------------------------------
       T                 T                       T  T         
E/-------------------------------------------------------
B/--15p10p9p7h9h10h15p10p9p7-----------------------------
G/-----------------------------------------14-14p9p8h9p8-

What I do for this is tap the G and B strings with my middle finger, and the E string with my ring finger. If ya wanna see some of this evil tapping, check out Vai's Alien lov secrets DvD. (Bad horsie has the coolest tapping solo ever). Well, I guess that just about wraps it up. Dont worry if ya dont get it first go, just keep practising. Thats all it is. What helps is to do these excersises slowly first, then build up speed as you get better. Well, best of luck. I hope it brings you many happy hours of relentless shredding.

Comments

[nickb-y]

1st

[Butterknife]

2nd. Next time you should get into arrpegios and string-skipping.

[jeremyrozario]

u might want to change the "h" for tapping to "t", its clearer dat way, anw thanx for the decent article

[Bilzzard_of_Ozz]

^Yea^ The T's on the tab are kinda out of position.

[slash_rhoads]

Thanks to Van Halen for creating Tapping...

[nickvictory88]

hey dude .. i juz copies this page ...coool~

[troutBoy]

van halen didn't create tapping, he just popularized it

[shmeegle]

hey thanx guys. about that t thing. I had the lesson all made out in notepad, but when i pasted it to UG it messed up the alignment. as for the h symbol, i use that cause your not tapping that note. i dunno. thats how i lerned it. whatever works for you is the main thing. Thanx again

[Epiphone_G_EX]

VAN HALEN DID CREATE TAPPING. No such lead was vague when he wasn't around. Only the average fast moving fingas

[PopPunkRock]

cool article

[FadeToBlack1]

he did create tapping, listen to teh second half of eruption, mighty impressive, and uyeah goot article im gonna stgart praciticin

[ManOfMetal]

Good Lesson...

[farcry]

eddie invented it while sitting with his guitar on the crapper.

[Devilsdue123]

lol

[#Safety_Dance#]

he didnt invnent right hand tapping it has been about way before him its just anyone who tried it was laughed at by all the experts of technique at the time

[#Safety_Dance#]

oh and eruption sucked only the wanna-b fans of van halen all say its amazin cuz its the only VH song they know

[shmeegle]

in fairness, eruption is pretty good. Hot for teacher is better but its a good solo all the same. personally i think vai taps (and plays) a million times better than van halen (or anyone else)

[milosmann]

Van halen did NOT invent tapping, but was one of the more popular artist who made it trendy in the 80's.
For me, He's a great guitarist and like Steve Vai has amazing technique, but often overdoes things.
I really prefer Joe Satriani, just an amazing guitarist with a great musicians head on his shoulders. He actually taught Vai to play too! CHeck him out.

[CandyCaneChild1]

safety dance, you are on crack. eruption does not suck. although i will level with you, the only VH song that wanna be fans know is eruption. that is right, but if you think eruption sucked then you have to be on some drugs.

[shmeegle]

Satch is pretty damn good too but i just think vai is amazing. I'm a total technique freak. He does go a bit crazy sometimes tho...

[The Jin]

eruption is like just inspirational stuff, its not THAT hard to play really... i mean if i can play it its not hard...

[me_myself_and_i]

vai is dandy and all, but hes not some super amazing out of this world player, he has great technique, but he cant touch satriani or malsteem, personally i dont go for his musical style, hes good, but he definantly isnt the best

[me_myself_and_i]

for you technique freaks out their check out richard giletwitz, im not sre if i spelled it right, but that guy is fast, and acurrate

[shmeegle]

Eruption is pretty easy. I could play it after a year. it has some great licks, like the really fast Pentatonic kina thing and the tapping lick sounds good. Its easy but it sounds good.

[playsguitaralot]

Ace Frehley was tapping long before Van Halen's Eruption. Ace said so himself in the January 2005 Guitar World issue.

[Chex]

Malmsteen wud rip Vai, Halen and Satri and day :P

[shmeegle]

Malmsteen is a cocky b***ard. He is good tho

[bimsterfls]

i

[Dark Bahamut]

Eddie Van Halen Rulez! Malmsteen was a great guitar player, but...

[tom_nik]

Malmsteem is no1 shredder

[Klayy]

tapping was invented w/ the classical guitar.

[stratguy08]

EVH is a good guitar player, but didn't invent tapping as Klayy said, Klayy:
tapping was invented w/ the classical guitar. the technique was made long ago but evh made it popular.

SRV 4ever!!!!

[metal_man12]

Cool article, although the T's were confusing at times. Van halen is an awsome taper, i'll give him that, some of his "improve solos at concerts kick ass. Yngwie malmsteem plays fast, and very cleanly. I havent heard anyone play as well as he.

[super666fender]

8 finger tapping?, you can still use four finger, you just have to move your hands like a demon , (thats what i do )

[shmeegle]

i dunno why they call it eight finger tapping, you only really ever use two of your right hand fingers, (left for all you lefties) to tap notes. max three. Two hand tapping might sound better, no... maybe not

[Xaemyl]

T
B/--12p5--/

What does the "p" mean? Pull-off? Pick?

[shmeegle]

it means pull off to that note. the t is sposed to be above the 12 but for some reason it didnt turn out that way

[Xaemyl]

Ahh! I see now. Thanks!

[jeffo]

did you see the instruction tape of malmsteen? thats not trying to teach something! he's just being an ***hole!!!.. ooooh look how good i am... wel eat **** malmsteen!!! check out friedman by the way!!!

[theartificer]

On Satriani teaching Vai: Actually, Vai came to Satriani to learn when they were kids, but Vai picked up on everything so fast that, soon, they were at the same level and began to learn mutually from then on. I could cite some interviews, but everyone here seems to enjoy hearsay so much--why not just let everyone wonder?

On the technical ability of both Vai and Satriani: Both are incredible guitarists, in their own right. However, I have only seen the word "virtuoso" applied to Mr. Vai--I'm not implying that he's better, but that's what I've seen. In any case, each of them has developed unique playing styles and techniques to compliment those styles, over the years. I believe that, if either one of them wanted to learn one of the other's techniques, he would surely have little difficulty. They're both incredible.

On who is the "best" guitarist of all time: Why on Earth does everyone try to answer this? No one, and I mean NO ONE, is qualified to even answer this question, let alone be the "best." However, if you want to know who the fastest guitarist is (that is, in terms of greatest number of audible and articulate notes played in a given period of time), then my vote goes to Buckethead. He's unbelievable. Check out the first 10 or so seconds of the song "Jowls" from his album Monsters and Robots. It's quite the jaw dropper. Oftentimes, sounds more like some stupid crazy electro-synth stuff... then you see him live. Besides, he's a freakin' mutant. Look at his hand and you'll begin to wonder how he can get it to stretch nearly the entire breadth of his Jackson flying-V from the beginning of his wrist to the tips of his fingers. Awesome. Cheers: to the music!

[theartificer]

One more thing (I'm know I'm gonna' be flamed for my long-windedness... ^_^), Yngwie Malmsteen has plenty of room to be cocky. Few people could be as good as he is after going through what he's gone through. Look up some info on the accident he endured and you'll find out just how much it took for him to completely relearn how to play. He actually seems quite humble from the video I've seen of him. Good and he knows it, I guess. :

[super666fender]

not bad v

[shmeegle]

You are a true legend man. that came from the heart. i recently bught a malmsteen cd actually. he is damn good. who does buckethead play with?

[GibsonSG1]

i have the new steve vai cd!!!..

no one in there right mind can say Satriani or vai is better than they other.

[theartificer]

Buckethead used to have a band called Praxis, I believe. Outside of that, he occasionally plays with Primus and has played with Guns and Roses, in the past.

[fenderlover]

e---..
b-0---1-2---..
g-0---1-2---.. ..d---..
a-2---0-0---..
e---..

How do you do that?(email me [e-mail]) thanks

[fenderlover]

^^^^
i mean 0 1 1
..0 2 2
..
..2 0 0

[fenderlover]

^^^..
gosh..... i mean where you strum A 2nd fret and B and G open at the same time.( how do you skip D)

[southern_stylin]

It'd be nice if we could print the lessons so I could practice them at home, not just read em at work and try to memerize everything. *hint hint UG mods.

[14GreenDay]

just copy the lesson and paste it to Microsoft Word and print it then. That seems a little esier than memorizing.

[14GreenDay]

easier*

[RelientK0289]

#Safety_Dance#:
oh and eruption sucked only the wanna-b fans of van halen all say its amazin cuz its the only VH song they know --- i agree with this guy... its definately overrated, theres no rythym to it, its kinda random

[RelientK0289]

hey southern stylin.. u could just click print this page.....

[milk_it_good]

It's definitely a wanking trick. I only like as a party trick, impressing chicks and MAYBE adding some crazy technical spice to a blazing solo top get da crowd amped.

[Pitch_axis]

The first tap guitar, created SPECIFICALLY for tapping (also known as stick guitar) was invented in 1969. Van halen didn't invent tapping

[Pitch_axis]

Also, for Yngwie, overcoming that car crash doesn't give him the right to be cocky. He hasn't made an effort to expand since the beggining, he can shred one scale and pull the same old tricks out of his ass. Buckethead also produces an immense number of solo albums. They are some of his best work, if you get the right ones, some are complete crap. Also, if you really get into Buckethead, some of Alan Holdsworth's stuff is similar.

Tapping is not a wanking trick, it deffinatly expands the guitar in a way that would be unachievable without it. Go to Jinmo.com and look at the St.Mika video. Or check out Trey Gunn

[Pitch_axis]

Just Figured I'd also say this
at the top of the shred forum under bands&artists
there is a carefully compiled list of the fastest guitarists

[SGmetalhaven67]

Dude whatcha guys smokin! First off we all forgot Dream Theatre's own John Petrucci. and Secondly, Eruption ain't all that. Sure its got some pretty sweet riffs. U wanna see somethin really impressive? check out Speed Metal Symphony by Cacophony. There isnt a wide cariety of techniques used, but it kicks Eruption's Ass. FRIEDMAN RULES!!!!!

[fuzzy slippers]

all this talk on fast playing you think someone would have said something about shawn lane? check him out im not saying hes better than any of the above mentioned but he is extremely good check him out

[diegordzs]

You should include example from the song One from Metallica, it has a great tapping riff.

[Gvo369]

If everything got jumbled up, where is the T supposed to go?

"Down Deep Into The Pain:"
T T
E/-----
B/--7h9h10h15p10p9p7-----

G/-----14p9p8-

[Gvo369]

If everything got jumbled up, where is the T supposed to go?

"Down Deep Into The Pain:"
T T
E/-----
B/--7h9h10h15p10p9p7-----

G/-----14p9p8-

[rhcpgtrfaggot]

ill agree, buckethead is great man and it sucks that not a lot of people recognize them. although i could be wrong about that. there is no best in my opinion, whatever techniques that are left out of one guitarists style, you can go right to the next and theyll probably cover it. vai even said in an article when asked "have you completely mastered the instrument" he said no. i hate it in malmsteens videos "heres a little thing you can play in an type of song or whatever" then plays something that you cant even take in inside of the 5 seconds that he plays it. maybe if they put the camera at an angle of the fretboard where you would normally look at it from that would make things easier.

[theataris_dan]

can someone please explain to me, the t on the tab is above the lower notes so does that mean cross over your hands and tap.
eg.
T T T T
B/--12p7p5-10p7p5-9p7p5-10p7p5--/

i didn't understand that so i just held the 7 and 5 and tapped the 12th fret for the first bit, is that right or can someone please explain to me in an easier way how to do it because it would be greatly appreciated you can email me at [e-mail]

THANK YOU

[theataris_dan]

in the above comment the t's which are above the frets are supposed to be above the middle notes of the little trills

[tappinghippie]

would i get jumped if i ventured to say that sometimes, less is more? while impressive, it just seems to lose something when you play as fast as you can.

[fretmaster13]

whoever thinks eddie van halen created tapping he didn't.

[numbfig09]

.....check out this dude named william dotto....he does 8 finger tapping...like all 8 fingers and it sounds amazing, and its not what you'd expect, he plays like multiguitar lines its really cool

[TySkby]

The chicago scene and post-metal mathrock has a lot of fingertapping to it. Check out Don Caballero or Dakota/Dakota or When All the World Sleeps or Maps and Atlases. Or better yet, Piglet. All of those guitarists are masters of fingertapping and can produce some unbelievable stuff. It sounds a lot different than the Van Halen, Vai, and metal stuff that you normally hear- very fresh. If anyone hasn't heard any of these bands, I strongly recommend that you do. Amazing!

Some good samples: http://worldsleeps.com/music.htm

[TySkby]

PS- A lot of the old fingertapping stuff is just single notes; I think it sounds a lot better when there are chords involved....not to mention a lot harder (no i can't do it myself). I like the sound of one chord tapped to another chord.

[Underthrone]

good article...hey guys who want to argue about guitar players: create a forum allready...

[Nyogtha]

If any of you know of an obscure guitarist named Kiko Loureiro, he does 8 finger tapping like no tomorrow, by far one of the best guitarists to use this technique. Ive seen videos of him playing classic music with 8 finger tapping.

[denizenz]

Nyogtha wrote:

If any of you know of an obscure guitarist named Kiko Loureiro, he does 8 finger tapping like no tomorrow, by far one of the best guitarists to use this technique. Ive seen videos of him playing classic music with 8 finger tapping.

Kiko is in the band Angra and he is a great guitarist. Also some guitarists worth mention:
Jason Becker
John Petrucci (Of Dream Theater)
Herman Li (Of DragonForce)

Anyone who thinks EVH is Teh B3st gu1tarist 3VER!!! needs to hop on Google-Video and watch the "Guitars SUCK" videos.

[reaperofyourmom]

van halen brought out tapping he didnt invent it. big diffrence

[Mythman99]

Friedman can't shred for shit.

If you don't believe me, then watch any live or in-studio video of him.

His picking hand looks like a young girl just starting out. SERIOUSLY.

But he is a great legato player.

[guitar999111]

reaperofyourmom :
van halen brought out tapping he didnt invent it. big diffrence

defanitly true he did not invent it

[guitar999111]

he still kicks ass thoth

[petergreen]

DAVE MUSTAINE!!!!!
\m/(>.

[eruptiondude]

first of all you idiots who bash about evh obviously dont know shit about guitar and rock history... Eruption doesnt seem THAT impressive anymore true, However for those of you who have lived long enough to be able to buy beer legally should probably know that EVH actually revolutionized guitar playing...before him there was nothing like it so you should give him some f***** credit for that. just look at all metal/rock bands who copied his style or atleast got inspiration from it. Just think about, where the hell did he look for inspiration when coming up with eruption?He also came up with alot new tricks to guitar world that alot of guitar players use today. I play alot of things harder that what EVH used to do, but I have alot guitar players to look up to. They didnt have speed kills in 1978 did they? Geeze young punks learn a difficult lick and they think that makes them better than someone else...And also why would you compare the Godfather of shredding to someone who came 10 years later...I mean technology is better now than it was 10 years ago. Guitar players are techically on average better now than they were 10 years ago..So why really say one is better than the other become he is more modern or have had longer time to copy of others... I can tap better than malmsteen does that make me better than malmsteen? NO IT DOESNT! In my opinion EVH is a true guitar Legend who created gate ways to later Shred masters as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Michael Angelo Batio etc...

[skiers_rock]

slash_rhoads wrote:

Thanks to Van Halen for creating Tapping...

amen

[skiers_rock]

i fix that quote to bringing out tapping. thanks reaperofyourmom

[superstrat man]

i love tapping. my alternate picking/shred skills suck but it helps to be able to play fast easy. any one wants to help my speed picking e-mail me [e-mail]

[Shadows_Fall666]

Xaemyl wrote:


T
B/--12p5--/



What does the "p" mean? Pull-off? Pick?

The "p" means pull-off

[Shadows_Fall666]

petergreen wrote:

DAVE MUSTAINE!!!!!
\m/(>.

I ****ing agree
\m/\m/