Tapping Technique: A Detailed Overview

Okay then, let's check out tapping technique now in a little bit more detail.

What is Tapping?

Tapping is a really distinctive sounding technique that you hear prominently in bands like Van Halen and other extreme rock bands from the '80s. If you're into flashy guitar solos, you will find this technique prevalent in those genres.

Benefits of Tapping

• Allows you to achieve wide intervals on the guitar
• You can position your left hand lower on the fretboard while using your right hand to tap higher notes
• Expands your creative possibilities with multiple finger techniques

Getting Started with Tapping

Choosing Your Fingers

• Middle Finger Technique: I prefer to use my middle finger for tapping. It makes the transition from picking to tapping smoother.
• Experimentation: Some players use their first finger or even multiple fingers for right-handed tapping. There's no right or wrong way, it's about what feels comfortable for you.

Basic Exercise

The phrase we're going to look at begins with a tapped note on the 12th fret. We'll be doing this on the B string. While practicing:

1. Keep Lower Strings Quiet: Use your palm to rest on the lower strings to prevent unwanted noise.
2. Hammer-On Technique:
   • Hammer on to the 12th fret with your right hand.
   • Prepare your first finger at the 5th fret on the same string.
   • Use your right hand to pull off to that note.

This exercise requires a lot of effort from the right hand. A good goal is to achieve a siren-like effect with equal volume between any two notes.

Muting Techniques

• Use your first finger to mute the E string.
• Use the palm of your right hand to keep the lower strings quiet.

Combining Techniques

A common next step is to add a hammer-on with the left hand to create a repeating pattern. The sequence would be:

1. Tap with the right
2. Pull off to the first finger
3. Hammer on with the third finger

This can lead to impressive speed and feels quite natural as you practice.

Rhythm and Grouping

You can group these notes for a deliberate rhythm:

• Example:
  • 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.

If you want to create a 4-note grouping (like a semi-quaver feel), try this order:

1. Tap
2. Pull off to the third finger on 8
3. Pull off to the first finger on 5
4. Hammer on again.

You should aim for equal volume with no strings ringing out.

Troubleshooting

• If you slow it down, you should hear the clarity of each note without any surrounding strings ringing out.
• If the strings are not muted properly, you'll get an underlying ringing sound that can muddy your playing.

Conclusion

That's tapping in a nutshell! It's a fun and effective technique that you will see featured in many songs in the Rock School series. Enjoy experimenting with tapping and let's move on to the next lesson!