Want to master tapping for guitar and use it to make your playing more impressive and creative?
You got it!
I always struggling to perform tapping technique when I was younger.
I couldn’t figure out what players like EVH or Steve Vai were doing that I wasn’t doing.
Finally, I took lessons with a local guitar teacher.
Then I saw what I was doing wrong.
With the help of a guitar teacher, I was able to transform my skills and become the player I am today.
The following video demonstrates the five things that changed my tapping technique forever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lt1__0Y8cI
Now you’ve seen the video, and it’s time to learn three more killer tips to improve your tapping technique.
Plus:
You don’t need virtuoso level skills to use them in your playing right now.
Study these tips:
Guitar Tapping Tip #1. Use Two-Hand Tapping With Your Arpeggios
Tapping makes sweep picking arpeggios sound even more impressive and jaw-dropping than before.
Watch Mike Philippov, my student, perform tapping with arpeggios:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L77Sj14MHlU
Want to play the same etude he is playing? It’s right here (doesn’t cost a thing).
Tip: It’s easier to switch quickly between sweeping and tapping when you keep your picking hand close to the pickup near the neck.
Guitar Tapping Tip #2. Create Harmonics By Tapping Them
You can tap harmonics by simply tapping the fret five, seven or twelve frets higher than the one you are currently fretting.
This process helps you do it:
1. Hold down the 9th fret of the A string on your guitar with your fretting hand index finger.
2. Use the middle finger of your picking hand to lightly touch the 21st fret of the same string. As soon as you do this, move your finger up/away from the fret.
This is how you create a harmonic.
Continue this approach by tapping on frets 14 and 16 to play two more harmonics.
Tip: Don’t push down the string to create the harmonic with your picking hand finger. This creates a regular note instead of the harmonic.
Guitar Tapping Tip #3. Tapped Vibrato
You can make your guitar licks much more unique and expressive using vibrato with your tapped notes.
These steps help you master it:
1. Fret any note on the fretboard.
2. Use your picking hand to tap a note above the pitch you are fretting. For now, make sure it is in the same key.
3. Now apply the vibrato using your fretting hand.
Watch this video to see a demonstration of tapped vibrato.
Want to make your tapped vibrato sound great? Here are the two keys to doing it:
Key #1: Use proper fretting hand vibrato that has a balance between speed and depth.
Don’t play with vibrato that is really fast and narrow.
Also don’t play too slow and wide.
This video demonstrates what great vibrato sounds like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99fdscYeUkg&feature=emb_title
Key #2: Control string noise.
Sloppy noise ruins guitar playing.
How do you avoid creating unwanted noise?
I show my students three ways to prevent it.
Here they are:
Now that you understand some cool way to tap on guitar, learn how to play guitar with faster speed.
About The Author:
Tom Hess is a guitar teacher online, progressive rock guitarist/composer and a touring musician. He teaches guitar players in his rock guitar lessons online. Go to tomhess.net to get more guitar playing resources and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
