Tapping Problems

[Rockson]

I cant seem to get tapping right..... i know the in too deep solo but just cant get enough sound out when i tap. What should i do?

[wild_child]

thats the most likely solution, keep at it and you'll gradually see improvement. the in too deep solo isnt the best song to learn how to tap with though, since its actually played with pulloffs and is picked instead of tapped on the recording.

to increase the definition of your tapped notes i would reccommend satch - day at the beach, its played clean so you really gotta work on getting those notes to sound. it does have 2 finger tapping though, but nothing too hard.

[Bizarro]

It helps to have really big frets.

I agree that you might need to tap harder. When I tap unplugged you can really hear my finger whacking the fretboard. Crisp execution is needed to make it sound clean. Try practicing unplugged for awhile and really concentrate on making the notes ring clear.

[Wiebren]

Well this help'd me, you problebly know what a hammer on is, just try to see your tapping hand as your fretting hand. Not just put your tapping finger straight on the fretboard vertical, but when u hit the the sting make a little horisontal move to the floor like you would do with a pull of. well i hoped i help'd it shure wasnt easy to explain in english for me:P.

Greets Wiebren

[RandyEllefson]

You can try tapping with a different finger. Depending on the part, I use either my index or middle finger. If your left hand is also doing hammer-ons, etc., that has to be strong as well. The problem could be there.

[D-Day]

I shocked the crap out of everyone when I suddenly started doing the fret-tepping opening to the "One" solo by Metallica. Though no else noticed, I knew it wasn't sounding as good as the real one, so this is what I did to improve it. Wiebren said basically what I was going to say. Just when you tap, tap more diagonally than straight down, that way it acts as more of a pull-off, making the note ring clear. But if you want a cheap way to do it, tap with your pick instead of your finger. It doesn't sound quite the same, but the tapped note is louder.

[wild_child]

i believe the solo to 'one' is actually tapped with a pick on the recording (according to my ...and justice.. tab book) its not so much an easier or 'cheap' way of doing it, but just a way of producing a different sound (although the tapped notes are clearer)
another thing i feel like mentioning is that loads of people play the tapping part to 'one' wrong - they play it like

19-15-12-19-15-12-19-15-12-19-15-12 etc..

when it is actually an alternating pattern of

19-15-12-19-12-15-19-15-12-19-12-15 etc

it keeps that pattern throughout the tapping part. (sorry, just a little pet hate type thing of mine :) ) it makes it ALOT more challenging to play that up to speed than the first way (dont underestimate mr. hammett!! :D )

i also find that i can tap faster with a pick than with fingers, i dont know if that applies to everyone though.

there is however a way to cheat with tapping - using distortion; the more of it, the clearer your taps will be. but its best just to learn how to do it properly than to kid yourself.

[D-Day]

i believe the solo to 'one' is actually tapped with a pick on the recording (according to my ...and justice.. tab book) its not so much an easier or 'cheap' way of doing it, but just a way of producing a different sound (although the tapped notes are clearer)
Yeah, that's what I read, I'll do it either way, though I enjoy challenging myself to get it to sound the same just using my finger.

another thing i feel like mentioning is that loads of people play the tapping part to 'one' wrong - they play it like

19-15-12-19-15-12-19-15-12-19-15-12 etc..

when it is actually an alternating pattern of

19-15-12-19-12-15-19-15-12-19-12-15 etc

it keeps that pattern throughout the tapping part. (sorry, just a little pet hate type thing of mine :) ) it makes it ALOT more challenging to play that up to speed than the first way (dont underestimate mr. hammett!! :D )

Yeah, I was lucky enough to find a good tab of the song, and don't worry, I'm not underestimating him, he's psychotic on the guitar. :eek:

i also find that i can tap faster with a pick than with fingers, i dont know if that applies to everyone though.

there is however a way to cheat with tapping - using distortion; the more of it, the clearer your taps will be. but its best just to learn how to do it properly than to kid yourself.

Ditto and ditto. :)

[LarryJ]

Randy Rhoads used the pick to tap in the Crazy train solo, yet he used his fingers (at least I'm assuming he did) to tap the parts in flying high again. It's just a different sound...

[forgottenking2]

And don't forget the Satch's masterpiece Surfing with the Alien... The first 2 or 4 bars of his solo are done using "pick tapping" technique.

About a good piece to work on tapping try Joe Satriani's The forgotten 1 is not as hard as "Day at the beach" (even though it sounds like it) and it really makes you work it... then you could try Dreamer by Eric... once you got those two down pretty good move up to Day at the beach and if you can do that one, work on Midnight, and once you can play that one perfect... then... well then you'll be better than me :D

Just with like any technique, ease your way to it.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

[oRg]

Ya know I had the same problem when I first started to tap. The problem is your not actually tapping hard enough. Try this:

1. When you tap instead of pulling straight off of the string pull up on it when your tapping.
2. Obviously make your right-hand fingers stronger by tapping (comes with experience).
3. Don't just tap for a few minutes and then quit. Tapping for a few minutes will not really get you anywhere. You need to tap for like 30+ minutes (with breaks). This is how you develop callouses and with these you can tap harder and it wil have a little better sound.
4. Know/learn what to play and how to play it. I feel IMHO that when you tap use your neck pick-up. I've come across alot of guitarists that use the bridge and this kinda drowns out the tapping part but mainly more focuses on the pull-offs and hammer-ons. Now even though I think "One" is a great solo, i don't think you should start of with something as repetative as that. I would recommend the tapping portion of "Eruption" by Van halen. Don't be discouraged it's not as hard as it looks. Once you can play that then I'd look to solos like "One" and my fav "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani.

My methods may not work but hey it's something to start from. Also don't confine yourself to one finger either. Play with them all...pinky included. You'll be able to pull off some crazy stuff when you get it down. Overall have fun and just keep at it.