Tapping Scales (or tapping arpeggios)

[The Pecker]

I am a huge fan of Randy Rhoads. I recently aquired the tab for "Laughing Gas (live)" that he did with Quiet Riot. There is a large solo at the end of the song, where in one section he taps up and down a series of notes, which I believe is a scale (probably minor pentatonic), and I think they're called tapping arpeggios too. Anyways, I never knew that Randy had done tapping arpeggios, and on attempting to learn how to play this perticular lick, I found a problem. Whenever I go down or up a string, I must pick the string then tap. I found this very hard since it is fast, and since when I tap the pick is inbetween my middle and ring finger.

I'm sure there is a more efficient way to switch strings while tapping quickly. I tried hammering onto the next string but I found this very challenging also. I had to about beat the s**t out of the following string to get noise out of it. Anyways, heres the lick and if anyone could help it would be cool.

*- Sorry I'm an idiot and can't paste PowerTab and so heres the entire file. It starts on line 193.

Thanks.

[phantom]

Or there is no file attached. :p ;)

Anyways... hammering onto the next string with your left hand is probably the way to go.
Or you have to "hide" the pick in a different way.
Or you learn to tap with a different finger.
(E ver tried tapping with the middle finger?)

Good luck.. and maybe you can manage to attach the file later.
:)

[The Pecker]

Sorry about that. I do tap with the middle finger. When I tap I just hold the pick between my index finger and thumb like I usually pick with and extend my middle finger. I am very combfortable with it and it seems to work.

Anyways, heres the file.

[Bizarro]

Those are tapped harmonics, 12 frets above the fretted note. Note the standard notation above the tab, and you'll see it. It also says to let the notes ring. So just hold down the chord shape with your left hand and tap away!

He's just tapping the octave, which is 12 frets above the fretted note. Example: 5th fret + 12 = 17th fret.

This technique has been common for several decades... :)

[Bande]

Yess!! And I LOVE THIS technique! (Fretting a chord, and arpeggiating it by tapping its notes 12, 7 or 5 frets above. The 5 frets stuff is tough, though)

[EricV]

It´s a technique Eddie Van Halen likes to use a lot, too. Kinda similar to harp harmonics, yet it has a more percussive sound. ( Check out the intro of "Spanish Fly" by Van Halen for an example of Eddie using it )

It´s weird to see someone mention "Laughing Gas". Somehow it seems as if that album ( "The Randy Rhoads Years" by Quiet Riot ) kinda was forgotten over time, even though it features remastered versions of some of the early QR songs, plus the "Laughing Gas" solo, which is a great example of Randy´s chops, especially when considering his age at the time.
I remember reading a huge feature on it in GFTPM ( also had a full TAB ), and after I had finally found the album, I listened to it a LOT.
Eric

[UKRuss]

Eric, any tips on the technique? I can generally only get them to sound, loud and clear at the octave...

Anywhere else, ,like Bande mentions at the 5th fret, it's tough to get the to ring clear and loud.

[EricV]

That isn´t unusual. The easiest way for me to get them is when I use a load of gain. An integral part here is muting all adjacent strings with the left or right hand.
You´re supposed to use plenty of strength ( slapping down the string ), and in order to avoid unwanted noise, muting is really important.
I attached a soundfile of me doing tapped harmonics on the G- and D-string. I hold the A ( 2nd fret, G-string ), and later on E ( 2nd fret D-string ) and then randomly tap the harmonics at the 14th, 11th, 9th and 7th ( so 12, 9, 7 and 5 frets above ).
As you can prolly tell, I am not getting all of them to ring out clearly, but I guess I got most of them right =)
Guitar used: Washburn N2 with a DiMarzio Super Distortion
Sound device: Digitech RP50

Eric

[Bizarro]

I suggest practicing... :) It takes a great deal of accuracy to get these right. I've been a tapping fool for decades and it still is hard to get some of them. I suggest moving the "root" note all around and creating an etude or two to practice.

BTW, the 9th fret is equal to the 4th fret harmonic. Eddie usually does the 7th, 5th, 4th, back and forth. Check out the Live Without a Net DVD to see a master at work.