I Wanna Tap

[theroan]

If I want to learn how to do tapping, where should start learning from? ie Books, DVD instruction, get tabs for easy pieces (that I don't know of) and move up?


Recommendation?

[crazyguy832]

http://www.bassmasta.net/scripts/search.php (scratch that... look down)

I highly reccomend that little series.

^_^

[EADG mx]

Before anything I'd start by evaluating and possibly tweaking your bass setup.

[BassJunkie13]

Once you have tapping down check out Moonlight sonata. I couldnt tell you easy taping songs because when I started taping I did it on my own without any kind of lesson or easy songs or anything.

[crazyguy832]

Sorry, link was bad...

http://www.bassmasta.net/b/bass_lessons/164862.html

There's the first one in the series.

[wdinc01]

When I started, I worked on F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X. by the Fall of Troy. Actually, I still work on it because I really can't do it very well. I think its good for exercise. After that, I worked on Flow of My Tear (The Policeman Said) by Stu Hamm. A little more complex, but also a good tapping piece.

But I guess it also depends on what style of tapping you want to do.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Click here and read the whole thread since you'll find some transcriptions inside. Hope that helps.

[EADG mx]

I recommend that you start out using all of your fingers.

[amos]

Watch the Vic Wooten instructional videos on YouTube, building up strength fretting with your other hand is the key. Then start tapping

[EADG mx]

Some of the best advice regarding two-handed playing, in my opinion, is to think of it not as two hands, but as one hand with 8 fingers.

[buckeyeshakr101]

Originally Posted by crazyguy832

Sorry, link was bad...

http://www.bassmasta.net/b/bass_lessons/164862.html

There's the first one in the series.

Yeah that's what I used to get into it
I got DMV [Primus] kinda down, and went from there, but that series does a lot more than I expected
Great stuff
That and the Wooten vids where he talks about starting out by taping out chords
Same thing - helped me a lot

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Some of the best advice regarding two-handed playing, in my opinion, is to think of it not as two hands, but as one hand with 8 fingers.

+1

That is good advice. I like to think of a piano to get the timing from my right hand fingers right.


Perhaps a bit OT but:

What is the best kind of bass to tap on?

I'm guessing fretted (it's difficult on my fretless),
with the lightest roundwound strings you can find.
34" scale or less? Heavy body? Piezo pickup?
6-string instead of 4 or 5?

Anyone knows what would be the ultimate tapping bass?

[crazyguy832]

It's whatever you're used to. I find one-handed tapping is easier on four-string basses while two-handed is easier on 5s/6s, but that's just me. In reality, it's whatevery you're comfortable with.

With strings... I use medium bottom, reg-light top weight strings and don't have any trouble. If I used a full medium set it might be a litlte bit harder, but, once again, it's whatever you're comfortable with.

[51m0n]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

+1
Anyone knows what would be the ultimate tapping bass?

Chapman Stick

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by 51m0n

Chapman Stick

That would be the ultimate tapping instrument.

But I mean a the ultimate tapping conventional bass guitar.
A bit modified off course.

[51m0n]

Number of strings to suit you, good low(ish) action would be it really.

I dont think its easy to classify.

After all the best known bassist who taps IMO is Michael Manring. He works of a hugely modified bass, a Zon Hyperbass. Fretless, 4 strings, 3 Octave neck , 2 detuners on the bridge, 1 detuner per string.

I get by handsomely on my 4 string too, though I'm no Manring I can assure you

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by crazyguy832

It's whatever you're used to. I find one-handed tapping is easier on four-string basses while two-handed is easier on 5s/6s, but that's just me. In reality, it's whatevery you're comfortable with.

With strings... I use medium bottom, reg-light top weight strings and don't have any trouble. If I used a full medium set it might be a litlte bit harder, but, once again, it's whatever you're comfortable with.

I am comfortable with light strings (from my little experience). And 4-string is enough for two handed tapping for me, since I don't do complex stuff.
I'm not that experienced with tapping anyway, since I play exlusively fretless. And I can't tap that well on fretless either.
Some guys can tap great on fretless I heard.

So that's why I popped the question. I'm perhaps considering a fretted bass and use it solely for tapping.
The cheapest way to customize a bass perfectly set up for tapping.

[51m0n]

I think you either have tapping down well enough to get a clean note or not.

Given a reasonable action fretted and fretless would be no different in this regard, except the intonation issue with fretless and if thats your main instrument you should be all over that anyways.

Check out Manring (he is all over youtube) if you havent already - he is truly monsterous and all about fretless. I recommend his video too since it goes into a very refined explaination of developing even finger strength/dexterity across all fingers.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by 51m0n

I think you either have tapping down well enough to get a clean note or not.

Given a reasonable action fretted and fretless would be no different in this regard, except the intonation issue with fretless and if thats your main instrument you should be all over that anyways.

Check out Manring (he is all over youtube) if you havent already - he is truly monsterous and all about fretless. I recommend his video too since it goes into a very refined explaination of developing even finger strength/dexterity across all fingers.

Thanks, I will check out Manring videos.

But how about sound?
I like to hear tapping on fretted. It has more of a deep piano feeling.
That's maybe the reason I don't tap on my fretless, because I don't like the sound. (Partly because I'm not that good maybe.)

[Sandman1278]

my first song was jerry was a racecar driver, start of with simple stuff, dont worry to much aout counterpoint yet