Tapping? How to?

[fender099]

Hi all, I am encountering tapping in many vids these days, can someone tell me what it is and how to do it?

[miiitch]

uh .. you tap a string with your fingers, it touches the fret and makes a sound.

low action and not too heavy strings recommended

[AaronMB]

It's exactly what you're seeing in the videos: the fretting hand and the plucking/picking hand work together to tap out notes - pressing hard enough on the fingerboard, obviously.

Basically, if you watch carefully, the musician will sound a note by tapping (and holding) with a fretting hand/finger; then as that note is usually being held, the other hand/finger will hit a second note that is appropriate for whatever is being played. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. There's no secret formula - the player kind of needs to know what they're playing to make it sound good. Knowing your fingerboard, scales and etc, helps immensely - just like every exercise/technique on the guitar. Practice!

I just quickly searched YouTube (don't forget Google): "how to tap bass." There seem to be lots of hits. Try some of them.

[MrLenny1]

Check out You Tube videos of Grant Stinnett.
He has some good examples.
I studied with him.
Low action on your strings is helpful.

[fender099]

Ok, I have really heavy strings and not very low action, that's why it's not working.

[Rip Topaz]

MrLenny, I just checked out Grant Stinett.
Wow!! Made me want to burn my bass!! That guy is unreal. Of course, he's jamming with Michael Manring. That's no small feat.

[Kubicki440]

I use the .045 to .100 gauge sets. Seems to work best for me for tapping and working on some Stu Hamm pieces.

I will have to watch that video.

[RhynoRock]

John Myung has a pretty basic tapping lesson for his bass solo from Metropolis. This vid will help a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVJ2zbGmMAI

[ZeroSymbolic]

There is a guy named Scott Devine, who I think is even a user here. He had a great tapping lesson but I can't find it right now. You might PM him about it.

[Bayonet]

I do a lot of tapping,my string gauge is .35 to .90 or 95 i don't remember..
I do have really low action.. when i'm tapping i usually think of scales and chords,i have a video online but nothing instructional tbh.
What i can say to help you is that you should work on knowing your fretboard and scales/chords as that can help immensily with note choices!
Hope i helped,also excuse me for my not-so-good english,not a native speaker :P