tapping solos

[corpsegrinder]

I have, ever since picking up a bass for the first time, felt an affinity to right-hand tapping, yet despite my constant practice (mostly pentatonic scales), my technique seems to have hit a wall. Any suggestions on how to achieve tone such as that of Erlend Caspersen of Blood Red Throne (Taste of God is a good song to check out) or Stefan Fimmers of Necrophagist?

[Erlend]

I for one turn my bass way down when I record, forcing myself to play as hard as possible. another thing is to use no effects like compressor and such, add them later. the point being,get it to sound good before you start processessing sound.

[Rattlehead]

Coming from a complete amateur when it comes to tapping:

I think for both tone and playability setup will is extremely important. Of course your setup is important for all playing but especially so for tapping. But exactly what setup is ideal is beyond me. What I like for regular play is low strings with very little relief, and I get no fret buzz (unless I whale on the strings), but when tapping I do, even when I'm pressing hard and being fairly accurate.

Also, when it comes to tapping, the difference in sound between different strings is greater than usual, as you are usually fairly high up the neck.


Apart from that I don't know much about tapping, and especially tapping tone, which is your question, and on which I've never heard anyone discuss, in forums or elsewhere. I hope other posters can help!

[Stingray_EB]

I know how you feel but trust me there is no wall ! Just keep going with practice, I was hopeless at slapping I gave up after a month because I thought I just cant do it , but I just kept trying and now I can play Larry Grahame etc easily, never give up on practicing !

[Rattlehead]

Originally Posted by Erlend

I for one turn my bass way down when I record, forcing myself to play as hard as possible. another thing is to use no effects like compressor and such, add them later. the point being,get it to sound good before you start processessing sound.

Well, well. We get a reply for Erlend himself.


So, why is it that playing harder is better? I can definately see why you want to make a good sound before processing, but wont using lots of force bring your speed down (I know it seems funny asking you this!).

[MarkTAW]

Foam Mutes.

At the first fret.

Not at the bridge.

To mute the sound of the strings going in the "wrong" direction from the tap.

[Erlend]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead

Well, well. We get a reply for Erlend himself.


So, why is it that playing harder is better? I can definately see why you want to make a good sound before processing, but wont using lots of force bring your speed down (I know it seems funny asking you this!).

Yeah, I peep in every now and then. been a while now ,though.
if we`re talking about 230-250 16ths parts I tend to play light to get every note out there and rather turn the level up on that particular part. Getting an even sound from 4ths in a medium tempo to 16ths in the aforementioned tempoes is pretty far fetched , for most normal human beings, if you aim to have them sound the same in volume . but harder is better is a pretty relative term. The music I play usually demands the hardest possible attack to get heard through the mix. so use what you got,really.

[corpsegrinder]

I've found that putting a pencil under the 12th fret helps build right-hand tapping strength as well as left hand flexibility. does this help with speed, and if not, what does??

[corpsegrinder]

btw, thanks erlend. see if you can get stefan in on this lol

[chaosMK]

It helps if you have a good quality bass, set up with fairly low action. As soon as I picked up my Cirrus my tapping really blossomed. I dont use anything other than my bass and my hands to get the sound, though I've been learning how to use tapping for at least a few years. A compressor might help a little bit, but I dont use a compressor any more either.

Here is an example of my tapping (most of the song is tapping) - www.myspace.com/leftbrainmusic "SINGERWANTED2"

[Beast]

Originally Posted by corpsegrinder

btw, thanks erlend. see if you can get stefan in on this lol

Stefan actually has responded to a few threads in here, it's quite possible.

[corpsegrinder]

Originally Posted by Beast

Stefan actually has responded to a few threads in here, it's quite possible.

You sure about that? what's his username?

[tomas_almeida]

Stefan only came here once that I can remeber.