What am I doing wrong with tapping...

Bass Tees · #1 04-08-2008, 10:07 AM

I've been searching around this forum and watching some youtube vids. I want to start doing some 2 hand tapping on my bass but when I tap my strings I never seem to get the correct sound. It's always just a really quiet thud. Anybody have any suggestions to get me going in the right direction?

lemur821 · #2 04-08-2008, 01:45 PM

Maybe you aren't keeping the note solidly fretted when you put your finger down.

Darkstrike · #3 04-08-2008, 01:49 PM

Is your sleeve muting the strings, this used to happen me when starting with tapping.

Bass Tees · #4 04-08-2008, 02:00 PM

It's not my sleeve. Maybe I am paying too close attention to my right hand and not eonugh to my left.

I was also thinking it might be my action... could it be set too high? Too low?

EADG mx · #5 04-08-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Tees

I was also thinking it might be my action... could it be set too high? Too low?

It could be either. I like mine as low as possible without getting any fretbuzz

Probably a stupid thing to ask, but are you using flats?

Also try adjusting your EQ.

A thuddy sound can also be caused by playing a Warwick.

mutedeity · #6 04-08-2008, 06:20 PM

There could be several reasons why you aren't getting the tone you are after.

Firstly, your technique might not be developed enough. You need to fret the notes solidly and hold them in place against the fingerboard.

Secondly, your setup might be causing you problems. If your action is very high it will make it harder for you to get a decent attack when you play the note. Most players that tap will have fairly low action on their bass.

Thridly, string gauge might be a factor. This is probably less of a factor than technique and setup but lighter gauge strings might make tapping a bit easier. I always recommend starting on heavier gauge strings though and moving to lighter gauge strings for strength building reasons.

Lastly, EQ might have something to do with the tone you are getting. Once again this is probably less of a factor than the first two, but if you are looking for a certain attack and you have all your tops rolled off, for example then you won't get the response you are looking for necessarily.

My advice is to;
1. Do some exercises to improve your technique
2. Think about how much your action is a factor in your problem. Maybe take it for a setup and mention that you want the action a little lower so you can tap
3. Try adjusting your EQ settings and see if it helps
4. Maybe get some lighter gauge strings. I don't recommend you do this until you have tried the first three at least and even then, as I said before, you should probably use heavier strings to until you have built your strength up. That way it is a preference and not a crutch.

Good luck

BuffaloBass · #7 04-08-2008, 08:12 PM

Make sure you anchor that hand somehow, usually the thumb, Otherwise you wont get enough clamping force to properly sound the note. All there is to it. Guitar plyers dont need clamping force.

mutedeity · #8 04-08-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Make sure you anchor that hand somehow, usually the thumb, Otherwise you wont get enough clamping force to properly sound the note. All there is to it. Guitar plyers dont need clamping force.

I usually rest my thumb on the edge of the fingerboard. I don't know if it's about "clamping force" per see but it does give me a sense of stability when I am using my right hand to tap.

hockey_head · #9 04-08-2008, 08:21 PM

compression helps also

El-Bob · #10 04-08-2008, 08:24 PM

good advice above, it sounds to me as if you're playing unplugged and getting the sound of the string from behind the note you're tapping. you usually need to be plugged in in order to get a proper tapping sound.

mutedeity · #11 04-08-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey_head

compression helps also

Personally I don't recommend compression as a solutioin to any technical problem.

mothmonsterman · #12 04-08-2008, 08:32 PM

Hit harder,
Also i've noticed with out an amp it's extremely if not impossible to get the right sound.

To add to this, anyone got any execises or songs that are good to learn to develop this tech?

soong · #13 04-08-2008, 08:36 PM

look around for youtube vids for tapping exercises, theres plenty. try this one
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gZGCUwvoMzs

HaVIC5 · #14 04-08-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Make sure you anchor that hand somehow, usually the thumb, Otherwise you wont get enough clamping force to properly sound the note. All there is to it. Guitar plyers dont need clamping force.

This is a common misconception, and a very detrimental one at that. "Clamping force" only will hurt your ability to play cleaning and fluidly. I only anchored my right hand's thumb for about half of this piece, and "clamping force" was not a part of my technique at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fduv3nF-kFA

(Excuse my constant posting of this video, but its relevant)

whoneedstherapy · #15 04-08-2008, 09:24 PM

I'm only new to tapping as well but i have found one thing in particular has helped my development.

I play with a medium - medium low action. to cope with this ive been practicing a "smooth" tap where my finger moves at the same pace downwards and back up off the string. This has greatly reduced the number of muffled/muted/thudded notes (and i do play a warwick

)

lemur821 · #16 04-08-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

This is a common misconception, and a very detrimental one at that. "Clamping force" only will hurt your ability to play cleaning and fluidly.

+1e6

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

Hit harder,
Also i've noticed with out an amp it's extremely if not impossible to get the right sound.

To add to this, anyone got any execises or songs that are good to learn to develop this tech?

I wouldn't recommend just hitting harder to a person learning to tap. There's nothing to be gained by beating your fingers up when you can't even get them in the right place. With proper technique, playing more softly will only make you quieter.

Here are some exercises.
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/lesson.php?lessonid=236

mothmonsterman · #17 04-09-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

+1e6

I wouldn't recommend just hitting harder to a person learning to tap. There's nothing to be gained by beating your fingers up when you can't even get them in the right place. With proper technique, playing more softly will only make you quieter.

Here are some exercises.
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/lesson.php?lessonid=236

I didn't say that very clearly, i don't mean RAWR HULK SMASH TINY FRET!!, i mean try hitting the strings enough to firmly fret the note.

I've noticed on a few of my basses with higher action i do have to strike a little bit harder to fret the note and get it to sound correctly.

Thanks for the link though, better than a book i have completely dedicated to tapping.

Bass Tees · #18 04-09-2008, 08:14 AM

Big thanks to everybody for the help. I'm going to try some of these exercises and see if anything improves. I think my action is still too high.

And to answer a previous post, I am using rounds, not flats.

tiguriuss · #19 04-12-2008, 12:51 AM

There is a good Victor Wooten technique for baisic tapping, baisically a jazzy riff that can be repeated and solo'd to

-----15-15-----15-15----
-----15-15-----14-14----
-------------3-----------
---3---------------------
And repeat. change the sequence, change what you will it is just a basic riff for beginners of tapping. I like to use my middle finger on the left for the G and C because it is much stronger

(edit) Oh yeah, i forgot to mention. Make sure when you're tapping you're using the very tips of your fingers. It doesn't work otherwise...

Fretlessboy · #20 04-12-2008, 06:59 AM

remember this, you have watched guitar player tap on .08's and 11's... it takes a flick to get that done. .45's or so take a lot more force to move. Make sure your right hand is coming straight down on the fingerboard. If you are coming down at an angle, you are losing the bulk of the attack. Be patient and work without a compressor, in the long run it will help.