Any tips on tapping? =/

Alvaro Gomez really has a ton of insight to give on this subject matter and is really quite an astounding musician, so if he sees this, expect an answer that will satisfy your curiosity and more.

Free bump until then.

 

Have a look at some of billy sheehans stuff and stu hamm.

In the meantime hers a wee vid for ya (its me) just to give ya an idea or two!!

theres loads of mistakes in it coz i was only messin about. But the tappin starts halfway through and theres two different types

enjoy!

http://www.millsy.hostultra.com/bass_solo.avi

ps. because its recorded through a little fart box my tone sounds terrible lol, also as its a .avi file only the sound will play in windows media player. Not sure what program ya need to play it properly though

 

Victor Wooten has a video out, I have no idea what it's called but I have it on my comp. And he talks about first the flashy stuff he does, then how he was inspired etc etc...
then gets into tapping. And he explains how to play chords and everything.

Any victor wooten instructional video you can get your hands on would help.

Mark Wilson

 

I think you will like this:http://www.grantstinnett.com/videos/jubilee/index.htm

 

WOW! Thank you for your comment, Marcusalan! I'd really like to be that astounding. In fact, I've just tried to do my best at it because I've also liked the technique but still have lots to learn about it. Anyway, here's my tapping routine for beginners (based on Stu Hamm's). I'd really like to know that it's useful:

1- Play semitones with your left hand alone from the C on the E string, 8th fret. Use your metronome and take your time to play long notes with each finger (say, two clicks per note with your metronome at 60 bpm) making sure that each one sustains until the next comes in and sound the loudest possible. Only play C-C#-D-D#-D#-D-Db-C. When you feel comfortable with that, play the same thing with your right hand starting from the C on the A string, 15th fret. Your thumb should be placed on the fingerboard side. The right pinky is very difficult. I hardly use it, but maybe you'll be luckier than me with that. One important detail: Keep the notes fretted for making them long, but don't fret the next note without lifting your finger from the fret you just played (just before playing the next one). If you don't do this, the notes will sound really weak. Also, is also important to make sure that, when you play with your right hand, the left hand fingers are always resting on the strings. This will make your right hand-tapped notes to sound cleaner. BTW, the hair scrunchie that Victor Wooten uses is for those cases in which your left hand is so busy that can't help to prevent strings from undesired ringings. I use it for playing Van Halen's "Cathedral", for instance.

2- Play the same exercise, but this time alternating both hands, starting with the left. This also can be done by playing both notes simultaneously, but I prefer to alternate just for the sake of practicing independence from the beginning. Again, make sure each note sustains the most it can. This will create some dissonances when the left hand notes sound over the right hand notes. This is OK.

3- After you've mastered the previous exercises, play a one octave C major scale with your left hand alone, again starting with the C at the E string, 8th fret. This time you'll start with your middle finger. Use exactly the same fingerings as on regular playing: 2-4-1-2-4-1-3-4. Play it up and down and again, make sure you feel comfortable with this before doing it with your right hand starting from the C on the A string, 15th fret with your middle finger. You'll use the same fingerings here. One more time, the right pinky is frustrating. Don't forget to place your thumb's fingertip over the fretboard edge. Did I say use your metronome? Half notes at 60 bpm making them sound as long (connected) as possible.

4- Now do the same as with the semitones: Play the scale with both hands alternating each one. After you get this, try something trickier: Play the left hand up and your right hand down, also alternating. This means that your left hand will start with the C on the E string, 8th fret, middle finger, and your right hand will start with the C on the G string, 17th fret, pinky. Same recommendations as before and also play both hands up and down.

I think this is a good starting point. Let me know when you get this, so we can continue if you want. I posted this routine before along with an audio recording, but I can't find it in my HD. If you want, I can record the exercises again and send them to you. Let me know.

 

That's the stuff I referred to before

You had sent me the e-mail with the MP3 attachment and I had read your posts before about how one should position their hand and such and it really, really did help A LOT.

Your information is definitely worth a read from anyone who has any interest in tapping, not to mention your actual playing is great stuff too.

 

OK. Again, just let me know. Good luck!

 

hey, thats a mean vid of you doing "country music" on your site, mate! nice one! some tip top tapping (if i can say that without being hauled off by the taste police )

 

Thanks, man. Although it's a very sloppy performance (specially the slap parts), but I put it on Google Video because it was a great time (the crowd response still gives me chills) and I wanted to share that good vibe. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

I prefer a high action for tapping.