Tapping

[Leftybass12]

I have recently been looking at many bassists who tap, mostly Wooten, Hamm, and Manring. In order to achieve good tapping obviously comes with practice, but are there any other ways to achieve good tapping? What I mean by this is lighter gauge strings, lowering action, ect.

If this helps at all here are the basses that I use and the strings that are strung with them

Ibanez GSR200FM strung with Ernie Ball Coated Strings: Regular slinky .050 - .105

Ibanez SR506 strung with D'Addario XL Nickelwound .032 - .135

Carvin Custom B-5 lined fretless strung with D'Addario XL Nickelwound .45 - .130

 

[Rick Nicak]

I play 40-95's on my Spector 4. You are correct about having low action and practice as well.

 

[ninefingerbass]

A knowledge of chords, triads, inversions and theory would help too. Knowing this will help you in creating a piano-like sound. In return if you can do this, you'll have a better grasp of the fretboard. If you have an amount of knowledge of the fretboard it'll be that much easier. But practice, practice, practice...

 

[markkoelsch]

My experience would think that generally a slightly lighter string, low action, and a lot of practice.

Specifically, at one point I did a lot of tapping, and essentially fast legato type playing. My action was really low. If I played fingerstyle my right hand had to be very light in it's attack or I would get a lot of clank. I then got a second bass, and used the first as essentially the tapping bass.

Technique wise I think some type of muting with either a scrunchy near the nut, or some judicous muting of the right hand tapped string lower on the neck with the left hand will help get a solid tone.

 

[Zander4724]

I definitely agree with markkoelsch that some kind of muting near the nut will help get a nicer tone. Unfortunately, the problem is that open strings and harmonics then become pretty much dead. I think I've seen some guys who slide the scrunchy or hair band just beneath the nut when they tap and then slide it back up when they want to use their open strings.

 

[Michael Manring]

I agree that low action makes for easier tapping, but I'm not sure about string gauges. Lighter strings tend to have less tension, which can be nice, but heavier strings offer a bigger "target" making it less likely you'll miss or slip off.

I definitely agree with ninefingerbass's advice to learn as much as you can about the mechanics of harmony, so that what you do with tapping will have more musical purpose and relevance. Tapping offers lots of cool rhythmic possibilities too, so I think it makes sense to understand things from that perspective as well.

As far as muting devices go, the number of strings you're using might have a bearing on what you decide to do. Personally, when I'm using only 4 strings I rarely find it difficult to stop unwanted resonance with my hands, but when I've played instruments with a lot more strings it gets much trickier.

 

[Leftybass12]

Thank you very much Mr. Manring!! Also, thank very much to everyone else who has contributed to this question!!
Again since I'm farely new at tapping this all helps out a lot! One more question though. I would assume that practicing tapping on a 4 string would be the way to go first, correct?

 

[Kipaste]

Whatever suits you. For me, tapping is easier with a 6 string. Less position changes and more possibilities when playing chords, even though muting is a bit tricky in the beginning. Also the tension just seems a bit differend on a six, dunno why, but it seems to suit tapping. I've never been comfortable tapping a four string, but that is probably because I like traditional, fender type instruments when it comes to four bangers..

 

[Leftybass12]

Whatever suits you. For me, tapping is easier with a 6 string. Less position changes and more possibilities when playing chords, even though muting is a bit tricky in the beginning. Also the tension just seems a bit differend on a six, dunno why, but it seems to suit tapping. I've never been comfortable tapping a four string, but that is probably because I like traditional, fender type instruments when it comes to four bangers..

I'll give it a try on my 6 string. Not too long ago I just learning the intro the Dream Theater song Scarred, the bass intro has tapping, and without any freaky tuning on a 5 string or even a 4 string, which would be extremely hard to play the intro on a 4 string, and I found it pretty easy on the 6 string.