How to Use Tapping Techniques for Bass Guitar

It's more popular for lead guitar solos, but bass guitar players can also use tapping to produce impressive note triplets or other structures. The tapping technique makes use of string dynamics to create innovative sounds on the guitar; it's a study in the way players produce notes through quick changes in string tension.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pluck a good strong note on an open string of the bass guitar (with your left hand off of the string).

2. Add your finger to a fret of the string. Your choice of fret will make up the note progression you want. This technique is called a "hammer on" because the quick action of you finger down on the string adds a little sound by changing string tension.

3. Use one finger of your right hand to hit a fret high up on the neck. Use a pecking or stabbing motion to decisively press your finger down on the fret. If your string hasn't been muted in any way, you should hear a clear high note.

4. Release your finger from the high note, and while you do this, drag your finger a little so that you pluck the string again to keep the sound going. This is called a "pull off" technique.

5. Remove your finger from the low fret the same way, back to open.

6. Experiment with note progressions to get the one you want. You can use many different note pattern variations in tapping. Pick one that complements your solo or riff (in the key you are playing in).

Tips & Warnings

• Use a high string. The bass guitar is harder to tap on than a regular guitar because the strings are so big. The low E in particular is too big to get good sounds out of tapping. Try the high G or D string.
• Make sure you are hitting the string enough to keep your note going. This is the main challenge of tapping. Practice your hammer on until you can find a way to get the right string tension with your technique, so that your note progression has a constant sound and doesn't fade out.