How to Tap on Guitar

Tapping has been used by guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen to play advanced arpeggios and scales with great speed and flash. Because it uses both of your hands to fret notes, tapping allows you to play legatos style melodies with great speed and over distances not possible with ordinary techniques.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric or acoustic guitar
• Metronome

1. Fret the fifth fret of the first (high E) string with your index finger. Hammer on the ninth fret using your little finger.

2. With either the index or middle finger of your picking hand, hammer on the twelfth fret of the same string. This is the tapped note. Your other two fingers on your fretting hand should still be on the fifth and ninth frets.

3. Pull-off to the fifth fret, pulling the string very slightly with your picking hand's finger to pluck the string and keep it ringing.

4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 to form the repeated pattern--fifth fret, ninth fret, twelfth fret. This is an A major arpeggio. Play this pattern every practice session, using the metronome to keep a slow, steady pace. As you get comfortable, increase speed slowly.

5. Try forming other sing-string arpeggios over the neck, using different rhythms and fingers. Always use the metronome to keep your fingers in rhythm, and work up your speed slowly.