Tapping efficacy

Re: Tapping efficacy

No, but I’m tired of hearing this macho attitude about string gauges. I think any heavier than 10s sound too clunky. Plus you lose finesse.

And I’m also a bass player. Try playing a 5 string bass and get back to me about heavy strings. Lol.


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Oh pleaaaaase something 135-140ish tuned somewhere between A B and C is a lot easier to handle, especially with bass string spacings and fret to fret distances

Fretwear don't lie, a heavyish tight (guitar) G string is the gnarliest of em all
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

Oh pleaaaaase something 135-140ish tuned somewhere between A B and C is a lot easier to handle, especially with bass string spacings and fret to fret distances

How about tuned to concert pitch? I don’t down tune my instruments. [emoji23]

Plus the low B is low enough.


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Re: Tapping efficacy

How about tuned to concert pitch? I don’t down tune my instruments. [emoji23]

Plus the low B is low enough.


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I meant tuned to whatever the hell, regardless (within reason)


That thick big-ass rope may be enough to hang people with, but it just doesn't have the sharpness or PSI of a tight unwound guitar string in one of the larger gauges when it comes to tearing your hands up

Basic math and physics agree. 5-10x the contact area means it'd have to be stretched 5-10x more pounds pull to exert the same level of pressure on your fingertip
 
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Re: Tapping efficacy

One thing that is forgotten when using really heavy strings (like 11's or 12's) and tuning down to C or something like that is string tension. At that point, the tension feels like 9's or 10's. Don't forget to take scale length in to consideration as well. Same gauge tuned to same pitch will feel slinkier on 24.75" versus 25.5" scale.

Like DavidRavenMoon, I tune to concert pitch on all my guitars and play bass as well, also tuned to concert pitch. Occasionally I'll drop down 1/2 step if I'm working on a song that is recorded at that pitch but in the band, A 440 pitch.
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

One thing that is forgotten when using really heavy strings (like 11's or 12's) and tuning down to C or something like that is string tension. At that point, the tension feels like 9's or 10's. Don't forget to take scale length in to consideration as well. Same gauge tuned to same pitch will feel slinkier on 24.75" versus 25.5" scale.

Like DavidRavenMoon, I tune to concert pitch on all my guitars and play bass as well, also tuned to concert pitch. Occasionally I'll drop down 1/2 step if I'm working on a song that is recorded at that pitch but in the band, A 440 pitch.

Hate to be a show-off, but you're misunderstanding what "concert pitch / A 440" MEANS

It's simply the DEFINITION (hertz value) of an A note. WHAT CONSTITUTES an A note, not where on the fretboard it can be found... instrument doesnt even have to have a single note as low as 440hz to be tuned in accordance with A=440hz value concert pitch


Which value, yes, changed and flip flopped A LOT historically and geographically and even according to certain divas' demands for specific acts/organizations --- from barely over 400 to as high as 480 iirc. Certain orchestras still run weird crap like A442 or A438, or in other words, play EVERYTHING a few cents out of tune according to our ears

Defining A=440hz (or using an electronic tuner) does not in any way shape or form define what notes you set different strings to....


For example, EVERY metalhead who ever used a Korg to tune to Drop A is ALSO....drumroll... tuning to A440 comcert pitch. It's just 440hz on his 4th string A not his 5th (or yes 5th string for a 7 string). So, btw, is drop F, drop C, Drop D, Eb standard, C standard, whatever, so long as theyre tuning to an A440 tuner or fork.... his A notes wherever they're found are A440 or octaves thereof
 
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Re: Tapping efficacy

The A note above Middle C to be exact (A4). The next octave up of A (A5) is 880, A6 is 1760. Just because it's the same note at a different octave does not mean it's the same frequency. When drop tuning, the location of A4 (440) on the neck changes based on that frequency.
 
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Re: Tapping efficacy

It is novel for a few notes in a solo, but overall, it is simply the wrong instrument to get good at tapping. A Chapman Stick/Warr Guitar/Touch Guitar are the right ones, and someone who has practiced those instruments for 3 months is light years ahead of the meek tappers we have on guitar.

I bought a Chapman Stick like 20 years ago. Not as automatically transferable from guitar as I had hoped. Hard to play. And back then I had pretty solid tapping skills. I sucked at it.

I shipped it to myself as I moved and UPS lost it. They reimbursed me what the Stick cost and I bought a strat with the money :)
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

I bought a Chapman Stick like 20 years ago. Not as automatically transferable from guitar as I had hoped. Hard to play. And back then I had pretty solid tapping skills. I sucked at it.

I shipped it to myself as I moved and UPS lost it. They reimbursed me what the Stick cost and I bought a strat with the money :)

Hmmmm


I think you just stumbled on how to upgrade unwanted items for the price of shipping


Black Friday is coming, hurry up and ship your broke down old TVs to your mother in law and crappy discontinued amps to your cousins
 
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Re: Tapping efficacy

I bought a Chapman Stick like 20 years ago. Not as automatically transferable from guitar as I had hoped. Hard to play. And back then I had pretty solid tapping skills. I sucked at it.

I shipped it to myself as I moved and UPS lost it. They reimbursed me what the Stick cost and I bought a strat with the money :)

I've played a few, including a very nice Grand Stick (12 strings) made of purpleheart. It was beautiful. Nothing from guitar translates at all, other than it has strings- but that is because it is only for tapping. A very wide range, tuned in 4ths and you just barely touch the strings and they ring loud and clear. You really have to approach it like a new instrument, though. A mediocre Stick player can sound much better than an advanced tapping guitarist, though.
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

Ha. I used to play a lot of similar Chapman stick style stuff on the electric guitar through a giant wall of amps lol -but much heavier rock -but more like Bob Culberson who plays his custom version the Acoustick. I used to love hanging out with him and watching his technique up close. In my opinion he sounds better drier -but he gets all new age with the chorus, reverb added etc.

Check Bob here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM5S-1zOK0U
 
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Tapping efficacy

Hmmmm


I think you just stumbled on how to upgrade unwanted items for the price of shipping


Black Friday is coming, hurry up and ship your broke down old TVs to your mother in law and crappy discontinued amps to your cousins

I have to admit it was hard to fake outrage when they told me they had lost it but were ready to reimburse.

I've played a few, including a very nice Grand Stick (12 strings) made of purpleheart. It was beautiful. Nothing from guitar translates at all, other than it has strings- but that is because it is only for tapping. A very wide range, tuned in 4ths and you just barely touch the strings and they ring loud and clear. You really have to approach it like a new instrument, though. A mediocre Stick player can sound much better than an advanced tapping guitarist, though.

Completely agree it's a beautiful instrument and sound. There's a player here that I see in local fairs and farmers market and it's pretty amazing.

Maybe I'll give it another try in 10 years [emoji4]
 
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Re: Tapping efficacy

How about tuned to concert pitch? I don’t down tune my instruments. [emoji23]

Plus the low B is low enough.


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Strangely enough I tune all my guitars to concert pitch (432 Hz). I use 10 gauge strings on my Fender Strat so it's a bit easier to bend at concert pitch than standard.



;>)/
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

I use 8-38’s in E and Eb with 2 trem springs in all of my guitars.
His bags are packed Happy, just tap it in... tap, tap, taparooni...
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

I think efficacy is a stupid word. To contrast it to efficiency:

Efficacy can be defined as performance under ideal and controlled circumstances, whereas effectiveness refers to its performance under 'real-world' conditions.

Very rarely does "efficacy" add any useful information to the conversation, and even more rarely is it used in the proper context. Plus it just plain looks like you're butchering "efficiency" when you have to spell it.


Glad I could get that off of my chest. I've been holding it in for a while.
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

I've played a few, including a very nice Grand Stick (12 strings) made of purpleheart. It was beautiful. Nothing from guitar translates at all, other than it has strings- but that is because it is only for tapping. A very wide range, tuned in 4ths and you just barely touch the strings and they ring loud and clear.

Is it hard to mute all the strings you're not using ?
Do you have a lot of muting work on the Chapman Sitck ?
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

Most people I've seen use a string muter in all or a section of the strings.

Yeah I Agreed -you're a total savage if you aren't muting actively in some manner on a Chapman Stick unless you're playing in one or 2 keys only in one strategic open tuning and you like to drone all the time in every part or every song. -which I'm sure people also do thats cool -if you aren't playing the Chapman Stick on every song live.
 
Re: Tapping efficacy

You can't get thick tone with skinny strings.

Macho string gauge = macho tone.

:13:

(that Clint55 thread has me stuck in "facetious" gear)
 
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