Tapping poll

[Warheart]

heres an interesting (to me, at least) question about tapping:
what direction do you pull off when you tap? i've read some players like steve vai always pull off towards the treble side, or down when they are tapping. any VH fans know what eddie does? and also, do you switch what way you pull off, depending on what string you're tapping on? (IE ebg- pull off down daE pull up, to prevent as much noise as possible)

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Tapping poll

When I first started learning to do it, I had to pull off really hard, basically plucking the string, to get the note to sound, and it was always to the treble side. As I got more practice and a better guitar, I developed a much smoother, softer touch to where I'm almost coming straight off the fretboard (perpendicular). I guess if you videotaped it and slowed it down, I'd still be pulling down. I just don't notice it anymore.

Now tapping, as I've heard it defined by some, is tapping the string exactly 12 frets from the fretted note. That's what Eddie's doing on Dance the Night Away, Can't Stop Loving You, etc. On DTNA, he actually was tapping three strings at a time, which would force him to come straight up if he was only using one finger. As for his blazing right-hand hammering in Eruption and various others, I don't know for sure what he does.

 

[joelap]

Re: Tapping poll

Down, for the same reason as Lemur-man when he started learning.

 

[Chace]

Re: Tapping poll

Always down for me.. and I don't know about Eddie but when I play the tapping from Eruption I pulloff down

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Tapping poll

I so rarely ever tap, and I've never really thought about the technique I use. It seems to me I go straight off the string, not one way or the other. Does this mean I'm doing it wrong?

 

[Majestic]

Re: Tapping poll

What Eddie does is pull back towards the bottom strings, although the appearance of this is very subtle, almost unnoticeable.

I pull "away" towards the high strings. I'd be good at either, but it takes some re-learning. Anyone who thinks you can't achieve the same micro-plucking articulation with either style simply isn't very skilled.

I think it's an important question, but NOT because one style yields more articulation than the other. I think it's important because not enough players focus on *articulation*. :smack:

They're just so happy to be doing something they're friends aren't, that they're forgetting about making inspiring or deadly sounds on a guitar. :headbang:

 

[slash857]

Re: Tapping poll

alright im pretty sure were talkin about right hand hammerons right? in that case i rest my thumb on the low e side of the neck and pull my index finger in to my hand. i always rest my thumb there so its like impossible to pull down rather than up. idk its just a habit ive always used.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Tapping poll

Down, unless it's the low E.

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Tapping poll

Toward the floor.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Tapping poll

down (slightly. im usually pretty close to staying directly above the string)

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Tapping poll

I pull them back slightly towards the lower strings...so UP!

 

[TheBrownMnM]

Re: Tapping poll

Cool question! I never really thought about it before. For me it depends which way feels the most comfortable depending on the string I'm on. So, sometimes up, sometimes down.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Tapping poll

I always tap down... I think that looks meaner :smack:

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Tapping poll

You left off an alternative option.

"None of the above"

 

[51501984]

Re: Tapping poll

alright im pretty sure were talkin about right hand hammerons right? in that case i rest my thumb on the low e side of the neck and pull my index finger in to my hand. i always rest my thumb there so its like impossible to pull down rather than up. idk its just a habit ive always used.

I just want to thank you for clearing it up that they`re called right hand hammerones!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Tapping poll

I just want to thank you for clearing it up that they`re called right hand hammerones!

Hammerones? -ow. do you need a cream for that?

-I'll check how I tap at lunchtime and post back.

By the way, anyone caught playing the tapping segment from eruption should have their guitar taken off them and their bottom smacked. Use your imagination and come up with something different. that's what Ed did.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tapping poll

Neither. I tap the actual note by hammering on straight onto the string. You pull off the tap by pulling away and down. Then you do it fast, it creates a nice little circular motion.

I tap differently when I use the pick edge, tho.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Tapping poll

Just checked. Ascending, my tapping finger pulls up toward the fatter strings, and descending it pulls down very subtly toward the floor. Interesting how the motion seems to dictate the way I tap. Don't really do much single string stuff (see earlier post).

 

[Kac]

Re: Tapping poll

I originally voted for "down", but I was just practicing and noticed that when tapping with my right hand, I pull off up... with my left hand i pull off down...
so I guess I do both.
Interested

Rock On - Kac