Tapping Technique
One-hand, two-hand, tapped arpeggios
What is Tapping?
Tapping uses your picking hand to fret notes by hammering a finger directly onto the fretboard. Combined with hammer-ons and pull-offs from the fretting hand, tapping lets you play wide intervals and fast passages that would be impossible with conventional fretting alone.
Eddie Van Halen popularised the technique in the late 1970s, and it's now a staple of rock, metal, and progressive music.
Basic Tapping Technique
Use the tip of your middle finger (or index, depending on preference) of your picking hand:
1. Fret a note on the left hand (e.g., fret 5)
2. Tap the right hand finger onto a higher fret (e.g., fret 12) — hard enough to sound the note
3. Pull off the right hand finger — pulling slightly sideways as you release, sounding the left hand note
4. Pull off the left hand to a lower note (e.g., fret 5 to open)
This creates a 3-note sequence from one pick stroke (actually zero pick strokes — it's all tapping and legato).
Keep your unused pick tucked between your thumb and palm, or use your index finger to tap while holding the pick normally.
Tab Examples
Basic tapping pattern
T = tap with picking hand e--T12--p8--h5--T12--p8--h5--T12--p8--h5-- B------------------------------------------ G------------------------------------------ D------------------------------------------ A------------------------------------------ E------------------------------------------
Tapped arpeggio (Am)
e--T12--------T12-------- B--------8-----------8--- G----9-----------9------- D---7-----------7-------- A------------------------ E------------------------
Tips
- Tap firmly and pull off with a slight sideways pluck — don't just lift
- Mute unused strings with your picking hand palm
- Start slow — synchronisation between hands is the challenge
- Tapping + hammer-ons + pull-offs = huge range with zero picking
Practice Exercises
- Practice the basic tap-pulloff-hammeron pattern at slow tempo
- Focus on even volume across all three notes
- Try shifting the tapped note: fret 12, 14, 15 while keeping left hand at 5 and 8
- Apply tapping to an arpeggio pattern (Am, C, G shapes)