Guitar Tapping Technique...

[Keregioz]

I have a tapping technique question about something that bothered me for some time now....

Is there any important reason to do the tapping with the index finger or is it just to show how cool you are by hiding fast the pick in your palm?
To me it always seemed more natural and easy to use the middle finger.
I tried both ways and I didn't find any reason to prefer the index finger.
However, my tapping technique in general isn't that great so maybe there is something I'm missing?

 

[Notuern]

Do what ever pleases you.
I tap with multiple fingers, depending on what im playing, although i use my middle finger the most.

 

[Torniojaws]

Well, it's mostly for convenience especially in live playing when you can't just throw your pick somewhere while you tap (unless you have a pick endorsement and can throw 'em around as much as you like ), so the natural place is between the middle and ring finger, which leaves your index finger free for tapping. Of course it is easiest to do with the middle finger, but it's problematic if you need to resume normal picking after the tapping part.

 

[Notuern]

Well, it's mostly for convenience especially in live playing when you can't just throw your pick somewhere while you tap (unless you have a pick endorsement and can throw 'em around as much as you like ), so the natural place is between the middle and ring finger, which leaves your index finger free for tapping. Of course it is easiest to do with the middle finger, but it's problematic if you need to resume normal picking after the tapping part.

When I play, I hold my pick between my index & middlefinger and the thumb, so when I tap, all I have to do is to "open" my middlefinger.
That way I can switch even faster then moving my pick between my fingers.

 

[slashvanyoung]

Most of the time (playing live) I will cramp the pick behind the ring finger and the pinky, so I will still have the index and middle finger to do the tapping.

 

[Keregioz]

Well, it's mostly for convenience especially in live playing when you can't just throw your pick somewhere while you tap (unless you have a pick endorsement and can throw 'em around as much as you like ), so the natural place is between the middle and ring finger, which leaves your index finger free for tapping. Of course it is easiest to do with the middle finger, but it's problematic if you need to resume normal picking after the tapping part.

But if you tap with the middle finger you don't have to change the pick's position so you can resume picking immediately... I think maybe you confuse middle with index finger?

 

[ProjectHamsterdam]

I reccommend this site for some fun tapping patterns: Dimitar Nalbantov's website

He posts here too under the name of blackbird

PS: Not really on topic, but thought they might be fun.

 

[STINNETT]

I hold the pick with my thumb and index finger, and 95% of the time I just tap with my middle finger and do nothing different with the pick.

For some tapping licks, I like to mute strings with my pick hand thumb and fingers which I can't do while tapping with my middle finger, so I slide the pick over and pinch it in the fold of my middle finger and tap with my index finger.

When I need more than one finger, I put the pick in my mouth. That might sound silly, but I can grab the pick from my mouth alot faster than I can finagle it back into my usual grip from my third or fourth finger!

 

[TravisW]

On the rare occasion that I tap, I use my index finger and hold the pick between middle finger and thumb. I think I use the index finger because EVH uses the index finger.

 

[Executioner213]

The only person I've ever actually seen tap with thier index finger is EVH...seen many try simply to copy what he does, but never without being encumbered. I always tap with my middle finger.

 

[Temps]

Thomas Erak from the Fall of Troy uses his index finger too.
I learned tapping from Sikth songs though, so I was forced to use my middle finger from the get go because they'll tap and pick and tap and pick.. switching all the time would be impossible.

 

[Torniojaws]

But if you tap with the middle finger you don't have to change the pick's position so you can resume picking immediately... I think maybe you confuse middle with index finger?

No, that's how I do it I never learned to tap with my middle finger, it just felt awkward, so I use my index finger and hold the pick as I said.

 

[MetalWorks]

I was always pushed to alternate the middle finger and ring finger for tapping and muting.

Mr. Reb Beach does that and I think I saw our own Mr. Murphy using that technique.

 

[Shredfiend]

There's a reason EVH taps w/ his index....he holds the pick with 3 fingers.

I tap with my middle finger so I don't have to move the pick around. Easy to throw taps in quickly if needed. Some times I tap with the other fingers aswell.

 

[Behindert]

I prefer to use my toes for this. It makes the harmonics come out much clearer. It is obviously quite superior to using your fingers.

 

[Metaltastic]

I prefer to use my toes for this. It makes the harmonics come out much clearer. It is obviously quite superior to using your fingers.

Hahahaha, Behindert has spoken!

But seriously, I hold the pick between my thumb and index finger, and tap with my middle finger - makes the most sense to me

 

[Shredfiend]

I prefer to use my toes for this. It makes the harmonics come out much clearer. It is obviously quite superior to using your fingers.

video or it didn't happen....

 

[MetalWorks]

I cant help but do 90% of my Tapping with the pick.

It developed faster for me and I am too comfortable with it to stop.

 

[Notuern]

I cant help but do 90% of my Tapping with the pick.

It developed faster for me and I am too comfortable with it to stop.

Well, unless you do insane arpeggios, I guess its one of the better ways to do it, sence you get more attack in the tone.

 

[ze kink]

I hold my pick between my index finger and my thumb, and when I need to do single finger taps, I just tap them with my middle finger. That's the quickest and easiest way to do it for me, I can't imagine doing sweeps with the highest note tapped any other way. When I need to use more fingers, I just curl my thumb and hold the pick against my palm with it.

IA Eklundh also taps with his index finger, and holds his pick between his middle finger and thumb when doing tapping. It looks weird, but works for him obviously.