Trill Tapping

Description

This is a really cool sounding technique that I've just recently learned by listening to a portuguese guitarist named Goncalo Pereira. It sounds like a combination of tremolo picking and harmonies (both of which I think sound good).

I'll try to explain a simple way to learn it: For starters play the first tapping example below. It's a repeating pattern of four notes that alternates between tapping with your right hand and hammering-on with your left. Each note should have about the same volume and duration.

Now, instead of tapping on the 16th fret, tap on the 14th fret - the same fret that your left hand is hammering-on (2nd example). It's as simple as that! You might find that you need to alter your tapping/hammer-on technique slightly in order to keep your fingers from hitting each other :)

The last example is a section from a song I did this weekend. Basically I came up with a melody and played it using this technique. The tapping is done on the "melody" note while the bottom note that you keep your index finger on is the "harmony" note. The notation: "11tr7" means do the trill tapping with your index finger on 7 and the tapping on 11. Listen to the audio to figure out how lond to hold each trill. Practice this SLOW and EVEN with a metronome for a while before tackling it at full speed.