You’ve seen the outrageous videos, you know, the ones where guitar players are tapping on their fretboards at lightspeed, as if they were furiously typing out a midterm essay for school.
Well, you too can learn how to tap like Eddie Van Halen, but it takes a bit of time.
First, in order to tap, you’ll have to at least be proficient in hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Tapping is like an extension to hammer-ons and pull-offs.
You can also think of it this way: a tap is more like a hammer-on, but with your strumming or picking hand.
Start with One String
The easiest way to tap is to start with a single string.
Perform a simple hammer-on with your fretting hand and then hammer-on again with your other hand.
Most folks like to play a triad on a single string.
It’s super helpful if you can visualize a scale pattern too, that usually helps when deciding on which notes and frets you want to play.
For this example, let’s take a look at this A pentatonic minor scale:
Let’s start with the high E string.
If you start by performing a hammer-on and pull-off from the 5th fret to the 8th fret, you can follow that movement with a tap on the 12th fret.
It’s nice to practice tapping with the help of actually looking at a scale pattern so you can remember where the notes are.
Plus, it’s just another great way to also practice memorizing guitar scales.
Use a Metronome and Your Pick
When you start tapping, you want each note to ring out evenly so it’s best to practice with a metronome.
For the longest time, I was tapping exclusively with my bare fingers, and this is the traditional way of doing it.
But sometimes there isn’t as much volume when tapping with your fingers, unless you cranked up the gain and volume all the way up.
But if you want to tap something out without all the distortion and your fingers aren’t super strong yet, another great way to tap, is to tap with a pick.
Hold the pick normally and strike the note you want with it.
This creates a sound that's a bit more powerful and could help really bring the tapping to life.
Other Tapping Tricks
Another small thing is when you tap with your strumming fingers, you can also add a pull-off to that tap, or even slide with your finger or pick.
Try it and see how it goes!
For more tips on tapping, check out this lesson on tapping by Dave Celentano below, or get a four-part lesson on the technique here.
FAQ
What is tapping on the guitar?
Tapping is a guitar technique where you use a finger from your picking hand (usually the index or middle finger) to "tap" a note directly onto the fretboard, rather than picking it. It allows for super fast note sequences, especially when combined with hammer-ons and pull-offs, and is often used in rock and shred guitar solos.
Why can't I tap on guitar?
If you're struggling with tapping, it’s likely due to weak finger strength, poor fretboard accuracy, or muted string technique. Start slow, make sure you're pressing hard enough to sound the note clearly, and practice on a higher gain tone so you can hear the note more easily while learning.
Is finger tapping on guitar hard?
Tapping can feel tricky at first because it uses a different part of your technique toolbox—mainly your picking hand on the fretboard. But with a bit of focused practice on timing and accuracy, it becomes easier and super fun once you get the hang of it.
How to do the tap test on guitar?
The tap test is usually done to check if your guitar's electronics are working. Plug your guitar into an amp, turn up the volume, then lightly tap the pickups with something metal (like a screwdriver). If you hear the tap through the amp, your pickups and wiring are active.
How to two hand tapping on guitar?
To do two-hand tapping, fret a note with your fretting hand, then use a finger from your picking hand to tap a higher note on the same string. You can alternate between both hands to create fast, fluid licks—like tapping 5 (left hand), 12 (right hand), then pulling off to 8 (left hand). It takes practice but sounds amazing once smooth.
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