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bovinehost

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I used one of those Kramer aluminum necked things, way back in the late 70s, to "tap" a drummer once.

And something you should know by the time you're my age is how to tap a keg, but I don't really drink beer.

Still, it bothers me a little.
 

midopa

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I love tapping! I got introduced to the idea when I first heard some twisted Primus bass lines. If you're down with it, try looking up these songs by Primus: "Jerry was a Racecar Driver," "Bob's Party Time Lounge," and "DMV." Mind you, these tap lines won't be the type your hear Victor Wooten play.
 

giddy4geddy

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I'll leave the tapping to all of those Eddie Van Halen wanna-be's.

In the meantime, I'll just keep listening to Mark King slapping, thumping, popping and Geddy Lee FLYING....
 

giddy4geddy

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Not to say that I dislike tapping or anything. I do like to HEAR it. For my listening pleasure (a la tapping) I always go to my main man (sorry, he's a guitar player) Phil Keagy. :)
 

midopa

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Haha. I don't know anything about Phil, but I do know there is a crazy tapping video on the Stick's website. The Stick is the huge bass guitar with eight to ten strings. The vid's a tutorial with a guy doing very nice tapping. Maybe you can check it out. And then buy a Stick??? Hahaha
 

jifty

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The stick (chapman stick) is not "the huge bass guitar with eight to ten strings", it's a combination of a bass and a guitar with a concept of a piano (but instead of playing on keys, you tap on strings). A very beautiful-sounding instument indeed.

I don't really like bass tapping, and if i try i can't get it to sound clean anyway. It can be nice when combined with other things IMO.
 

midopa

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Have you tried muting all the strings whilst tapping? I'm right handed and I mute the strings with my index finger and let the rest of my fingers do the tapping. That way, you don't get the nasty sustain that tapping can produce.
 

jifty

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Well that's not the exact problem...
The thing is, while i tap a string, it sounds as if i play the note of the string + the note of the fret that im tapping (that is until i close in on it perfectly), so if i try to do some fast tapping, it comes out all dirty :confused:
 

midopa

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Hm... I'm having a hard time understanding that. What I'm getting, though, is that you're hearing two different sounds that collide when you tap. I had that problem too, but I fixed it by muting the strings with my left index as I tap. I may have interpreted what you said wrong, though.
 

Psychicpet

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Vic Wooten or possibly even Ed Friedland might be the best resources for tapping. THere might be some bass links at Vic's site as well. Back in the day Stu Hamm was also a monster for tapping, maybe try his site. But Vic W. is probably the best place to start.
 

fifthorange

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yea. i like victors wootens stuff, but hamm is what i believe a better tapping bassists. now, do you know of any good instructional book because i want to achieve good technique.
 

jifty

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midopa said:
Hm... I'm having a hard time understanding that. What I'm getting, though, is that you're hearing two different sounds that collide when you tap. I had that problem too, but I fixed it by muting the strings with my left index as I tap. I may have interpreted what you said wrong, though.

No i think you understood what i was trying to say, and it sound like a good sollution too.. i'll try it! thanks
 

Fretbuzz

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Stuart Hamm has a couple of instructional videos out that focus on tapping techniques.
 
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