Finger tapping—also called two-handed tapping or simply guitar tapping—is a very special technique for the electric guitar. Made famous by Eddie Van Halen in his groundbreaking “Eruption” solo, it has become a popular style for soloing and fast guitar riffs. This lesson is a beginner’s introduction to guitar tapping, but be aware that this is not the type of technique you will master straight away. It will require patience, practice time, and a good amount of coordination between both hands.
Guitar tapping essentially works by using hammer-ons and pull-offs on the fretboard while tapping additional notes with the index finger of your picking hand. Instead of using your pick to sound every note, you’re creating notes by hammering onto the fretboard with fingers from both hands. Timing between the fingers is crucial, as is holding the pick in the correct position so it doesn’t get in the way.
How Guitar Tapping Works
The basic concept of tapping involves three actions: tapping, hammering, and pulling off. Your picking hand’s index finger taps down onto a high fret (like the 12th fret), then your fretting hand hammers onto a lower fret (like the 5th fret), and then pulls off to an even lower fret (like the open string or 3rd fret).
This creates a fast, cascading series of notes that would be very difficult or impossible to play using traditional picking techniques. The sound is fluid and legato because you’re never actually picking the strings—all the notes are created by hammering and pulling off.
The key is that each finger action needs to be forceful enough to make the note sound clearly. You’re not just touching the fretboard—you’re hammering down with enough force to make the string ring out. But you also don’t want to be so forceful that you’re pulling the string out of tune or creating unwanted noise.
Hand Position and Pick Management
One of the trickiest parts of tapping for beginners is figuring out what to do with your pick. You can’t just drop it—you need to have it ready when you’re done tapping so you can go back to normal picking.
Most players tuck the pick between their middle finger and ring finger, or between their ring finger and pinky, while using their index finger to tap. This keeps the pick secure but accessible. It takes practice to make this transition smooth, so don’t get discouraged if it feels awkward at first.
Your tapping finger should strike the string with the fleshy pad of your fingertip, not the very tip of your finger. You want a firm, decisive tap that makes the note ring clearly. After tapping, pull the finger slightly away from the string as you release—this helps create a clean pull-off sound.
Starting Simple: The Three-Note Pattern
The easiest way to start learning tapping is with a simple three-note pattern on one string. Try this on the high E string:
Tap the 12th fret with your picking hand’s index finger, hammer onto the 5th fret with your fretting hand’s middle finger, then pull off to the 3rd fret (using your fretting hand’s index finger). This creates a repeating triplet pattern that sounds impressive but is relatively simple once you get the coordination down.
The rhythm is crucial. You want even spacing between all three notes—tap, hammer, pull-off, tap, hammer, pull-off. Start slowly and use a metronome to keep your timing consistent. Speed will come naturally as your fingers learn the pattern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not tapping hard enough: If your tapped notes sound weak or don’t ring out clearly, you’re probably not striking the fret with enough force. The tap needs to be decisive.
Tapping in the wrong spot: You should tap directly over the fret wire, not between frets. Tapping between frets will produce buzzing and unclear notes.
Inconsistent timing: The notes need to be evenly spaced. If your taps are rushed but your hammer-ons are slow, it will sound choppy and unmusical. Practice with a metronome to develop even timing.
Too much string movement: If you’re tapping so hard that the string is bouncing wildly, you’ll create unwanted noise and make the technique harder to control. Use enough force to make the note sound, but not so much that you’re slamming the string.
The Eddie Van Halen Legacy
While Eddie Van Halen didn’t invent tapping (jazz guitarists like Jimmie Webster and Steve Hackett used it earlier), he popularized it and took it to a new level. His “Eruption” solo from the 1978 debut Van Halen album shocked the guitar world and inspired countless players to learn the technique.
Eddie’s tapping style was incredibly fluid and musical. He didn’t just use it as a party trick—he incorporated it into melodic phrases and made it an expressive part of his playing. His approach showed that tapping could be more than just fast runs; it could be a legitimate musical voice.
After Eddie, countless rock and metal players incorporated tapping into their arsenals. Players like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Stanley Jordan, and many others pushed the technique even further, developing multi-finger tapping, tapping on multiple strings simultaneously, and other advanced variations.
Practice Tips for Developing Your Tapping
Start with one string and one simple pattern. Don’t try to learn complex tapping runs right away. Master the basic motion and timing first.
Practice the motion without even plugging in. You can work on the coordination and timing anywhere, and the muscle memory will transfer when you pick up your electric guitar.
Use distortion and compression to help sustain the notes. Tapping works much better with a driven amp sound that helps the notes ring out. Clean tones can work, but they’re much more demanding and less forgiving.
Be patient. Tapping is one of those techniques that can take weeks or even months to feel natural. Don’t get discouraged if it feels clumsy at first—everyone goes through that phase.
If you want to dive deeper into advanced techniques like tapping and explore the innovative approaches of players like Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix, check out The Guitar Player’s Bag of Tricks 2: Van Halen & Hendrix Drone Techniques where you’ll learn unique soloing approaches and techniques that’ll expand your playing vocabulary.
