Guitar Tapping:

Guitar tapping is a technique where you use your picking hand fingers or pick to tap directly on the fretboard, creating lightning-fast notes and smooth melodies.

It’s a favorite for shredders and anyone who loves a dramatic flair.

How to Do It:

  • Tapping Motion: Instead of plucking or strumming, you press down on the string with your picking hand to produce a note.

  • Combining Hands: Your fretting hand plays part of the phrase, while your tapping hand adds extra notes for an ultra-fast sound.

  • Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs: These techniques are key to making tapping seamless and fluid.

Why It’s Cool:

Tapping unlocks crazy-fast licks and otherworldly sounds. It’s perfect for solos, especially in rock and metal. 

Guitarists like Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, and Nuno Bettencourt made this technique legendary.

This is how Guitar Tapping is represented in standard notation and TABs:

what is guitar tapping

In Short:

Tapping turns your guitar into a playground for speed and creativity. It’s a killer skill to add to your arsenal!