Tap/Touch...and the disabled...

[rjgoos]

Having only the use of one hand destroys one's ability to play a normal guitar, but need not, by itself, limit one's ability to make music tap/touch style. In fact, imagine the riffs someone could make if all of his/her attention was focused on just one hand...

I posted something about this on other forums, and got two interesting replies. On a touch instrument-related forum, one fellow indicated that a woman bass player, who had been rendered unable to play the bass because a stroke affected her use of one arm, was able to play again with a touch/style instrument.

I posted something about touch/tap style guitar on an amputee-related forum, and got a touching e-mail today from a fellow who had lost his arm in a motorcycle accident. He certainly missed the ability to play the guitar or banjo. He had never heard of touch/tap style guitar, and was certainly going to check it out.

I think tap/touch style has something to offer to those who only have good use of one hand.

[Jersey Ray]

there was also an article in Bass Player magazine about 10 years ago, featuring Dave Bunker. I think he was working at PBC guitars at the time, which I believe, is his Brother's company. There was a story of an amputee who had a PBC bass made up with the Bunker electro-mute system, which is much more sophisticated than a manual damper. This enabled the guy to be out there working regular gigs.

[traktor]

PBC was Bunker's company, but I believe others were involved. When Dave moved to Washington State (Pulyallup), it was as Bunker Guitars, not PBC, so I think that currently PBC is not a functioning company. I'm not certain of my facts here, because it's been quite a while since that move.

[1HandTapping]

I would be very much interested in feedback from experienced
tappists regarding the instrument, configuration, tuning, number
of stings, etc., they might choose if they had only their right
hand to tap with.

I only have a right arm, and I am wanting to get (back) into trying
to make a little music. I used to dabble in bass and guitar and piano
prior to the loss of the left arm, but have done nothing really with music
for the last 25 years. So, getting back to it would be purely for the
fun and pleasure of it! I bought a Stick in the mid 70's, which I still have
(need refurbishing), but I never really was able to get comfortable with
it - though I do intend to keep it.

I guess I'm thinking I would have more success going 'simpler' ....

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated!

[rjgoos]

I might be approaching this from the wrong angle, but do you have anyone to play with? If you had a friend with an acoustic guitar to play chords, or a friend with a bass, perhaps you could play lead (with an electric guitar set up for tap or your Stick). If you had a friend with a keyboard or with a guitar who wanted to play lead, perhaps you could play bass (with your Stick?). Just a thought...


I think most any good electric guitar could be set up for tapping. Stanley Jordan's site gives instructions (www.stanleyjordan.com/Technique/starting.html), and there are several people here on this forum who have done it, too.


In any case, with one hand and a well-set-up instrument, you should be able to make a lot of music.


RJ

[1HandTapping]

Thanks RJ!

Great article by Stanley Jordan! And it got me looking around, where I
found other similar articles. I realize now I've been too hung up on things
like optimal number of strings, optimal tuning, etc.. I think I finally understand
that, with some adjustments, restringing, dampening, etc., one can turn almost
any electric bass, guitar, or other into a viable tapping instrument. And that
the experimentation itself will be a good part of the fun!!

JQ