Guitar vs. dedicated tapping instrument

[rockola]

Having made the switch from a dedicated tapping instrument to a regular 6-string guitar a while ago, I thought I'd post some of my experiences.

Of course six is less than eight, ten, twelve or fourteen. It's harder to play individual lines without running out of strings to use. However, the limitation can also be fruitful in that you have to think more about what you play. This way, the choices you make might lead to somewhere more exciting than just the usual root-five-octave. The guitar still doesn't play itself though...

What I miss are the growling bass notes. A guitar with a scale length of 25 or so inches just doesn't come close to a 34" scale when it comes to producing convincing bass. This is probably a nonissue if you play in a group with a bass player.

I retuned my guitar to all fourths, unlike most guitar tappers, who continue to use the regular guitar tuning. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The advantage in all fourths is that there are no irregularities, so transposition is done by simply moving the hands, and also anything you play can be transferred as-is to the melody side of a 12-string tap guitar. The disadvantage is that if you're used to playing in the regular guitar tuning, you have some relearning to do. Since barre chords are not played anyway when tapping this is not such a major issue as it might seem at first.

Any other six-string tappers who wish to give some insights on this?

[Daniel Schell]

I also tuned my classical nylon guitar all in fourths, many years ago, actually when I started to play Stick after my first lessons with Chapman.

I don't tap on the nylon, but play regularly with the fingers.
I just placed my C-dots and started to play à la 'My Space' .
I play mostly 3 notes chords. Thumb plucks the bass and fifth, index and major play the upper 3rd, 7th.
And the patterns, once known, repeat themselves on all the board.
It is surprisingly easy, and I have thaught that to my guitar students who are now bringing roses and honey to Claudia.
Some of them could not play properly jazz chords for years, and now in a few lessons they can play the accompaniment of standards.

[harry.young]

Daniel,

Your idea of playing nylon string in straight fourths makes it sound very easy. I don't see how it could be that easy.

I wonder if you would maybe have any interest in posting some sample chords ... or maybe even writing up a simple lesson. Maybe the Tappistry guys would post it.

Whadda ya think? Is that a possibility?

[jamsire]

I feel:

1. To "get back that 'growling' bass" - get a good Baritone instrument - preferably one by Alembic. If you feel you must "tap on a 6-string."

2. Tapping on nylon - eek! Having been a 10 and 11-string classical guitarist, the idea is compelling, but the sound simply doesn't work. I'd suggest simply playing the nylon string with all the funkiest tunings you can muster.

3. I always look at 6-string tapping as a very cramped enviroment. narrow neck and limited scale. But that's just me. Having 2 sticks and a megatar, I can't see myself getting caught up on the 6-string, but when I heard a phenomenal bass player friend of mine tap on my Baritone - ooohhhhh!!!!!!!!! The funkiness had arrived indeed.

My question is - howmany 6-stringers have truly investigated a dedicated tapping instrument and realized the potential? Where can one get this kind of exposure without getting beat up in a store looking weird for trying??

Hmmmmm.................

[wmlusk]

I started tapping on bass in the 80's and only knew about Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, and Mike Mannring. I tapped much like they did ala' Webster/Bunker style. I was aware of the Stick after I 'discovered' King Crimson but didn't know of the difference in technique, ala Chapman.

In 1994, I had a really nice Strat that I started tuning like the melody side of a 12-string Grand Stick. I would later start tuning in Fripp's NST. I enjoyed being able to alternate between the different tapping approaches and playing straight-on guitar w/ a pick.
IMHO, the Strat's stock pickups were unable to handle the extended frequencies from NST or a tuning that goes lower than the standard E.

Ola, are you using stock pickups, or are you experimenting with different windings? Are you running stereo or mono?

I play Stick, but I still do a lot of tapping on my 4-string bass. I will be an 8-stringer soon. I find myself being less interested in being a 'one-man band' and more interested in an instrument that gives me a broad tonal range and flexiblity in technique.

I'd love to have one of those Alembic Baritone's that Jamsire mentions. I recall that they are not a cheap intrument (Custom Only?) to aquire.

Jamsire, what tuning/technique/setup is the baritone?

[rockola]

Billy, I have not modified the instrument in any way, save for tuning it differently, adjusting the action, and adding a removable damper in the first fret. It has two humbuckers and is a mono instrument.

I would recommend doing the same to any electric guitarist who is interested in two-handed tapping as a technique, as these mods, if you can call them that, are a) really easy and quick b) just as easy to reverse, with no damage to the instrument.

The damper I'm using is similar to the one found on Megatars and early Warr guitars, i.e. a slice of Rubbermaid(TM) no-slip rubber mat. Comes in a variety of colors (mine is yellow) and will not break the bank. Plus you can line your kitchen drawers with the rest of the roll!

[jamsire]

The Baritone is tuned B-E-A-D-F#-B - low to high. I use several - an Alembic, a Veillette, and a Linc Luthier. The Alembic is the "GREATEST" sonically because of their superior electronics. The Veillette - was interesting for an hour! The Linc is great because of the "simple" electronics and the nice wide neck.

But I don't tap on them!

I use my Sticks and Megatars for that.

But I've heard my friend Rob slap on my baritoines - and it was funky!!

The Alembic Baritone is an "Orion" - about $1800. Bad-*** indeed. You can even request a wider neck!

I still feel that serious tappers should look into a specific instrument for that very purpose.

Am I alone? I must be!!!

:mad: :confused: :(

[John O'Connor]

I have to agree that it's best to tap on a dedicated tapping instrument. I tried on an Alvarez Yiari for a while, then a rather inexpensive but still very servicable electric guitar. When I finally bought the Solene, I found that all the tapping ideas were so much easier to play, once I got used to the rounded body and the angled frets. In fact, I'm now beginning to voice Solene much like I used to voice piano, and I love that. I know that Stanley Jordan uses a 6 string guitar, and makes wonderful music. I am finding, however, that it is so much easier to tap on an instrument designed for tapping.

[Adam Fulara]

Sorry, my English is not well.

I'm from Poland (small country in Europe). For a few years I played with std. guitar (tuning EBGDAE) and touch technique.

Soon I'll buy speciall tap-dedicated instrument. It's verry hard to buy Stick or other tap-instrument here in Poland , so I decided to go to Polish luthier and he will make this instrument. It is not verry original instrument, but it will have 12 strings, and will be cheaper than if I go to West Europe and buy Stick.

I know that low-string action is verry important, but I have one question: what is important in this kind of instrument? For example: 'strong pickups', 'jumbo frets' (or super jumbo?), string dumper and anything else?

Adam Fulara

[rockola]

Hi Adam, and welcome to Tappistry!

I think you pretty much mentioned the major design issues. Another thing you might wish to decide is whether you want the strings to be parallel or fan out. Most tapping instruments have parallel strings, while most ordinary guitars have a slight amount of fan (string spacing at the nut is smaller than string spacing at the bridge).

Also, the fretboard should be flat, and without relief - make sure the luthier understands that the open strings will not be played. Scale length is another thing to consider. But perhaps we could continue this thread under "Touch Instruments"? I've already started a thread there concerning my plan to build a dedicated tapping instrument myself.