Tapping into Tapping (TT 13)

by Ari 21 May 2016 2 minute read

Tapping into Tapping (TT 13)

Talking Technique Episode 13 is up on No Treble.


I have gotten quite a few inquiries about tapping, so here is a little introduction to this technique, paired with a few playing samples. Tapping is a really cool technique but it has to be used with taste. I play in a duo with an amazing bassoon player (OoN – The bass-bassoon duo of Ariane Cap and Paul Hanson).

I really get to stretch out in that band context – playing grooves, melodies (sometimes at the same time), chords of course… I use the six string bass for this scenario. It has only five more notes than the five-string or ten more notes than the four-string bass, but the layout of the sixth string on top enables me to reach a lot more notes at the same time.

Tapping is a good way to do that. later on in the video I show you a few exercises on my four string, because there is plenty of cool tapping to be had on that, too.

If this technique is new to you, give it a shot. It is really fun and opens up a lot of creative possibilities. Just keep in mind to always serve the song, no matter what technique you use. Enjoy!

My Gear:

Many thanks to wolftrackaudio.com for sound!

Check out: Tapping into Tapping

Subscribe to Newsletter

Related Posts

The Tie Trick

Tracie Cohort Image

The Power of your Accountability Coach

bass warm-up

Your Hands Don’t Have Muscles (But They Have This)

Ariane Cap Bass Improvisation Tips

Knowing the notes isn’t the hard part. This is.

Shop on Amazon

More articles you might like:

Bassist, author, educator.

Groove enthusiast and learning nerd.

Joined by 15,000+ Bassists

Your Instructor

Hi. I'm Ari.

As a bassist, I have toured/played/recorded with a variety of rock, Jazz, and funk bands, I have worked with some incredible producers (Keith Olsen) and musicians (Paul Hanson, Muriel Anderson) and I toured Brazil with Stu Hamm as a duo.

 

As a bass teacher, I have taught at London Bass Day, Gerald Veasley’s Bass Boot Camp, SBL, Truefire, notreble… I even ran my own music school for a few years before gigs took me back on the road.

 

One thing to know about me is that I teach because I am absolutely fascinated with the learning process. And I am obsessed with helping others realize their musical potential.

 

When I started playing bass, I excelled very quickly because I had an amazing teacher who taught me using a powerful method. This method transformed my playing so quickly that I passed a bunch of high-level university auditions and even tested out of entire classes at university even though I had been playing for only a very short time.

 

That’s what, many years later turned into one of my books, co-written with Wolf Wein, called “The Pattern System for the Bass Player”. I created entire systems of learning based on some of these ideas and wrote books and created courses together with Wolf. Our bass books have sold over 30,000 copies and garnered rave reviews.

 

I started teaching online in 2009 and have embraced technology as a powerful learning tool since then, never losing sight of the importance of providing feedback and personalized guidance to learners.

 

Read more…

Get Ari's
Notes to Self (and Bassists)
into your inbox once a week

Videos • Tips • Practice Hacks • Transcriptions