FINGER TAPPING Styles of the PROS! (Breakdown of 16 Guitarists) 

Been playing guitar for about 20 years now and still struggle with tapping. I don’t play much lead though especially since I almost lost my 2 middle fingers on my fretting hand in an accident. Great video and I will definitely have to try some of these techniques!

I use my middle finger while holding my pick in my thumb and index finger like Steve Vai or Tim Henson so I can easily hybrid pick simultaneously. Very helpful for playing Polyphia songs like G.O.A.T

Reb Beach is an absolute master at tapping.

Man I love that Charvel. My uncle had one when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest looking guitar I'd ever seen

🤘🔥 This is awesome! Congrats on 721K Subscribers!

The 20 year defunct Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazine was the best for having the whole technic element of electric guitar playing in actual writing format.

Although, my influences are Gary Moore, Slash, Eddie van Halen and David Gilmour: I think I first was introduced by tapping by..... Michael Sembello's "Maniac" guitar solo! :-D

The 16 Guitarists In The Video: 1. (0:44) Eddie Van Halen 2. (1:31) Steve Vai (I'm guessing that John Petrucci, Tim Henson, and Mike also finger tap similar to Steve Vai because I can't find the 16 guitarists in this video) 3. (2:32) Kirk Hammett 4. (3:20) Vito Bratta 5. (4:05) Nuno Bettancourt 6. (4:54) Guthrie Govan 7. (5:47) Reb Beach 8. (6:41) Paul Gilbert 9. (7:19) Jennifer Batten 10. (8:05) Buckethead 11. (8:34) Zakk Wylde (also similar to Joe Satriani's playing) 12. (9:05) Randy Rhoads 13. (9:57) Jeff Watson 14. 15. 16. Reply if you know the other guitarists or just fill out your own list I guess ;)

The thing is buckethead 8 finger tapping could be a master piece to discuss . Would love more buckethead stuff

Bassist here, learning stuff from Guitar players really helps especially since I'm self taught, no scales, no power chords, no nothing, so just mimicking what I see from high class players when it comes to stringed instruments helps me quite a bit. Tapping is something I don't use much with my Bass playing but it's cool here and there, especially when doing harmonics with them.

I do classic EVH or Steve lynch favoring index and up. Keep pick curled in middle fingers. Glad you mentioned Jeff Watson from night ranger.

I tap pretty similarly to Kirk Hammett, I never really trust myself to get my pick back between my thumb and forefinger how I like it to be (or to not just drop it) so I just keep it where it is and do a floating tap

Growing up I loved the tapping guitar sound, and sadly as a young punk guitar player ALL my solos had tapping layers in them. 😂 Randy is one of my favorite musicians of all time, he was an incredible person from what I’ve read and heard. He was the reason why my first guitar was a jackson V. Great content!!!

Eddie also did a few multiple finger tap licks on F.U.C.K. that were petty unique cuz his right hand floats and claws differently than his single finger tapping.

Not tapping related, but I've always enjoyed how Brian Setzer would do his hybrid picking. It always seemed really economical to me. I also wonder how differently EVH played when he used the stand contraption he made for his guitar 🤔

I've always used the Kirk Hammett floating technique. But I was messing around with my guitar while watching this and I figured out a new one that I think I'm going to start using. It's like a mix of Hammett but adds an anchor point. I keep the pick in the normal position as if I'm picking but rest the side of my index finger on top of the neck. Then I use the middle and ring fingers for the taps. So I get the stability of the anchor but I can go right back to picking. Hammett keeps his pick in the pick position but has no anchor. Some of the others have the anchor but have to fiddle with moving the pick around. This gives you both.

You forgot to cover the tapping from AKIRA of LOUDNESS. THE amazing intro to shadows of war is unique and beautiful.

Hey thanks Mike, what a great video! Eddy also curled the pick up in his middle finger. Joel Hoekstra is another monster tapper, looks like Jeff Watson-style tapping.

I was most inspired by Charles Berthoud's bass tapping and ichika's guitar tapping. Charles' tapping is especially extremly hard because you're playing the bassline and melody at the same time, sometimes rhythm as well. And you're not just tapping an easy bassline at the same time as the others, you need to have absolute hand independence, like a piano player (Check out "Breakout Blues - Charles Berthoud"). Ichikas tapping focuses more on bridging the empty parts that cannot be avoided when changing chords or moving the left hand in general. It is also lightning fast and sometimes also incorporates hand independence

Rob Beach used to rest his thumb on the top of the neck, pluck the string with his middle finger, so the hammer on or pull off, then tap with his index finger

I've always tapped like Eddie and Vito. I tried doing the downward style but it just feels easier and faster when pulling upward. I wish I had the patience to learn 8 finger tapping. Jeff Watson's solo on (You Can Still) Rock In America blew me away when I first saw the video for the song on Mtv back in the 80s. Another good tapper is Steve Lynch from the band Autograph. They opened for Van Halen and Eddie told him not to do tapping when they play their songs.

Hey, awesome video I’m glad to see the way I tap isn’t wrong, I think mine is a mixture of Steve vie and Randy Rhodes, keep on shredding!

That Charvel is sick!

Randy does some pick tapping in the live video of I don't know at 3:22

One of the things I like to do, which I picked up from Angel Vivaldi, is doing slides with the tapping hand. Check out Serotonin at about the 50 second mark for an example. It's a pretty unique sound that hasn't been killed by over use yet.

Hey Mike... During your Reb Beach part, you forgot to mention or missed something else important he does with his ring finger and tapping. As he plays a tapping run across the strings, he uses his ring finger to pluck the first finger fretted note on the new string. This gives him a more even sound and helps him move across the strings quicker when playing tapping sections across the string. He explains this in his video 'Cutting Loose' from years ago, which I bought back then. I remember when I first saw Winger's videos, even though I hadn't been playing guitar long, I could tell Reb was doing something different with his tapping but hadn't figured out yet what he was doing. I also naturally tap with my middle finger because it feels more stable when tapping. You should also look into Steve Lynch and Stanley Jordan with their multi-finger dexterity. BTW, even though I have just subscribed, I have been watching your vids for a little while and found this one. Thought I would give my 2 cents. Cheers....

I do the EVH thing where I put the pick in my mouth, but also sometimes tuck it in my palm and use my pointer mostly.

I love this video. They way I always do it is...hold the pick between the middle finger and palm...then when you need the pick again, it is a very easy slide to use your thumb to slide the pick back into position.

Apparently I’ve been using the exact same tapping style as EVH for years and I had no idea. Makes it rough to quickly resume picking, though. Great video!

Perfect timing on this video, learning some difficult tapping licks right now and really questioning my technique

Might wanna check out Akira Takasaki. He had his own tapping thing as well.

EVH usually tapped with his pick in his hand though, since he picked using his thumb and 2nd finger (middle finger) instead of the typical thumb + 1st finger way of picking. This enabled him to go from regular picking to tapping more or less in an instant, without having to switch up his grip in any kind of way.

I love tapping! Nothing like rubbing your fingers up and down the neck and looking down at the beautiful body while grabbing the knobs and seeing the high action you're about to experience! It really pickups the mood!

Such a Great video!! Im similar to nuno bettencourts technique. I never knew!

The vai technique is my go to, most practical for me

My teacher told me to use my middle finger while still holding my pick normally and to pull off upwards. It makes sense because that way you can kinda get more force behind the pull offs. And your arm/wrist basically doesnt move. Its just a movement of stretching and bending your middle finger repeatedly. Edit: my teacher also mentioned the side pluck thing that Mike mentions here

I don't play guitar but I ADORE Steve Hackett's tapping

Great lesson on tapping. I never realized the subtle details of tapping, just kinda developed it. I wanted to suggest one more guitarist, Chris Broderick ( Megadeth) he uses a ( thumb clamp) that holds his pick in place on his thumb. Just an idea to give another spin on the tapping technique.

I'm glad you didn't include anything about George Lynch saying Randy ripped off his technique lol

Please do other Buckethead crazy techniques

Class mate. As a bass player yousing fingers it's always amazed me how guitarists manipulate there pick placement to tap

Nowadays, my usual tapping is at a very acute angle with the neck, sometimes almost perpendicular, with my thumb on the neck for support. I started playing keyed instruments so this technique feels more natural to me, my hands can spread across the fretboard more without having to move back and forth too much. I think when Chris Broderick does his signature tapping arpeggio thing, he uses a similar form as well. I still revert back to the usual "finger kinda parallel to the neck" form when i play older stuff like eruption or one, cuz I learned that stuff using that technique. As for the pick, I usually just hold it the normal way I do while picking, and use my middle finger and ring finger for tapping. Sometimes I keep it within my ring and pinky finger when I'm playing stuff that's more spread out on the neck. But I can go full out when I'm playing fingerstyle only. Playing with hybrid picking can really help improve your hand's stability with tapping while holding the pick the normal way, or at least that's what I've noticed.

This is extremely helpful! Keep up the good work!

3:55 Is that a White Lion song or something he made up? I love it.

I was taught to hold the pick and use my middle finger. After watching this video and paying attention to my technique, I’m using the Vai style in my playing…. Great video as always!!

Steve Lynch was also using multiple finger tapping in Autograph, and it's also interesting how he gets some arpeggiated, sequenced and syncopated patterns that way...

I remember reading an article in guitar for the practicing musician that Eddiie mentioned about that pulling technique

I would also recommend checking Michael Romeo's insane tapping technique, accuracy and speed.

Tom Monda's (Thank You Scientist) tapping is pretty good

Will try some of these

Great video, thank you

Mike awsome analysis, I had to look up Jeff Watson thou. NIGHT ranger..

Interesting stuff.

Best finger tapping video ever!

I don't rest my thumb, it slows you. I like to pull off the string as soon as I tap it straight up making a "J" shape, the bigger the "J" the slower you go, the smaller the "J" the quicker you can go. Other times I'm very hard on the tap and lifting the tap hand, especially when I do all open string runs. I learned from a Eddie Van Halen TV interview, the time when he buried the myth about hiding it. He said no, I don't try to hide tapping from the camera then picked up the axe and said, let me show you, then proceeded to tutorial us to the camera. I'm glad he did that because I really struggled with it at first.

I still have a 1985 guitar player magazine with an Interview with Michael Hedges, who I truly admired and was influenced by his finger tapping songwriting style.

This video is a gift 🎁

How about Joel Höekstra's tapping also Michelangelo Batio's. There are heaps more you could do but these 2 stand out to me

Wow, I normally "just play", in 40 years I never analyzed how I do anything. Turns out i seem to alternate between the Eddy technique, the Nuno technique and Hammet's. And i cannot tell yet when or why i alternate but this video helps me be more purposeful - thanks!

Great vid!! When you have time, can you please explain how did Michael Romeo mute the unwanted strings from sea of lies solo tapping section? Thanks 🙏

Reb Beach had the best tapping technique of that era of players. He didn't use his ring finger like Vai. He would be tapping on one string with his middle finger while already fretting on the next string with his ring finger. Then start the next string with a pull off of that ring finger. SO fluid.

I never really put any thought into how I held my pick, it just kinda happened, and being a massive buckethead fan I also place it between my index and thumb, it lets you do all the crazy 3 and 4 finger tapping

Love that charvel jackson guitar 🎸

Great lesson...no idea how I do it ..I should sit down and analyse one day...I learned from cassette tapes and video clips in the 80s...haha how old am I ...OLD

When I tap on first or second string, if I'm not going up to other strings, I put fretting hand over the neck. First of all muting with 2 hands is better than muting with one. But main reason is that it looks interesting... I hope to see your video about "over handed" playing. Of course it's just for show, but it's cool to do it. I can play 1 string runs like this, but I've seen Michael Angelo Batio can even sweep pick like this

Excellent tutorial. As ever. Thanks.

MICHAEL ROMEO, from SYMPHONY X, is an absolute master of tapping!!!!! His technics are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vai style, same as you. I never specifically set out to copy his tapping technique, but I watched his Live At The Astoria dvd enough times as a shreddling that I’m not shocked either

Chris Broderick is a tapping monster as well!!

I never really put any thought when tapping, I will try some of the techniques to determine which style will be easier for me.

You’re an amazing teacher well done.

Amazing lesson. Thanks!

Huh.. I closely resemble Kirk's way. Floating with the pick in my index and thumb while tapping with my middle finger. Then I checked again, I also hold the pick in my middle finger and tap with index while having some control with my thumb and ring finger on the neck. Muting with my right palm and left index. Weird, I guess when the occasion calls for it, I'll do either way haha 🤷‍♂️

Great video man

I haven't really done much tapping for the past 20 years as it just hasn't really been pertinent to any of the bands I've been in, but as far as the stuff I used to do, the Randy Rhoads style certainly seems to be the most similar.

Great insight! Actually, I realized I'm tapping "like Steve Vai" at his concert, one day before I seen this video 😅 Live this kind of content! Thanks 🙌

I love that Charvel. Vai... but not because of Vai. No disrespect to the man, it's just the most natural way for me. Kirk solos were my first solos (some... 35 years ago) and holding the pick, as you say, is required to get back to picking quickly. I do tend to pull up on E, A and D and push down on G, B and E when tapping. Not sure how that came about. 3 cheers for magazines back in the day. 🤘

Great vid man! Yup, the Steve Vai ( Kirk Hammett) way is what i'm used to. Not that i play any Vai but yeah, keeping the pick in my hand is important. I do use the pick for some solos like Metallica One, Big Bad Moon ( video shows clear use of the pick for tapping) as with any live version of Surfing with the Alien ( first solo). Cheers, you RAWK!

Apparently I am a Vito, and keep my hand floating or muting with my wrist. I had never heard of Vito before, I was more of a James Murphy, EVH, Dave Murray, Marty Friedman and Dimebag Darrel Influenced kid. Satriani taught Hammett to use the side of the pick didn't he?

Speaking of the 8 finger technique. I remember Steve lynch and Watson about the same time.

I hold the pick and use my middle and index finger

What an amazing video, I loved it! I pick like randy but suck horribly. Which is why I’m here hahahaha.

It's interesting that Jeff Watson eventually added a mute like Batten. He seemed to be doing just fine without it.

I love this. thank you. I wonder at what point though.. they're just soft PIMA vs tapping? honest question. Also: great playing on your part. You are a resource that did not exist back in those honest days.

I could finger tap at 12 in '83 before I knew much more than power chords. Though, I've never learnt much more than power chords since. lol

Definitely a Randy Rhoads Kirk Hammet mix

Yo también uso el modo Vai como tú, pero cuando vi a Michael Romeo pensé...ok, algo se me escapó.

I see Randy Rhoads I like immediately

Eddie put the pick tucked between his middle finger. Said he got it from watching Hendrix do it

Reb Beach is my way 🔥

Love the vids keep it up

Good ideas for everyone to try and figure which techniques fit their play style. Gotta try them all! Gotta try them aaaaallll! Pokemon! :p

Are active pickups better for finger tapping ? Thanks for the videos you make

Not knocking guitarists who do this, but I've never really understood tapping with the index finger and letting the other fingers hold the pick. It requires unnecessary additional motions (transfering the pick). The index finger isn't that much stronger or faster than the middle finger either so I don't see the benefit. It just seems limiting, and for no reason. Sweep-tapping for example is more challenging. If any index finger tappers out there have information, I'd be cool to hear your ideas here.

I use both middle and the index techniques. For fast and precise I will use index holding my pick in a ready position. For easier taps I use my middle. I feel that it makes my tapping worse because I am not practicing one of the techniques and instead both, but having the diversity is nice. Edit. I also tap towards the floor, I feel I need more gain when pulling up.

Almost looked like Randy muted the strings with his extended pinky as well

Check out Don Lappin, he does insane tapping stuff

I also slide back without much angle with finger parallel with the strings and slide back a bit with some pull off, but I slide more and slide a lot with a pick side and fingers. Anyone else do one handed solos?

I just learned today that I always tapped like Vito Bratta. It was always the most natural thing for me. Don't remember how I picked it up.

Mike hearing play Math rock felt weird. I’m so used to hearing you play hard rock and metal that hearing you play music that I’m a fan off is strange lol