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Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 23 2009, 04:08 PM

Hey...Im a new member of GMC and i just recently bought a guitar and got serious to learn it.So i have a question..

I heard from another topic that you can do techniques on a guitar regardless of an amp (hammer ons,pull offs,tapping etc)
But I have seen the Tapping Lesson that Kristofer Dahl made and clearly explains how to learn tapping.And i think Kris clearly makes sound by pressing his fingers on the fretboard.But on my guitar (dont have an amp) i cant do any tapping .


Dont take what i say too seriously As I said I dont have any experience on guitar so what you are going to hear from me will be newbie questions.

Chris

Posted by: Marek Rojewski Oct 23 2009, 04:14 PM

He is not pressing his finger, but "hammering it" - You need to use some force while doing legato/tapping. Tapping is making a hammer-on and then pull-off with Your right hand finger, so if You haven't already, than check some Kris lessons about legato.

Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 23 2009, 04:20 PM

Well thats what i am doing but i dont get any sound of it.'

Anyway thanks for the help.

I was going to check the videos after i have got an amp but guess I should check them before i ask

Posted by: Muris Varajic Oct 23 2009, 04:21 PM

All you need is more time, skills practicing and strength in fingers.
When playing legato and tapping (just an example) on unplugged guitar
the sound is not that powerful as when you play plugged in an amp
but it is not impossible to get a sound from it.
Thing is, electric guitar is supposed to be played plugged
since it doesn't have resonator like acoustic guitar do.
Keep working.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Oct 23 2009, 04:23 PM

You can train EVERY technique on an unplugged guitar that does not involve an effect or knob (like volume swells...).

Tapping CAN be trained without amplification but it's not very audible without it + if you don't know how to do it in the first place it makes it even harder...

You can ALWAYS train your fingers and mind with scales; you can fret and strum chords, you can train bending, sweeping, alternate picking and economy picking... There is plenty of techniques you can play without an amp!

Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 23 2009, 04:27 PM

Ok i would like to ask you a question.

I checked a while ago your legato and tapping lesson the 1 video (not main).I dont think you add any pressure at all when you hammer on or pull off.

But its maybe as you have stated.I need a lot of practice as I have viewing the Forum and GMC videos only 1 day.
Also i really have to get an amp soon as all of my question regards it.

Thanks guys for the great help

Posted by: Matt23 Oct 23 2009, 04:51 PM

I'm not Muris so I apologize to him in advance if I say something wrong about his playing, but I'm sure he is putting pressure. When you have a good technique you are using the least pressure possible so that's why you might thing hes not applying pressure.

Just incase this helps you the motion of a pull off isn't the opposite of a hammer on. You have to pull of downwards so your sort of "plucking" the string with your left hand.

This video might help you also if that last thing I said was useful to you.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Oct 23 2009, 04:59 PM

Ofc I add pressure, we all do, note cannot pop out from nothing!!
But it is matter of skills so you could really figure out how to add that pressure,
and there is also strength I mentioned before, it takes time and practicing.

Long ago when I borrow an electric guitar from a friend
I tried to play a solo from Flying In A Blue Dream by Joe Satriani.
I even had an amp but I couldn't get any note using legato,
I was a total beginner, I had no skills, no strength in fingers etc.

What you are facing now are quite normal problems in beginner stage,
you need more time to overcome that, just don't rush it and work hard.


edit:typo

Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 23 2009, 07:06 PM

Thanks guys for the great help.I may rush a little to things i dont know.But the idea that i will be learning guitar made me really excited.

HAHA.Guess you re right.But EVERY tapping lesson i see it seems there is no pressure at all.
Whats the secret you guys!!!!!!!!!
Well i may find out in a couple of years

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 23 2009, 09:02 PM

Don't worry, it will come much sooner than that, just focus on practicing legato techniques properly, and you'll get there relatively easy.

Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 24 2009, 12:52 PM

I got a Marshall 10W today and I try tapping but nothing happens.

Ok practice,practice,practice but no sound at all?

I watched the video Matt posted and it is fairly easy but i come to the conclusion that somethings wrong.Watch the video at 2:02!!!!

No sound comes at all from the fretboard when i hammer!!!

What the hell is going on!!!

I will only admit that I am doing something wrong until I see someone tapping on my guitar

Posted by: Matt23 Oct 24 2009, 01:11 PM

Right a couple of things for you to try. And before we begin, get some distortion on your amp.

1. Press your index finger as hard as you can onto the 5th fret of the D string (or any fret but that fret is a good place to start imo).

2. Pluck the string and make sure you're getting a clear note, if you're not then make sure you're finger is positioned well over the string so you're finger tip is pressing the string, and your finger is just before the bar that separates the 5th and 6th frets.

3. Only move on to this step when you have a clear note on the 5th fret. Now, with your index still fretting the 5th, press down on the 7th fret as hard as you can with your ring finger. Pluck the string and see if you get a clear note. If you do move onto the next step. If you don't, repeat the advice above until you do, then move on.

4. Get used to getting clear notes on each fret, until you can get them instaneously.

5. Now it's time to try a hammer on. Fret the 5th fret on the D string as hard as you can, an as soon as you've plucked it, hammer your ring finger down onto the 7th fret as hard as you can, remembering how your finger felt, and trying to do the same thing again, as when you got the note clearly earlier.

6. Keep doing this until it feels reasonably comfortable.

7. When you get good at it, you should relax your fingers and try to use only minimal effort, as pressing down as hard as you can is only good to get your first hammer on, it is not good technique.

If you have any questions or problems don't hesitate to ask.

Posted by: Darknodar123 Oct 24 2009, 01:16 PM

Thanks for the advice.

Havent read the whole of it but I will.

Sorry If I rush too much