Tapping on Bass: Advanced Guide to Two-Handed Tapping

Want to add a unique, melodic, and percussive element to your bass playing? Two-handed tapping lets you play fast arpeggios, chords, and even counterpoint melodies like a pianist. Used by bass legends like Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, and Stu Hamm, this technique unlocks a whole new level of creativity!

1. What Is Tapping on Bass?

Tapping is a technique where you use your fretting and plucking hands to “tap” notes directly onto the fretboard, rather than plucking or picking. This allows for:

• ✅ Fast arpeggios & melodic lines – Perfect for solos and lead-style bass playing.
• ✅ Chordal playing – Play full harmonies and intricate patterns.
• ✅ Percussive & expressive tones – Great for progressive rock, metal, and jazz fusion.

📌 Famous Tapping Bassists

• 🎵 Billy Sheehan – Fast, aggressive tapping.
• 🎵 Victor Wooten – Taps combined with slap and harmonics.
• 🎵 Stu Hamm – Beautiful chordal tapping.
• 🎵 Michael Manring – Uses fretless bass tapping for melodic phrasing.

2. Basic Tapping Technique

🎯 Hand Position

• Keep your thumb behind the neck for support.
• Your plucking hand (right hand for right-handed players) should hover above the fretboard.

🎯 How to Tap a Note

• 1️⃣ Tap firmly on the fretboard with your plucking-hand finger (usually index or middle).
• 2️⃣ Pull off slightly to allow the note to ring out.
• 3️⃣ Try hammering-on with your fretting hand for a second note.

📌 Beginner Exercise

• Tap 12th fret on the G string with your plucking hand.
• Pull off to 7th fret (G string) with your fretting hand.
• Repeat slowly, making sure both notes sound even.

3. Essential Tapping Exercises

A. Basic Two-Handed Tapping Exercise

Pattern:

T = Tap, H = Hammer-On, P = Pull-Off
T (12th fret) → P (7th fret) → H (9th fret)

B. Tapped Arpeggios (Common in Rock & Metal)

C Major Arpeggio Example (Root, 3rd, 5th, Octave):

T (12th fret on G) → P (9th fret on G) → H (7th fret on G) → T (12th fret on D)

C. Right-Hand Independence Drill

• Play a steady bassline with your left hand (fretting hand).
• Tap a melody with your right hand (plucking hand).
• This builds coordination for polyphonic tapping.

4. Applying Tapping in Real Songs

• 🎵 “Addicted to That Rush” – Mr. Big (Billy Sheehan) – Fast rock tapping.
• 🎵 “Classical Thump” – Victor Wooten – Taps mixed with slapping.
• 🎵 “Country Music (A Night in Hell)” – Stu Hamm – Beautiful tapping harmonics.
• 🎵 “Metropolis Pt. 1” – Dream Theater (John Myung) – Tapping in progressive metal.

5. Advanced Tapping Concepts

• Two-Handed Tapping Chords – Play full chord voicings like a guitarist.
• Tapped Harmonics – Combine tapping with harmonic nodes for bell-like tones.
• Multi-Finger Tapping – Use multiple fingers on both hands for fast runs.

💬 Are you working on bass tapping? Drop a comment below and let’s talk technique!

Further Reading – Advanced Bass Guides: Take Your Playing to the Next Level