Basic Tapping Using the A minor Pentatonic Scale

Basic Tapping Using the A minor Pentatonic Scale

By: Professor Jim Rutkowski

www.RockHouseMethod.com

There are 8 audio tracks available for download that go with this lesson. See full track listing

at the end of the lesson.

In this lesson I am going to show you how to perform bi-dextral hammer-ons and pull-offs, this technique is commonly known as tapping. Tapping is essentially just performing hammer-ons and pull-offs with the left and right hands at the same time. The biggest question I get from my guitar students is; “How do I know what notes to tap?” The answer is simple; the notes of the scale you are using. For example, if you are going to create a solo in the key of A minor, the A minor Pentatonic scale would be a great choice.

To begin let us look at two forms of the A minor Pentatonic scale.

First Position A minor Pentatonic Scale

Second Position A minor Pentatonic Scale

Now let us combine these two scale forms in order to make a scale pattern that is applicable to tapping. The white notes are going to be our “tapped” notes. The Black notes are the first position A minor pentatonic scale form.

Now we will begin the tapping!!

The technique of tapping is simple. Hold down the fifth fret of the sixth string (fattest string) with your first finger of your left hand. Now, take the first finger of your right hand and hammer down the tenth fret of the sixth string
sounding the tenth fret. Now remove your first finger off of the tenth fret almost in a downward brushing motion this will make the fifth fret you are holding down ring. Now, while the fifth fret is ringing, with the pinky of your left hand hammer down the eighth fret of the sixth string sounding the eight fret.

That’s it!! The example I just mentioned is the first three notes of the exercise. I have recorded in the audio files this basic concept as well as the  examples below.

Have fun, practice slow and as always keep Rockin’ N’ Rollin!!

*** Note the fingering numbers under the tab staves. The “+” represents the tapped note with the index finger of your right hand.

The Download Audio Track Listing

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1. Guitar Tuning Notes
2. Basic Tapping First Position A Minor Pentatonic Scale
3. Basic Tapping Second Position A Minor Pentatonic Scale
4. Basic Tapping Tapping 10-5-8
5. Basic Tapping Complete Slow
6. Basic Tapping Complete Fast
7. Basic Tapping Complete Against Backing Track
8. Basic Tapping Backing Track