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Sometimes I think of a new technique or l ick at the strangesttimes. When I got the idea for right-hand tapping, I was in thebathroom with my guitar. This technique is often written incorrectlyin books and played wrong, so here's how it works. To understandthe idea (behind right-hand tapping), first play this trill with your lefthand:

Now tap a f inger of your r ight hand-I usually use the I st or2nd-to produce the first note, and then pull it off of the string tosound the second (see Fig. 4). The pull-off motion should be toward

Fig.4

you, and should slightly catch the string. Whole descending scales canbe played in this way; try it with the first blues pattern we discussed.

Once you understand the basic moves oftapping (sounding thenote with your right hand and pulling off), then you're ready to applyit to a lick. Here's a thing I do in the last part of *Eruption,"from VanHalen (it can also be played on the third string). It's really easy, andmakes a great exercise. Notice that after you tap and pull off, youthen hammer down to get the third note. Experiment enough withthis technique and you'll realize you can get many other combinations.

60 cLrr.{R PLAYER,JULY 1984

Another easy right-hand technique is harmonic tapping. Ex-amples of this can be heard on "Spanish Fly,""Women In Love"[bothfrom Zan Halen Il),"Eruption,"and "Top Jimmy"I I984f.lnorder to produce a harmonic, just tap I 2 frets above a note, directlyon the fret (remove your right-hand finger quickly). Although youcan do this technique on an acoustic instrument, you'll get betterresults on an electric (see Fig. 5).

Now that you know some ofthe basic ingredients ofrock and roll,remember that your playing has to have feeling and taste. The goal isto make music, not always to play machine gun-type stuff. To me,music is entertainment. You shouldn't be playing it to save the worldor show people how great you are. It 'sjust supposed to make youhappy, make you cry, make you get horny, or whatever. If it doesntdo that, then it's not music. And remember: You learn by makingmistakes. Donl be afraid to try something new. If I'm thrown into anunfamiliar situation, such as playing with Allan Holdsworth, I don'tpanic. Sometimes I skin my knees, but most of the time I land on myfeet. My dad has a Dutch saying that puts it much better than I can:Translated, it means, "Ride your bicycle straight through. " If youscrew up, just keep going.

& Ssfiss€m$ ffi*df;s Uan Fffm]*raffif,smmgraphy

With Van Halen (all on Warner Bros.): Van Halen,BSK30751Yan Halen II, HS 3312; Women And Children First,HS34l5; FairVl/arning, HS 3540; Diver Down, BSK 3677; 1984,1-23985.

Withothers:Nicolette Larson, Nicolette,WarnerBros., BSK3243; Michael Jackson, Thriller, Epic, QE 38112; Brian May, StorFleet Project, EMI, MLP-15014.

DC I p O p