Tap Ornament Drill
Este ejercicio aún no está traducido del todo — las instrucciones siguientes están en inglés.
The tap is the mirror image of the cut: where a cut uses a finger above the note, a tap uses a finger below. Also called a 'strike' or 'pat' in some traditions, the tap is rarely heard alone — it is the final element of a roll, which makes it essential to master before attempting rolls. Like the cut, it must be executed quickly enough to decorate rather than replace the main note.
Instrucciones paso a paso
- 1
Play a sustained E. Now tap the D finger (the lowest hole, normally open for E) down briefly and lift it back. You should hear a short 'dull' interruption — that is a tap.
- 2
Repeat the tap on E many times, aiming to make the tap as short and even as possible. The E should sound uninterrupted in character.
- 3
Move to F# — tap with the E finger below. Then G — tap with the F# finger. Continue up the scale.
- 4
Practice a sequence of tap-based repeated notes: E-E-E-E using only taps for articulation (no tongue).
- 5
Compare: play E-E-E-E with cuts, then E-E-E-E with taps. Notice the sonic difference — cuts have a brighter crack, taps have a softer, lower thud.
Consejos de práctica
- Taps should fall exactly on the beat — rhythmic precision is even more important here than for cuts.
- The tap produces a slightly duller sound than the cut because you are covering a lower hole. This is correct.
- Note: you cannot tap on D because there is no hole below it. For repeated D notes, use the tongue or a cut only.
- Taps rarely sound good in pairs. In traditional music, you typically use one tap per repeated-note group.
Errores comunes
- !Leaving the tapping finger down too long — this creates an audible secondary note rather than a decoration.
- !Tapping with too little force so the hole never fully closes. You need enough contact to briefly stop the airflow.
¿Listo para aplicarlo en una melodía de verdad?
La técnica solo se asienta cuando la usas en la música. Explora la biblioteca de tablaturas y encuentra una melodía con la que practicar lo que acabas de aprender.