Guitar lesson: Learn Eddie Van Halen-style tapping the easy way

(Image credit: Lynn Goldsmith / Getty)

Guitar skills: Taking inspiration from rock guitar legend Eddie Van Halen we’re using a technique known as tapping. The idea is to use a finger on your picking hand to hammer down onto a fretted note, instead of using the pick itself.

Follow up a tapped note with hammer-ons and pull-offs and you have a surprisingly easy way to play flash-sounding lead lines. 

(Image credit: Future)

Our tapped line is really easy. The circled note is a tap; follow this by pulling your tapping finger away to reveal a 5th fret note; finish with a hammer-on to the 8th fret.

(Image credit: Future)

You’ll be playing almost the same thing again here, just at the 4th and 7th frets. Use either your first and third or first and fourth fingers.

Audio 

Check out more guitar lessons 

Total Guitar

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar