The guitar tapping technique is used in classical, rock, metal, jazz, fusion, blues and can be done with one finger, or be multi-finger - two, three, four fingers, include tapped bends, pedal point, harmonics, open strings etc. Guitar players like Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Reb Beach, Vito Bratta, Jennifer Batten, Stanley Jordan for example use tapping to one extent or another. Tapping refers to the use of the fingers of the right hand to play the strings on a guitar as opposed to using a pick or fingerpicking. In addition, the tapping finger is used to actually play a note on the fret it taps as opposed to other picking methods which simple sound the string to play the note that is fretted with the fretting hand.

Tapping can be used with chords, scales and arpeggios. Generally this technique is used with a series of fretting hand hammer-on and pull-off moves. Also the right tapping hand often employs a pull-off as well. A hammer-on is integral to the tap, as a hammer-on is by default how the picking hand "taps" a note.

A scale can be tapped up the fretboard with only hammer-on's with the fretting hand and the tapping hand. Although pull-off's are often simply integral as well to the tapping hand and the fretting hand. While tapping is often used in conjunction with some form of picking, that is moving from one method to another, you can employ all tapping for entire playing sessions. For example, watch Stanley Jordan and Jennifer Batten use tapping exclusively.

Up to four fingers of your tapping (picking) hand may be used, or simply one finger. Tapping with the index finger is the most common method you may encounter. Players who like to use a pick as well may tap with the middle and or ring fingers while holding the pick in the thumb index finger to switch between picking and tapping quickly. Eddie Van Halen holds the pick between his thumb and middle finger to tap with the index finger. Jeff Watson originated the "8 Finger Technique," with tapping on Night Ranger songs and other projects.

String dampening is often, but not always, used with the tapping method. There are string dampening devices that you can attach to your guitar to reduce string noise from open strings, especially when using distortion. Some players anchor their hand to the fretboard with the thumb and or another finger.

You will probably find that it is a good idea to have some proficiency with tapping as part of your playing skills as it is used often in many playing situations even if for just short runs or passages.

However, more importantly than the actual technique of tapping is a complete understanding of music theory and your fretboard, because that is the key to be able to actually implement tapping into your playing other than just memorizing some licks.