I've always loved the song, but told myself, "don't learn it, it will just spoil the magic!" But i finally gave in and tried to play it. I have to admit, it sounds a lot easier than it really is.

I'm not so sure what im having trouble on, but i find it hard making the notes come out loud. I can hammer on the notes just fine but the only way i can make it sound reasonable is if i turn the amp up more. And what fingers should i use to right hand tap the notes? My brother tells me to use my thumb and index finger, but im always tempted to use my index and middle finger to tap the notes.

Thanks, Andy

Well, the most used finger on tapping is the middlefinger, but Satch uses mostly his plectrum to tap very fast. (And loud, isn't?)

sorry luke, but that tip does totally not apply on this song! You should listhen to it again... ;)

those songs are hard if you haven't got trained fingers, these songs are a matter of practise, some more practise, a lot more practise, hmm well, you got my point. You've got to create strength in your fingers, especially the fingers of your left hand.

check a good guitarpro tab here http://www.mysongbook.com/?msbp=eng%2Ctab%...ay+at+the+beach

Oh hehe.. Didn't listen to it, just tought he did the plectrumtap always except for the tapping on Satch Boogie etcetera..

The 'correct' method is supposed to be with the index and thumb, but I've always thought that playing it that way just went to strange lengths to make something harder than it needs to be. So I use my index and middle finger. :) Sometimes even my middle and ring finger.

Well, this is one song I have mastered...


Start off my using your index finger to "Learn" the bass lines... so in this case it's

5th fret, Low E..... AAAAA AAAA then to 9th fret Low E and so on...


The left hand ALWAYS plays that song with the INDEX finger playing bass, MIDDLE, and RING fingers playing "chorded notes" matching the bass note, the the right hand uses the INDEX and MIDDLE finger for what I will call the MELODY.

The trickest part of the song it timing esp. when you get to the end and the progression goes from 5th fret, to the 3rd then to the 10th.


If you just work each part of the song in peices, you'll pick up on it faster.. Hope this helps.

Index and thumb? I agree with you, that's crazy.

I use my index and middle. I saw satch do "Midnight" live, and nothing (except for the awesome new middle section, which was gorgeous. :)) really struck me as "different" than the way I'd been playing it, so while I don't specifically remember, I'm betting he plays it this way, too.

-D

Can someone upload a video of this "Thumb and index finger" method.... I would upload IF i had a camera.. well I do... but it's absolute crap in taking video...it's a digital camera.

I will put up later the "my version" of Day at the Beach (New Rays from an Ancient Sun).. so enjoy. My method uses five fingers total.. but not holding my hands like a pic...with the right hand. Wow that is alot of dots eh?

I'm pretty sure the "thumb and index finger" approach is, while not technically "wrong," per se, needlessly complex (and not how Joe does it) - just go with your index and middle. :)

The first Satch song I ever learned. My brother had the FIABD book and I turned the page to Day At The Beach and had to learn it.
I go with my index and middle. ;)

I play the tapped (normally picking hand - I won't say left or right as I'm a lefty and it'll get really confusing :lol: ) notes with just the tip of my index finger on this track.

However, I read somewhere that Joe uses thumb only.

Regarding the volume, well you're tapping, so (at first) your tapped notes probably won't be as loud as picked ones. Eventually they probably will ;) But maybe adding a bit of compression to your clean sound will help even out the volume differences without having to crank up the amp too loud ;)

HTH, and good luck!

Dave

As most will probably say the basis is to get both hands working together, start off slow and build it up, Id also recommend you do it with no sound and just get used to the fingerings and build it from there, thats how I learned this great song!

I have a transcription of this song on some very old Total Guitar Mag, and it suggests putting a sock over the headstock of the guitar to dampen the excess string noise that comes with the tapping. Hope this helps!

Every two-handed taping song stach made is played with middle and index finger (for right hand)!
I'ts yust redicilous to use thumb because it's never fast as index and middle fingers.
Joe uses thumb only when he does classic taping.

The official (Joe-approved) TAB book says to use thumb and index finger on Day At The Beach.

I'm going with Joe ;)

I mean, really! You are gonna belive that guy over me? :D :D

i've never seen you live, and i've never seen your haircut... so yes!!! lmao ;)

Ha ha ha :D
That damn haircut! :)

Dave

just a note regarding the tab books that seem to be officially approved. I can assure you, Joe has no idea what they contain. He doesnt care and why should he?

In many cases I have compared the tabs from these books with Joe's live performances and they dont match. Unless Joe has altered his playing over the years, the tabs are wrong. One very strong example is from Always where, after the tapping he does the two string sliding lick. Although all the tab books (and the recently released DVD) describe it on strings B and G, Joe plays it on strings E and B, which is obviously a more easy and rational approach.

Ibanick

I remember reading Joe talking about getting asked to go over these things before they're published. He pointed out a particular error in one of the two handed tracks from FIABD... it was written in the wrong time signature or everything was displaced by a quarter note, or something like that.

So I'm not so sure about him not having an idea what they contain... unless you know for sure! ;)

That's the way I play it, Phrydom. ;)

Well, the most used finger on tapping is the middlefinger, but Satch uses mostly his plectrum to tap very fast. (And loud, isn't?)

That's only for regular taping. Twohandend is best performed with middle and idex finger imo.

personally i quickly move the pick to the space between knuckles 1 and 2 on my middle finger and then tap with my index finger when i do "conventional" (=one picking hand on the neck) tapping... i guess it's the same as EVH does... joe does something similar on that lovely bit in AWMAWY, except he has time to put the pick in his mouth :lol:

i've seen SV tap with his middle finger, holding the pick as normal in his thumb + index and i've tried it several times... didn't feel right to me... he's obviously a hyper mega being from a distant planet :lol:

i have a GIT / MI video of tony macalpine doing a set somewhere on my computer (it might now be corrupt, i've not looked at it in ages, especially not since my HDD crash :() but i seem to remember he does the middle finger tapping too, especially for the top note(s) of a swept arpeggio

all i'll say regarding this particular conversation is:

1. do whatever feels right to you - there's no point feeling bad about getting your music to your audience just because somebody else does a particular technique a way that's different to yours. the technique will get in the way of your message.

2. if joe (or anyone else) plays a certain piece a certain way, and you're playing that same piece, by all means try it the way joe (or whoever else) plays it, but if it feels more comfortable, if your cover version sounds "more right", do it your way.

just MHO, of course :) play on guys!

Haha! I agree :P

I love Dayt at the beach!

the left hand uses fingers 1, 2, and 3, and right hand uses fingers 1 n 2. if you check out the tab in guitar pro, this is how it's played.

PS: it's really difficult. i tot midnight was a tough one. this is two handed tapping hell. but amazing when you can actually play it.

you can use the ring finger too(3rd finger). i use it to play the first B and F# in midnight.

Ha, I can't fancy how could it be played with the thumb :D I have not any problems with that cause I played the piano for many years :D So I've natural strenght in my left hand. Maybe seven years ago (bevor I began to play the piano) it was very difficult for me to play exact these notes. As i come back to guitar I though that the practising on piano will be helpful for guitar (I mean agility of the left hand) but on the piano is it another position and for guitar is only strengh useful... :D

I also go with my index and middle finger.
Heh, if it comes to two-handed tapping I would like to show you smth:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5...670396&q=fulara

This is a Polish guitarist playing two-handed tapping technique on doublenecked guitar. What do you think about it? :D

Oh I see Fulara isn't famous only in my country :D I think he's great cause besides classical music he plays also a lot of jazz stuff