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Click here for a printer-friendly version of "Tapping: Vertical and Diagonal Patterns".
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One of the most popular techniques for lead guitar playing is tapping. Many
guitarists have a good idea of how tapping works, and can play basic
tapping licks. However, in order to begin to play larger, more advanced
tapping patterns, you will need to be able to transfer from one string
to the next. This will expand the amount of potential notes in your
patterns. While playing patterns on the guitar and moving from one
string to the next, you will always be playing either a Vertical or a Diagonal
pattern. This can also be referred to as a "Vertical/Diagonal movement" or
"transfer."
By using both Vertical and Diagonal patterns together, you will be able to
greatly increase the amount of area you can take up on the fretboard,
and the amount of variations and sequences you can play with the same
exact notes (played in a different fretboard position) or with
different notes. In this article I will be looking at this concept from
the perspective of expanding tapping technique.
So, what are vertical and diagonal patterns?
Vertical Patterns
A Vertical Pattern means that when you transfer from one string to the
next, you will be staying in the same fretboard position in your
fretting hand. Since you are staying in the same fretboard position,
this limits you to only be able to transfer in a vertical manner when
you go from one string to the next.
MP3 - Example 1
When moving from one string to the next this pattern stays in the
same fretboard position (12th position).
Diagonal Patterns
A Diagonal Pattern means that when you transfer from one string to the
next, you will NOT be staying in the same fretboard position in your
fretting hand. This means that you will be moving 1 or more fretboard
positions away when you transfer to the next string of a pattern.
MP3 - Example 2
Moving in a Vertical or Diagonal manner can also refer to the change of
position made in the tapping hand while tapping patterns. In addition,
note that some patterns can have stronger Vertical or Diagonal movement
than others. Notice in this pattern that the tapping hand is constantly
moving in a diagonal manner (strictly diagonal movement), while the
frethand moves diagonal from the "A" string to the "G" string, and then
back to the original fretboard position when going from the "G" string
to the "E" string (containing both vertical and diagonal movement,
making it less diagonal).
Making clean transfers from string to string
Two things that many players struggle with is transferring from one
string are:
1. Connecting the patterns on each string together in a smooth controlled
manner.
2. Keeping other strings or excess noise from sounding while transferring.
If you want to play with clean technique while transferring from one
string to the next, knowing how to correct these problems is knowledge
you need to have. To see a video explanation of how to transfer cleanly
from string to string when tapping, sign up for Ysrafel's free newsletter here.
MP3 - Example 3
Examples 1, 2, and 3
Click To Enlarge |
The exercises in this article are only a small sample of what you can do
with Vertical and Diagonal string transfers . This concept is
applicable to guitar playing in a general sense, and covers anything
you can do on the fretboard. It applies to non tapping techniques such
as sweep picking, alternate picking, economy picking, directional
picking, etc. Make sure to experiment on the guitar by finding
different fretboard positions to play the same scales or arpeggios.
There are endless combinations of notes and note patterns that can be
achieved by combining vertical and diagonal patterns together. The more
you can mix and match these patterns, the more command you will have
over the fretboard.
Additional Columns by Ysrafel
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Additional Guitar Technique Columns
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- And 444 more in the Guest Columnists category, view the index
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Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
