How to Tape Your Fingers for Guitar Playing: (3 Simple and Easy Steps)
Today, I am going to show you how to tape your fingers for guitar playing like Kirk Hammett.
Yes,
Have you ever notice Kirk Hammett, a lead guitarist and songwriter tape his fingers while playing guitar.
In fact many guitarists tape their fingers because it can help protect the fingers from calluses, which can become painful when strumming the guitar.
Additionally, it can help the guitarist play faster and with more precision.
Some guitar players even say that they feel more comfortable putting tape on their fingers before playing.
So if you want to know how to tape your fingers for guitar playing, you’ll love my actionable steps.
And in this article, I’ll show you step by step technique that they used.
Let’s deep dive into it.
It protects your hands, and most importantly, it protects your fingers from being broken. Most guitar players don’t tape their fingers because it changes the tone of the guitar.
The properties of the tape affect the tone of the guitar. Rough tape can give a metallic sound, while smooth tape can give a more mellow sound. Smooth tape also allows the guitar to resonate better. I personally use the brand name “Fibrolac Blue”.
Also, the tape should be applied in the middle of the finger, not at the beginning, and not at the end. You want to tape the middle of the finger, because this will allow the guitar to vibrate well.
If you tape your finger, you should adjust the position of your finger. If you tape your finger too high, your finger will be too stiff, and the sound will be smater than normal.
By the way, I have a guide on How to Mic an Acoustic Guitar: 10 Best Tips for Great Sound. Check it out.
Why Guitarists Tape Their Hands?
It protects you from injuries when strumming the guitar, and help you to play faster with more consistency.
Tape your hands and fingers benefit you from cuts, sore, and abrasions, as you most guitarists practice regularly, so their fingers are at the risk of wear and damage.
When you finger pick, the pain in your fingertips is intensified. In order to stop this pain from becoming unbearable, you must tape your fingers to help you play faster.
Why do Guitarists put Tape on their Knuckles?
Guitarists tape their knuckles to help protect their fingers from getting calluses. Calluses can make it difficult to play guitar, so the tape helps keep the skin on the fingers smooth.
There are a few different ways to tape your fingers for guitar playing. In this article, I’ll show you ultimate technique to tape your fingers for accuracy and consistency.
Do Guitar Finger Protectors Work?
many guitar players use finger protectors. Guitar finger protectors are a type of glove that is worn while playing the guitar. They are designed to help protect the fingers from the wear and tear of playing the instrument.
While they are not required, many guitar players find them to be helpful in keeping their fingers in good condition. There are a variety of different brands and styles of guitar finger protectors available on the market, so it is important to choose one that is comfortable and fits well.
Which Hand Should Be Taped?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it is entirely dependent on personal preference. Some guitarists prefer to tape their fretting hand, as it prevents the skin from cracking and becoming sore and worn.
Others prefer to tape their strumming hand, as it stops the hand from moving around too much and makes cleaning the fretboard easier. New guitarists may want to start by taping their fretting hand, as it can be more difficult to keep your fingers in place when first starting out. Ultimately, it is up to the individual guitarist to decide which hand they want to tape.
How to Tape Your Fingers for Guitar Playing?
So if you’re just getting started and you’re feeling the pinch, then it’s time that you tape your fingers. Whether it’s a beginner or a casual player who wants to come back to the guitar, it’s essential that you tape your fingertips.
The practice is not that common among guitar players. It’s almost unheard of in the world of guitar. It’s more of a thing among sitar players. But even in this case, it’s not a typical thing to do. You’ll never see an experienced sitar or guitar player tape their fingertips.
How do I prepare my fingers for guitar?
To prepare your fingers for guitar, you need to do some basic exercises to increase flexibility and dexterity. You can start by doing some simple stretches for your hands and fingers.
You can also try some finger exercises, such as picking up small objects or playing with putty. Once you’ve warmed up your fingers, you can start practicing some basic guitar chords.
How To Tape Your Finger for Guitar Playing: (3 Simple and Easy Steps)
As we have already talked about, the beginning guitarists tape their fingers as it will help them practice for long hours, and the professionals use it while playing gigs.
To tape your finger, you need to first apply the finger tape onto your finger, and then press it down to keep it in place. Some finger tape comes with a glue which sticks it to your finger for a long time. But, for your convenience, you can also use regular tape.
Another thing to be noted is that you have to remember to put the tape on the area where you want to tape your finger.
1- Locate the Area of Finger you Want To Tape
For this, you need to know the pain point of your fingers. This can be done by simply bending your finger. The area where you feel pain while bending your finger is the area where you should tape it.
So, you need to locate the exact area where you are getting hurt while not tired. You should tape your fingers at this location, so that it has no impact on your practice or playing.
The next thing you need to do is to cut and apply some finger tape to the point you have already located. You need to place the tape on the exact point, and then wrap it tightly. You have to make sure that the tape is placed in a way that it does not cut the skin. If it does, it will not be able to make any difference in the sound.
2. Locate the Area of Hand You Want To Tape
Next step is to find the part of your hand that need to be tape. It should be your palm or knuckles because it has to be put under pressure while playing guitar.
The next thing you need to do is to cut and apply some tape to the point you have already located. You need to place the tape on the exact point, and then wrap it tightly. You have to make sure that the tape is placed in a way that it does not cut the skin. If it does, it will not be able to make any difference in the sound.
3. Locate the Area of Fingernails You Want To Tape
How to Play Guitar with Tapping Fingers? (in 6 Easy Steps)
1 - Proper Finger Placement - Taping Fingers for Guitar
The goal of this step is to place the index finger in the correct spot on the neck of your guitar. It’s a very simple concept and can be mastered easily.
You have to place your index finger so that your fretboard is divided into five sections. You can see the positions of these five sections in the image below:
- Middle – The middle section is generally considered to be the space between the second and third frets, but it can be placed on any fret.
- Second – This section is the space between the third and fourth frets, and is generally where you place your second finger.
- Third – This is the space between the fourth and fifth frets, and is generally where you place your third finger.
- Fourth – This is the space between the fifth and first frets, and is generally where you place your fourth finger.
2. Fingertip Accuracy
The other most important thing to fretting a note is ensuring the tip of your finger is squarely on the fretwire. This is known as fingertip accuracy.
When correctly fingered, your finger tip will be positioned in the center of the fretwire, and the rest of your finger will be positioned to the side. This results in a perfect break angle and a clean sounding note.
Mistakes here will result in a buzzing note. If you finger a note incorrectly, your finger will be positioned to the side of the fretwire. This will result in a note that “breaks” and sounds wet and out of tune.
3. Thumb Position
The thumb is used to pluck the strings. The position of the thumb on the guitar fretboard will determine the sound of the notes that it is able to play. The thumb will have a position on the fretboard that will allow a natural string action to occur.
Your thumb should be positioned over the strings. For most of you, this is a natural position.
It is not too far forward, but also not too far back.
Sometimes beginners will have their thumb too far back.
This is because they are used to pushing down harder with their thumb. This usually results in a sloppy, low-pitched guitar sound.
The thumb should be placed just above the fretwire. This will allow you to apply all the right amount of pressure to the strings without having to use too much effort.
4. Curvature of the Fingers
When fretting notes, the direction of your finger tip as well as the amount of curvature of your finger tip determines how much pressure you are applying. If your finger is in a straight position, you will be applying a lot more pressure to get a good sound.
If your finger is curved inwards, it will require less pressure to get a good sound, as you are applying more pressure to the surface of the string.
Beginners will find that they are applying too much pressure to the string, and that may cause the string to break. When a string breaks, it is a good idea to go back to the previous finger position and tighten up on the string.
Your fingertips will naturally have a slight curvature to them. This is what gives a finger its shape. We all know that the fingers are made up of bones, connective tissue, and muscles.
The muscles will naturally want to curve inwards as they are being used. This curvature of the fingers should be taken into consideration as you are fretting.
If you are doing your index finger at the 12th fret, you want to make sure that your side finger (the pinky) is sitting against the 12th fret. This side note is a very important one.
5. Wrist and Hand Position
If my wrists are straight, then I’m playing my guitar correctly. If they are bent, then I’m either holding the guitar in a way that is uncomfortable or I’m holding the guitar in a way that is hurting me. It is very important to feel comfortable and relaxed while playing.
When your wrists are straight, you will be able to have a better feel for where the neck of the guitar is. This will allow you to create a better connection with the guitar and easier transitions between chords.
In the first few days of learning the guitar, it is very common for your hands to experience soreness. This is because your muscles are not used to the amount of strain they’re going to be put under.
The best thing to do to remedy this is to rest your hands for a while. This is especially true if you are a right-hander.
6. Start Practicing the Guitar
The most important thing is to practice the guitar.
By practicing, you can make sure that you are not putting your hand under any risk. This way, you can ensure that if you get injured, you will be able to recover from it
You can do so by pressing the strings or by strumming it. Make sure that you practice it with the fingers that you have taped.
Advantages of Taping Your Fingers
There are many advantages of how to tape your fingers for guitar playing. Let’s take a look at this:
- You’re able to play for a longer period of time.
- You’re able to practice without feeling pain.
- You’re able to gain flexibility and accuracy in your playing.
- Your fingers are able to keep their flexibility and shape.
- You’re able to find the proper position of your fingers and hands.
You might find that there are many more advantages of taping your fingers. But these are the most important ones for a beginner. It would take a long time for you to gain all these benefits. So it makes sense to try them out first.
Drawbacks of Guitar Tape Finger
Many people have this perception that taping your fingertips is somehow “wrong” or “unsafe.” You’ve probably heard someone say “taping your fingers” or “you should never tape your fingers.”
It’s a fact that some people don’t like this practice. Maybe it’s because they’ve heard about it from their parents or came across a situation where it failed.
Many guitar players have this idea in their head that they’re not supposed to tape their fingers.
They believe that they’re supposed to “just play and sing.” But this is not a legitimate line of thought. At some point, you’re going to need to get better at playing guitar without the help of fingertips. If you don’t tape your fingers, then the probability of you having a problem is higher.
Conclusion on How to Tape your fingers for Guitar Playing
I hope these steps help you on how to tape your fingers for guitar playing .
Which of the above techniques would you use to tape your fingers for guitar playing?
Let’s recap:
- Locate the Area of Finger you Want To Tape
- Locate the Area of Hand You Want To Tape
- Locate the Area of Fingernails You Want To Tape
Maybe something you have read has left you with a question.
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
Leave feedback about this