{"id":5483,"date":"2013-10-23T10:26:42","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T08:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mandoisland.com\/?p=5483"},"modified":"2018-04-19T08:33:47","modified_gmt":"2018-04-19T06:33:47","slug":"erik-mongrain-master-of-air-tap-fascinating-guitar-sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mandoisland.com\/?p=5483","title":{"rendered":"Erik Mongrain – Master of Air Tap – Fascinating Guitar Sound"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erik Mongrain<\/strong> has developed a technique to perfection which is known as Air Tap. For playing this Air Tap technique the guitar is not played in the normal position but is laid flat in front of the the player and is played simultaneously by both hands.<\/p>\n

The left hand produces the tones by hammering down the fingers onto the fretboard and the strings – a technique that has been known for a long tine,\u00a0 but which has mainly been used for playing small ornaments. The possibility of amplification now makes it possible that this technique can be used for playing not just ornaments but complete melodies or even chords just with the left hand alone.<\/p>\n

The right hand is used to pick the strings with the traditional fingerpicking patterns, but also to produce a number of percussion effects and harmony tones. By this two-hand technique a full and complex sound is produced which does not sound like a single guitar but almost like a complete guitar ensemble.<\/p>\n

In 2004 Erik Mongrain has played the following piece in a Canadian talent show:<\/p>\n

Erik Mongrain – Airtap 2004 – Party de No\u00ebl<\/h4>\n

Prestation d’\u00c9rik Mongrain au Party de No\u00ebl des Pourris de Talent.D\u00e9cembre 2004<\/p><\/blockquote>\n