Who 'tapped' first? Ace or Eddie? Let's ask Ace:

[sirthx2]

When Ace demos his 'Shock Me' technique, it's quite...........something. (Pro-tip: If there's a cat on your lap, my advice it to remove said cat before playing the clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWxVpOsVwS0

[BernieTaupson]

Yeah and it was on ZZ Top albums years before either did it.

Difference with Ace is he did it as a blatant “trick” during his spotlight solo just to make noise and look flashy. Ed actually made it a part of his playing.

[sirthx2]

(Ace did it) to make noise and look flashy. Ed actually made it a part of his playing.

Spot-on.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

Some European fellow decades ago...

[VinnieVincentsVag]

Steve Hackett was doing in late 60s

[GreatWhiteSnake]

Found it. Vittorio Camardese. On an acoustic. Dude was a full time radiologist. Actual tapping starts at about .47....

https://youtu.be/o2lApElirAg?si=frBtl2uO-UHMKfRx

[GreatWhiteSnake]

Kaki King style stuff here...

https://youtu.be/2152a4ioGEk?si=0m0CLhlMXELYDjRz

[Fat_Elvis]

He couldn't even do it right in that video!

[Bono Nettencourt]

(Ace did it) to make noise and look flashy. Ed actually made it a part of his playing.

Spot-on.

And the same goes for Hackett, May, and all the other supposed "firsties". Jimmy Page's Heartbreaker soli was probably the 1st recorded instance, but it was just showing off. Eddie took the time to figure out the intervals and harmonics required to make it musical.

[Sleek]

I meaaan, you got Harvey Mandel doing early tapping too, which is supposedly where Ed got the idea...but...

All of these guys were doing a note here and there. Even the flamenco guys are doing weird basslines or essentially extending their finger reach. Was anyone actually doing tapped arpeggios before Ed tho?

[TooOldToCare]

Two seconds after he started that, I bailed. Shiflett should have, too. How fucking embarrassing. And there weren't PITS in the 70s, dumbace. Most everything was GA, and people just stood around everywhere. I was 12 in the 70s the first time I saw KISS. We stood on the floor.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

Even the flamenco guys are doing weird basslines or essentially extending their finger reach. Was anyone actually doing tapped arpeggios before Ed tho?

idk that second Vittorio vid I posted seems to be feature some pretty badass proto-tapping. Maybe not arpeggios specficially but he's doing a lot more than basslines or extending his fingers...

[HueyRamone]

He couldn't even do it right in that video!

You didnt think that was some masterful tapping?

[Sleek]

What's that bit about Eddie being in the pit at Madison Square Garden watching Ace before VH got famous?

[TooOldToCare]

What's that bit about Eddie being in the pit at Madison Square Garden watching Ace before VH got famous?

I would call it a lie.

[El Vampiro Blanco]

What's that bit about Eddie being in the pit at Madison Square Garden watching Ace before VH got famous?

I would call it a lie.

I think Gene invited Ed and Al and did not leave tickets at will call for DLR..... Which made Dave suspect Gene might be conspiring to steal Eddie for Kiss.
Anyway, in a interview in one of those guitar player mags Ed made it pretty clear what he thought of Ace, saying he could not imagine why anyone would name ace as their guitar hero with his simplistic beginners level playing.

[JamesHetfieldsAcneScars]

If Eddie were to have gotten the idea from Ace, theres no way in hell he'd ever have admitted to it.

[TooOldToCare]

Of course, Ed didn't invent it, as many others have noted tapping goes WAY back. I also doubt Ace was his muse. I don't know much about the off-stage Ed (except he produced a fat, whiny baby), but I'd hazard to guess he was more a "student" of past guitar legends and techniques while Ace is not.

[HoldenSSV]

Anyway, in a interview in one of those guitar player mags Ed made it pretty clear what he thought of Ace, saying he could not imagine why anyone would name ace as their guitar hero with his simplistic beginners level playing.

He also said Jimmy Page sucked live and played like a two-year-old (live).

[BernieTaupson]

Ace also said in the interview that he invented “chickenpicking” (Firehouse solo). Chuck Berry was doing it when Ace was a toddler ffs.

[risingfarce]

KISS - "She" w/ Ace solo (Midnight Special - April 1, 1975)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRXx5hfk58M


Ace taps with his pick during his solo.

[risingfarce]

When Ace demos his 'Shock Me' technique, it's quite...........something. (Pro-tip: If there's a cat on your lap, my advice it to remove said cat before playing the clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWxVpOsVwS0

LOL

He sucks hard.