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Rick also advises working on keeping the first finger planted on the string to ensure continuous, connected playing—challenging but rewarding for achieving smooth, fluid lines. Practicing such patterns trains the left hand to produce expressive, legato phrases that elevate improvisational ideas.
Exploring Diminished Scale and Moving Intervals
Rick further exemplifies tapping by exploring diminished scale intervals, such as minor thirds and flat 9s, which are particularly useful over dominant chords. He challenges himself to execute complex fingerings where the first finger remains anchored, creating fluid, connected sounds. This requires patience and stamina but offers rich harmonic possibilities for improvisers.