AirTap! introduced the world to a technique so visually and sonically distinct that it required its own name. Erik Mongrain lays the guitar flat across his lap and taps the strings from both above and below simultaneously — creating a sound that resembles a harp, a piano, and a percussion instrument all at once.
The piece uses DADGAD tuning, which provides an open, droning quality ideal for the resonant tapping technique. When the guitar is horizontal, gravity assists string vibration in a fundamentally different way, and Mongrain exploits this to create cascading harmonic passages that would be impossible in standard playing position.
Approaching AirTap! requires rethinking your entire physical relationship with the guitar. Begin by simply getting comfortable holding the instrument flat and learning to tap cleanly without excess string noise. The two-hand coordination required is closer to piano technique than conventional guitar technique.
Natural harmonics play a major structural role throughout the piece. Spend time locating and cleanly producing harmonics at the 12th, 7th, and 5th frets in DADGAD before integrating them with the tapping patterns.
The piece runs just over three minutes but contains an enormous density of technique. Video analysis is essential — watch Mongrain's hands from multiple angles. This is a piece for dedicated advanced players willing to fundamentally expand their understanding of what guitar can be.