Nerve Taps

Description

Nerve taps are a rapid vibration of one tap against the floor: usually the toe, with the heel resting down, or the heel, with the toe resting down. At full speed the sounds run together into a buzz. There's no weight change; the tremor comes from tensing the upper leg so it shakes, while the foot and ankle stay loose. The four-sound count shown here is only a practice unit - start with even sixteenth notes, then speed up until the separate taps disappear.

Breakdown

1. Toe (Flat)
2. Toe (Flat)
3. Toe (Flat)
4. Toe (Flat)

Practice Tips

• Tense the thigh but keep the ankle and foot relaxed. A stiff ankle stops the vibration, and a loose thigh gives you only a few slow taps.
• Practice short bursts of one or two beats against a metronome before trying to hold nerve taps for longer.