The Two-Handed Tapping of The Unknown Guitarist Vittorio Camardese in 1965 — Video

It’s hard to dispute that Eddie Van Halen popularised the two-handed tapping technique on the electric guitar, with the track “Eruption” from Van Halen’s self-titled debut album in 1979. However, he wasn’t the first to use the method.

Guitar greats such as, Emmett Chapman, Steve Hackett or Harry DeArmond are usual cited as early pioneers,  but you would be unlikely to hear the name, Vittorio Camardese in that company.

In the clip below filmed in 1965 for the Italian talent show Prime applause, Camardese, an Italian doctor demonstrates his unique method of playing on what he states to be a guitar loaned to him by a fellow doctor.

Not a lot of information is known about Vittorio, but various sources claim that he was actually a lifelong friend of Jazz Legend Chet Baker, who in his trips to Europeans would never fail did not fail to visit for an all-night-long jam session, at his house north of Rome. However, with an apparent morbid fear of the flying, Camardese would never be able to return the favour and declined numerous invitations to go to play in the United States. That unfortunately, may be why so few of us know of his talent today.

 

 

For more information on Vittorio Camardese visit http://www.vittoriocamardese.com