From Basics to Beats: Intermediate Tap Techniques You Need Now
You’ve mastered the shuffle, nailed your flaps, and your time steps are tight—but what’s next? Elevate your tap game with these intermediate techniques that’ll add texture, speed, and show-stopping flair to your repertoire.
1. The Pullback: Elevate Your Traveling Steps
Pullbacks transform simple steps into dynamic movement. Unlike a shuffle (which moves forward), a pullback lets you "step back" while staying in place—or even advancing—by striking the ball of your foot against the floor as you lift.
2. Wings: The Crowd-Pleaser
Single Wing vs. Double Wing
Wings combine a brush, scuff, and weight shift into one fluid motion. For a single wing, swing one leg out to the side while brushing the floor, then snap it back in as you transfer weight. Double wings alternate both legs mid-air.
3. Riff Progressions: Syncopation Secrets
Riffs (a brush followed by a spank/scuff) become addictive once you chain them. Try this intermediate combo:
- Riff-heel: Riff + heel drop
- Riff toe: Riff + toe tap (great for accents)
- Riff walk: Alternate riffs while moving forward
4. Cramp Rolls: Speed & Control
These alternating toe-heel steps sound like a drumroll. The key? Keep your weight centered and steps small. Speed distorts form, so start at 60 BPM and incrementally increase.
5. Improv Tactics: Make It Musical
Intermediate tappers often focus on steps but forget phrasing. Try this:
- Repeat a 4-count riff pattern, but change the last measure
- Layer dynamics (soft brushes vs. sharp stomps)
- "Answer" a melody with your feet (e.g., mimic a sax riff)
