Perform (Finger Tapping) ??

[silverwolfer]

So in theory, let us say we made a charmer bard

One that is not focused on healing allies or making them better, but is pure social muscle, so confusion bardic song , the various charm spells , maybe even the daze or suggest bardic powers. Now it would look weird if someone suddenly started singing or playing an instrument. Instruments such as triangles and drums are considered okay for normal bardic abilities, how do you feel about the possibility of a spy based bard using finger tapping?

[Xerxus]

Tap dancing would be pretty damn awesome.

[Gildedragon]

Insidious but pretty good. Some bluff required to make it not noticeable but there's something very postmodern in the bard affecting people with subliminal ambient noise.
in a more modern campaign: pen clicking.

[Baroncognito]

So in theory, let us say we made a charmer bard

One that is not focused on healing allies or making them better, but is pure social muscle, so confusion bardic song , the various charm spells , maybe even the daze or suggest bardic powers. Now it would look weird if someone suddenly started singing or playing an instrument. Instruments such as triangles and drums are considered okay for normal bardic abilities, how do you feel about the possibility of a spy based bard using finger tapping?

It'd work fine, it'd definitely be Perform (Percussion). However, what's wrong with Perform (Oratory)?

[Oddfellow]

This... Is genius.

However, for use with Bardic music, I think you're stretching it a bit... Part of the beauty and part of the downfall of Bardic music is that it's loud, unstealthy, and attention-grabbing. That effect is lost with, er, finger-tapping. And unless you're a very talented finger-tapper (-sigh-), I don't see how you could fascinate a crowd on stage by drumming your fingers on a table. However, it would make for quite a sight...

[silverwolfer]

(facepalms)

finger tapping not tap dancing, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpULmV-IhZk

Also remember, subsonic feat from complete adventurer, that lets you use your abilities without getting noticed.