Chapman Stick

The Stick or Chapman Stick is a Musical instrument amplified invented by Emmett Chapman in 1969 and marketed starting from 1974. It is derived from the Guitare, and comprises eight, ten or twelve separate cords in a melody part and a low part. Its singularity is that these cords are struck with the fingers according to the technique of the '' tapping '' with two hands or Touch-Style . It allows a play definitely more Polyphonique that a more traditional string instrument, which brings it closer to the keyboard instruments. The cords of the low part and the melody part are amplifiables besides separately.

It can be used in any style: Rock'n'roll, Funk, traditional, Jazz, Blues, Salsa, Celtic, etc

Manufactured in different Wood or in Graphite, it is declined in several versions which are characterized by the number of cords and the distribution of the cords between melody and low. Several tunings are possible, but most popular show a dissymmetry in the intervals between the melody cords and the low cords, with an opposition Quarte/Quinte. Other tunings authorize similar reasons for tacts on the two handles as well as easier transpositions.

The its of this instrument is hot and powerful, and is in general used to enlarge the low agreements. The technique used is connected a little with the Piano in the direction or the left hand generally plays the low ones - with possibly the agreement S - while the right hand plays the melody S or the agreements.

One can hear Stick on many recordings, in particular in the basic parts. Among the groups or the artists having used the Stick, one will quote in particular Alphonso Johnson on his discs solo (Moolight Shadows 1976), Tony Levin on the discs of Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment, or under his own name. In France, we will quote the group Tarace Boulba, Bernard Paganotti on his discs solo. Among the other groups having used the Stick, one will find Kittyhawk, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Dave Matthews Band, Dream Theater, Weather Report with Alphonso Johnson. One of the recordings where the sound of the Stick is particularly proposed is the album Discipline of King Crimson where it makes in particular the intro song Elephant Talk .

External bonds

Official site of the Stick
Operation of the Stick
Repertory of players of Stick
Artist Interview: Chapman Virtuoso Stick, Steve Adelson
Site of the French association of the Stick and the Slap Guitar
List of French players members of the AFSTG
Site of the International meetings of TapeGuitare with Allaire

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