Emmett Chapman explains the Chapman Stick

[Tiwaking]

It is amazing and makes a totally unreal sound.

[sandi739]

you would have to put a whole different idea in your mind for chords

[scarred2112]

I'll take the Maple 10-String with black hardware & Linear fret markers on Emmett's left (Stage Right), thanks. :-D

I've wanted a Stick since my early 20s (as of June '11 I'm 35)... I have no idea why I don't have one yet. Cost & Fear of Failure, most likely.

[WraithandGluttony2]

Hehe. he reminds me of steve jobs so much.

[TheChazinator101]

when i get one of these im going to take lessons from him if he has the time

[revtkatt]

You should be given a MacArthur genius grant.

Coming here from Fripp-ville.

Not only a beautiful looking and sounding instrument, players hands are also

beautiful when playing.

I'm an engineer, very generative-amusical, but I love this instrument and many players. I think EC is a god.

[Hauntedkilla666]

I want to see buckethead play one of those.

[Muzikman127]

I want one of these so bad. just hearing the depth of those chords at 1:12 but then also the complete logicality of the layout of the notes- fifths and fourths. Not to mention the tonal capabilities of just playing one hand as a lead let alone 2 hands together

[countdumas]

@Muzikman127 Great holistic bands are---Melting Euphoria, Ozric Tentacles, Gong, Mother Gong, Acid Mother's Gong, Magma, Aphrodities Child, Jade Warrior, Steve Tibbetts, Patrick Bernard, Lost at Last, Larry Coryell, Shakti, Oregon, Kazumi Watanabe, Toninho Horta, Egberto Gismonti, Eat Static, System 7, Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance, Magma, Sphongle, Bill Laswell, Stomu Yamashta, Here and Now band, Steve Hillage.

[biggeorge77]

@Muzikman127 -Get one while Emmett is still around and producing them, have him sign it and go and meet the guy. I have one and it is a total mindfuck to play it. I thought I had the guitar figured out until I got my stick and all of a sudden you are playing 2 guitars, one is upside down with the wrong hand and the other is down-side-up with the other wrong hand. It's like trying to write a letter upside down with your left hand.

You MUST use both sides of your brain simultaneously to play one

[2stick5]

i like when his voice turns into letters...

[PGuitar265]

damn amazing instrument....pretty unknown though i think.....where can i get such a thing and what does it cost?

[zzsmartzz]

0:41 sounds like Helix Nebula by Anamanaguchi. Thanks to this observation, I need to hear that song covered on a Stick just short of how much I need to eat on a regular basis

[blkbeltmage]

@zzsmartzz

dude, i seriously had the same thought. get to it good sire.

[sillybilly972]

@zzsmartzz good song

[beerwieser09]

wow

[Serge01111967]

@aeropilot: I wish I had a friend like that!!! LOL

[ZappaFan101]

Awesome intstrument. Does anyone know the average price of one of these things?

[aeropilot]

@ZappaFan101 : A friend gave me one for my birthday last year ... still trying to figure it out, but it sure is fun! Typically, they run $2000.

[chyrd]

I have always wanted this instrument!!! someday she will be mine!!!

[JAMISONGENTLE]

Could this be the current Les Paul? Will the stick catch on in popularity?....Only the Stars will tell :)

[roitruax]

@JAMISONGENTLE

It's been out there nearly 40 years (and I've been playing it nearly 20 of those). It's probably caught on about as much as it's going to.

[pazzensutra]

Okay....dumb question here....did Stanley Jordan ever pick one up? I remember reading an interview with him, and he was asked if he'd ever heard of the C.S. and he said "Huh? I never heard of it..." So I was always curious if anyone knows if he ever came near it. Not that Stanley needed it....

[SuperGuitarNewbie]

@pazzensutra Stanley played mainly treble parts, and he had a bassist, with a full band. The chapman stick is mainly for solo playing artists. Peace out. :)

[Rupamforever]

i'm going mad...awesome...soooo want to play

[whoopiemudra]

please, everyone........ this may have been already answered....... I would want foot activated damping, decay, or volume.... an individual pedal for each string, touch sensitive, also 2 graduated dampings (max hi and max low), also 2 sliders, one puts max high at an adjustable point among the strings, one puts a max lowat an adjustable point among the strings.

[Petruccinho]

I don´t want to know how string changing is on that thing =D

[aenima98]

@Petruccinho Yeah it'd also probably take forever to tune XD

[its8ace]

Smart guy! I've been teaching two hand tapping, only recently, based on what I saw Damien Aribert (U tube) do. It certainly forces you to think in Nashville Numbers/Keys...which, of course, many guitarists don't do! Bravo Emmett!

[kyuss4me]

I'd wish I could see Frank Zappa try the stick out...

[eduardoteixeirajj]

surely one of the most exotic instruments ever invented. i want one too!!!!

[lotuswight]

@eduardoteixeirajj -Hey Dude-the most exotic instrument i know of is the Nyckelharpa-check it out

[boibad12]

did emmertt ever play in a band with the chapman stick?

[darude90]

nice rite of spring reference haha

[Dalbeeeeeee1]

i didnt quite get how the tuning works, can anyone explain it to me? its not just from high to low is it?

where can i buy a 12 string one or any of them in general? and how much?

and is it possible to get them in standard high to low tuning?

[JoeAuriun]

@Dalbeeeeeee1 Google "chapman stick" it should be stick dot com ... It lists all the information, pricing, what types you can buy and everything.

But for tuning the bass strings are backwards. And they're tuned to fifths, like a cello. The guitar strings are tuned to a perfect fourth, so it's an even tuning all across -- you don't have an E or a B in the set.

But they cost over two thousand dollars.

[Savatage420]

man that seems like the most difficult instrument to play ever..... way to complicated for me

[BarkingToad]

$2350 for the ten string with soft case.

[clarkewi]

Hi Emmett, I was in a band with your little brother Danny in high school (another talented dude). I love the work done with your instrument.

[MADEINMAIDEN]

what r the prices??

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

I own a Stick and it's fun to play, albeit a tad hard when you start out. I don't care too much about most of the music played on it though--but of course that's not the fault of the instrument. Most Stick players just like to pile on lots of notes, which is not really my taste.

[notionpollution]

@sclogse1 - Euphonic Audio iamp head.  bergantino cab.

I used it with a Warr and Stick. Awesome sound. Loud and no distortion. Works well with both channels, but they're expensive.

Bob C uses a walter woods but those are even more expensive and mostly for acoustic purposes.

[redviper747]

@Muzikman127:

Boss actually already makes a sustain/compression pedal that I think you'd be interested in. Just google 'Boss Sustain Pedal'

[gxtksh329]

It's a compressor, but as soon as you crank it a bit it gets too noisy to be useful IMO. For real sustain I suggest a Fernandez Sustainer, or a Sustainiac Stealth Pro kit. (Sustainiac also makes the Model C clamp-on transducer)

[firewalled1951]

@gxtksh329

My god you are good!

You should have your own video on youtube so that others like me can run you down the same way that you run others down,.

Don't watch these videos if you can't keep your picky little comments to yourself.

We are all enjoying it.

Look at othe Chapman stick players and see for yourself. It's a great instrument and emmett is just explaining its features so that we can learn the capabilities of this great instrument.

[sclogse1]

Looking for an amp that will give me that full bass sound with no distortion on a chapman...any ideas?

[Muzikman127]

I wonder if there would be any way to create a digital sunstain pedal... I suppose if delay is possible then it must be. Would really be cool with this....

[hatecrewsix2]

i like it but the people are looking something easy to play , i tryed is nice but if u want start in that thing u need some guitar lessons and harmony.

i think buy one

[Gregorypeckory]

@hatecrewsix2 Taking guitar lessons to play stick is like taking trumpet lessons to learn trombone. Why not actually study the instrument you want to play-granted, private, live stick instruction is hard to come by, but guitar lessons is not the way to learn it. There are books, videos, youtube, and an ever increasing pool of talented players to consult.

[WeirdErnie]

Yeah, that's gotta be my next major purchase.

[odacepkezen]

So its like a keyboard

[loverofsith]

i wants me one.....

[hueseph]

Most under-appreciated as a musician, a luthier and an inventor. A pioneer in his own right.

[blizzfool]

this guys a fricking genius

[riffripper420]

when was the chapman stick created?is it difficult for a guitar player to attempt to play one?

[PerfectParasite]

Not if you are good at tapping.

[unamericano]

yea and God said unto Abraham "bass will no longer be uncool and the guitar will no longer be arrogant and in the spotlight" and he gave man 'THE CHAPMAN STICK!'

[kebbey]

bass was always cool...just slightly too modest

[Dread098]

thanks for sharing. just great.

[randystrom1234]

As a Stick player since 1976 (that makes me kind of an old guy, (going to the gym, working on it.),). I must say that this vid shows Mr. Chapman's invention from A to Z. I use his tuning and technics every day on my gigs and recordings. Thank you Mr. Chapman, God Bless you your family,

Randall Strom

[thebigbadjohnsmith]

Come on, do no guitar people here listen to Stravinsky? Emmett Chapman does! Can ANYONE spot the Sacre du Printemps [Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring'] quotation? I'll give you a clue - video editing is used to highlight it.

P.S. This is just for fun, so please don't take me as a perdantic fop for asking if anyone knows Stravinksy's work - its probably his most famous piece btw! : )

[ygg69]

You mean the bit between 4.25-4.30 ? Could be le Sacre but isn't it a bit general ?

[thebigbadjohnsmith]

It was specific enough that I spotted it. You got it though! That's it : ) 4:25 ish

[Slayerplsko]

I DO!!!

[thebigbadjohnsmith]

Anyone spot the Stravinsky rite of spring quotation? : )

[noodlecrazeet]

so do I

[supersonicspringy]

it will do its taken guitar years to come through if u think about it.......i want one of these

[PeterInglisGuitar]

After watching this demo, I don't know why the Chapman Stick hasn't entered Music Conservatories world wide!

He has developed a harpsichord on a stick, with expression - vibrato, bending - as well. This is a true conjunction of the keyboard and string family.

[scarred2112]

Sean Malone of "Gordian Knot" has replaced the piano and uses his Sticks primarily in teaching a variety of music classes, from Basic Theory upward at The University of Oregon. There's one example...

[baboonhunters]

this instrument is crazy. . .

[bosunbilly]

..and eminently logical at the same time.

[CanYouHandleYohann]

that harmony at 5:53 is beautiful

[thebigbadjohnsmith]

What, octaves?

That is almost by definition no harmony, lol. Its a scale that he's playing in parallel octaves; even the scale itself is quite dark [[ that doesn't mean it isn't beautiful though : ) ]]

[CanYouHandleYohann]

Absolutely amazing. Why this man is not the most famout guitarist in the world, i have no idea. This is what inspired masteres like stanley jordan

[NapoleanXV]

becuase he isnt a guitarist, hes a stick player

[isaac1348]

hi andy!

i was looking up a chapman stick and found your comment on this video. haha

this is isaac.

[adamg709]

Fabulous.

[donschiff]

Super Emmett!

[fboxberger]

way to go Emmett, your the best, thank you for inventing this instrument, it changed my life...Frank