I’ve seen some Chapman stick music on YouTube. I’m not terribly familiar with this instrument of music. Some of you folks seem like the type who might be able to answer my questions.
I’m wondering, does this thing function on a similar principle to the trompe marina (or ever what you call that long triangular thing that is played with a bow at top and the string played with the fingers below)?
It reminds me of how if I take a dulcimer, and press down hard and quick on the string, against the frets it will make a piano-like sound. Did somebody put that principle to work in an instrument? I congratulate whoever did. It’s a very intriguing concept.
The strings of the Stick are quite a bit slacker than those of a guitar or bass, so it’s designed from the get-go to be played by striking the strings down to the fretboard. I’d say it’s more like a cross between a guitar/bass and piano rather than like a tromba marina. I think it would be difficult to make an acoustic instrument that plays similarly – I think you really need the electronic pickup, as the intrinsic sound is pretty quiet.
You might also look up Stanley Jordan, a guitarist who plays the guitar in the same fashion. I believe he gets light-gauge strings, too, to string it slack.
emmett chapman said that he came upon the string tapping concept after watching jimi hendrix play. he then thought that if you could tap with one hand, then why not two, hence the chapman stick. stanley jordan curiously enough dosen’t credit chapman for the technique that he uses on the guitar.
