Emmett Chapman explains the Chapman Stick

Inventor musician Emmett Chapman explains the creation and technique of the famous Chapman Stick touchboard instrument in a 2007 interview with Rocket Scientists producer / keyboardist Erik Norlander. This is an excerpt from the video, "An Afternoon with Emmett Chapman", taken from the 2007 Rocket Scientists - Looking Backward multimedia box set. Emmett is being interviewed by Rocket Scientists producer / keyboardist Erik Norlander and Stickist extraordinaire Don Schiff.
www.thetank.com
"An Afternoon with Emmett Chapman"
from the 2007 multimedia box set (CDs and DVD)
Rocket Scientists - Looking Backward
(c)(p) 2007 Think Tank Media

[@Hue_Nery]

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

[@stickplayer2]

RIP, Emmett. I've been playing stick for over 20 years, met Emmett at his home a few times. He was a man of infinite, indomitable energy. He was, by all accounts, a bit difficult to work with, as he was a perfectionist, and never ceased trying to improve the instrument, and bring it to more people.

[@MrMarkstyles]

Back in the 70's Emmett Chapman came to Boston and introduced Roger Powell and myself to his 'Stick'.. He was already quite masterful at it back then.. It was stunning.. Unfortunately we were keyboard players. After a while, it became evident, it would take a good deal of technique and learning to master his seemingly deceptively simple instrument.. I'm glad that it has survived, prospered, and many talented players made the effort to master it.. Mr Chapman you are a genius inventor and musician..

[@stickplayer2]

I've played it since about 1998. Previously, I played primarily bass, guitar, and piano. This happened to be a very good basis, as the two handed tapping, and full range of the instrument, is more like how one thinks when playing piano, but the layout, while different, uses the fretting and fretboard knowledge from guitar.

[@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.

[@johnstruewing1164]

I only heard of the “Stick” for the first time last week. Amazing instrument amazing sound

[@MagiciteHeart]

As someone who started on piano and grew into classical guitar, I need one of these so hard.

[@snow5772]

same

[@jimmorehead9188]

We have a stick player in our band, a very good one! This thing takes the place of a bass and piano on a lot of our songs although we also have a keyboard player. With effects pedals we get almost unlimited sounds of different instruments so we get fairly full & authentic sound from only four musicians. We always get a lot of “what the heck is that thing” everywhere we play. Awesome instrument!

[@SimulationThesis]

I met Emmett at an arts festival several years back, way cool guy, and the Stick definitely my favorite instrument in the world. There is nothing at all like it.

[@karinefonte516]

And that's why, witha a few embelishments, it became the "baliset", the instrument played in the movie "Dune".

[@runvnc208]

Well, Harpeji is a little similar.

[@byronwr]

. This morning a FB friend posted a video of someone playing this absolutely marvelous instrument. The lights just came on ! I thank you Emmett Chapman for sharing your genius with the world.

[@JonMW]

As a pianist who has had a long-standing appreciation for rock guitar, I am 500% interested in this device

[@CostcoDog]

This is really an amazing instrument, mostly because of the 5th and 4th tunings. He is a genius. Kudos! What, no other comments??

[@humanbeing2420]

Could you imagine how advanced one's musical aptitude has to be to even begin to think seriously about designing a new instrument?

[@rjwh67220]

I think your musical aptitude would have to high just to contemplate learning the stick. Even so, I want one.

[@stickplayer2]

@@rjwh67220 I've been playing for over 20 years. I think if you can play piano, even just moderately, you will have the basic skills. It does take time - it's not a forgiving instrument, and the tapping technique is much lighter than most beginners try to use.

[@rjwh67220]

@@stickplayer2 I’d like to give the stick a try. Did you teach yourself? I doubt there’s a Mel Bay Stick Method book. But from what you said, I might be able to work one. My coordination is probably up to it, I play piano, guitar, and pedal steel-both hands, both feet, both knees-and my music theory isn’t bad. My reservations are learning how to tune it, finding a teacher, and spending a chunk of change not knowing how it’ll turn out. Thanks for the reply! And good luck to your stick career.

[@yesfan951]

It's like anything, it takes obsession, the pursuit of perfection, and a lil luck. The crazy part of innovation is just coming up with the idea for the instrument in the first place. The Stick exists because Emmett designed the instrument around the tapping technique he stumbled on. The mystery is where it's supposed to go next

[@thomascramer7485]

Absolutely i get confused listening to emett now.

[@NealVan]

Blythe Graham Obvious the instrument would not cost you that much. But as a still beginner Stick player that started with a brand new 10 string in 1983 when the company had no famous Stick players other than Emmett himself. His wife was the lovely woman who took my order all those years ago. I was so intrigued by watching Tony Levin play it with King Crimson mostly as a bass...I decided after that live performance I saw on the Pier in NYC sponsored by Dr. Pepper. I HAD to buy one and see what I could manage to play on it. Since there was only one model with only alternative tunings as the only option offered at the time, I went with the standard opposing fifth tuning. I was fairly quickly able to cover the basic bits of all those Tony Crimson riffs, especially Elephant Talk. I became so inspired just to try and create music I would never have thought of, or been able to play for it not for the genius design and incredibly easy to play, but so difficult to master as the gentlemen on KZbin have done. After more than 30 years, I still consider myself a beginner with some bonus abilities. Sadly on my main line of live music I'm playing covers and unless the bands I work with wish to cover Peter Gabriel songs Tony played Stick on, I never get to gig with it. Such as shame that I've not become a fraction as proficient as so many in these past decades have to even record demos of my own just to post on KZbin for the world to see and hear. My continued admiration for al those from Emmett to Tony and all those who have showed the world what you can do on a fretted instrument as if you were playing piano. And a specific thank you to Emmett for creating such an amazingly versatile fretted instrument. It allowed me to play the bass and guitar parts with my left hand while playing a keyboard with my right hand, and Taurus Bass Pedals allowing me and the band I was in at the time back in the mid-80s to perform live the hit song OnThe Loose by Saga. Such joy it gave me, and quite a surprise to our audiences by hearing that song with only three performers when Saga is a six piece band. I wish I could describe more songs I was able to pull all that instrumentation in other songs. Closest other surprise song we'd do was Long Distance Runaround by Yes but only need the Stick with left hand and the relatively simple keyboard part with right hand. Perhaps before my time ends on earth, I might become a fraction as accomplished as these other terrific Stick players. Tiny bit of Emmett Chapman trivia for those who are fans of his creation. He was on the 1970s era TV show called "What's My Line". And of course no one guessed. He even performed one of his original pieces on the show to demonstrate the new instrument he created. Did you reading know that already?? LOL Perhaps that clip might even be on KZbin?

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I’m a musician that began as a drummer in 1994, became a guitar student in 1995 in a proverbial banana peel maneuver, bought an electric bass in 1996 and was given my first (professional-grade) synthesizer in 1997. At the moment when I got that bass, I was somewhat tempted by the Chapman Stick. What I didn’t realize is that it basically is like having all four instruments in one. Otherwise, I would’ve set my sights on it instead of the bass.

[@KaycieCarryl22654]

Wow! The man himself. It's a very interesting instrument for sure.😊

[@InglisAcademy]

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.

[@stickplayer2]

I've been playing it more than 20 years, and met Emmett on a few occasions. The problem is that it is a difficult instrument to manufacture without extensive hand work, making it both take longer for each one, and require more expertise and cost. His effort for many years was finding manufacturing techniques that would allow it to be sold for less. I think there was, at best, limited success with this. I don't know if anybody is continuing that work, now that he's passed.

[@KnightFace3000]

I've just discovered this instrument and am fascinated by it. What an innovator - it makes so much sense. AND I didn't even know you could film videos on a potato!

[@Yanto-Bardic]

I Soooo want one of these!

[@jaasilm1]

To Emmett: I know I'm seven years too late with this. However, thanks, Emmett for explaining how the Stick works, and all the nuances that you brought to the world of Music (Jazz in particular) with your unbelievable invention. I was thinking of inventing a flute that plays around corners; but perhaps thieves would steal the other end when I was busy playing it on this side of the corner!!! ... so I dropped the idea ... Anyway, Emmett, a fantastic and extremely practical invention; I hope you get the Nobel Prize for it, or some great recognition from vigilant organisations in the world of Music! In Britain, you'd probably be considered for an MBE (Member of the British Empire), even without being British. It is such a tremendous achievement to invent an instrument that is a bass, a keyboard and a guitar, all at the same time!!! I hope the 'powers that be' are looking in on this comment. THIS MAN MUST BE RECOGNISED FOR HIS GIFT TO THE WORLD OF MUSIC!!!. Adolphe Sax was, in his day. Give Emmett Chapman a chance!!! Unfortunately, I hadn't heard of it in the Jazz circles I play in. I was introduced to it only in the last 2 or 3 days, when hearing Gene Perry's superb rendition of Bill Evans's "Alice in Wonderland" - a lovely and lively tune I'm playing it on tenor sax with a guitar trio. To whose guitarist and bassist I shall certainly be passing this link! Every good wish for your continued success, Emmett. Joe Silmon-Monerri, Round Midnight Trio (the Manchester, UK one). [SECRET THINKS: What reedman needs a third man in a trio, when it could just be Stick and reeds? - OK RMT, I didn't really mean that!!!]

[@bristolfashion4421]

A voice all of its own - delightful!

[@fboxberger]

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

[@robertszymanski717]

I saw Emmett in concert back in the early 1980's at Cypress College in South California. Amazing! What caught my ears.....the bald guy was doing vocal into a vocal harmonizing device that made a multi-tude orchestra singers !!! That blew me away also....

[@meshica7]

The bald guy was Josh Hanna who also appears on Emmet’s album “Parallel Galaxy”alongside Emmett’s brother Dan on harmonica.

[@kAwAtZaKiTa]

He is savant level astounding and the instrument is magic. Thank you Bob ❤

[@sorellman]

I only found out about the ChapStick, as I like to call it, and it is a wonderful instrument. The only reason I can think of why not a lot of musicians are using it that, as Emmet remarks here, mentally is a difficult instrument. But when you get a hang of it, see these two-people group called Cascade, the sound is just amazing and you get hooked for life on it. Thank you, Emmet! This is probably one of the greatest musical inventions of the 20th century.

[@evanjazzista]

Yeah, that and *the cost* of it! 😓

[@Amazology]

sounds awesome

[@eduardoteixeirajj]

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

[@novascotiagrown6138]

RIP You are amazing! Thank you.

[@StevenShields29]

It's like a wearable, finger-(instead of tangent-)activated, portable electric clavichord. Even the sound is vaguely reminiscent of a well-built unfretted clavichord. ("Unfretted" means something entirely different in Clavichord terminology.) I love this! I wish I could play guitar.

[@georgewaters8592]

Came real close to buying the 1985 Iron wood that SE currently has for sale, but found it was impossible to talk to Grace as our lives and work schedules are so different, either way I have a few 5 string and one 6 string electric bass set up in this style of tuning [6 string is 3/3, 5 strings are 3 strings in fifths, 2 strings in fourths...] which has been a poor mans way of experimentation, not too mention to see if I could pull this off. Well, I still haven't gotten bored with what I have, so I'm holding off... but there is no question that at some point in time I'll be looking to buy an original Ironwood stick, as those are the only one's which truly appeal to me. Excellent video posted here, gives much insight to the man himself. Thanks for posting, cheers !!

[@jaytc3218]

RIP Emmett Chapman.

[@marklowe7431]

Very ergonomic instrument too. Wrists are in a great shape.

[@IanCanefire]

an excellent, ingenious....this will be my next instrument.

[@craigusselman546]

Chapman sticks are awesome wonder why they never caught on i would like to add one to my guitar collection they sound funky and look fun to play.

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Craig Usselman I think that it’s the steep learning curve and the high cost of even the beginner instrument that’s prevented many! I also think that an organised system of pedagogy is also missing. I’ve seen a few Stick players and the results just sound like a guitar version of New Age piano. Impressive visually but then compositions are found lacking. Simple arpeggio or bass-chord, bass-chord whilst the other hand noodles up and down just didn’t cut it I think that in the hands of a pianist who can legitimately play independent lines, it will reach its potential. I’ve played on a Stick and I loved it, but I’m a passable pianist at best and couldn’t feel I’d ever sound more than two average guitarists jamming

[@ZiggySheppardUK]

I want one!

[@MyPingPongBuddy]

Amazing invention. I would like to get me one.

[@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.

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

These things are fucking super cool

[@AllenDec]

What a cool instrument!!

[@carissajb2955]

Awesome

[@mrladder6095]

i really want a chapman stick for so many reasons, but i cant afford one right now, so i think ill play extended range guitar and if i feel i need to expand i will. The chapman stick is such an amazing and revolutionary instrument and i hope i can at least try one in my life.

[@christiansanden8005]

Amazing intrument...i want get it

[@keeelane]

fucking genius. it's the missing link between keyboard and guitar...reminds me of what jan hammer's been doing but taking it to another level. i wonder if mr chapman's taken influences from indian instruments? visually this bears a striking resemblance to indian musical instruments like the rudra veena.

[@donschiff]

Super Emmett!

[@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...

[@rareword]

A revolution in string instruments.

[@allenlark]

So much more thought put into this than similar instruments like the kelstone.

[@skeetsessions2564]

i think this is great its the damndis thing ive ever seen. and i love it.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

What a genius! I’ve always wanted to play one, I think it would kick my butt tho, his voice kind sounds like Tony Levin,

[@stephenfiore9960]

*....This Guy is a musical Genius.....*

[@Rupamforever]

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

[@Kochiha]

I'd have had one of these ages ago if they weren't so freaking expensive...

[@stephenfiore9960]

Kochiha ....What’s the approximate price?..

[@rocketrayray55]

@@stephenfiore9960 2200

[@blizzfool]

this guys a fricking genius

[@acousticguitarfinger]

I'm a Chapman on my mother's side. Johnny Appleseed was a Chapman And Dog the Bounty Hunter (Dwayne Chapman) It's not "easy to play" because it doesn't play anythin. It is easy to BE played. My friend's cousin met him on the streets of NYC immediately after he made his first composition.

[@johnny711]

humanity owns to this man

[@NEntv58]

this guy is a genius.

[@aeropilot4419]

@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.

[@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.

[@klind57]

at 1:30 you played a cord progression.what were they? I would like to learn it.

[@Muenchies]

At 4:22, did he play an excerpt from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring? It sounded like the part where all the tribes start dancing in "The Adoration of the Earth."

[@keeelane]

probably not but perhaps emulating something like that.

[@toddmodem]

Amazing invention! Tony Levin is a master of this instrument.

[@jamessmethurst3537]

especially excellent on elephant talk and frame by frame dude.

[@kardusseirama8192]

i saw tony only use bass part check Kevin Keith.

[@pauloftarsus8145]

Genius

[@Snowdragon.]

I wonder if Emmett Chapman can make a Vulcan Harp that you can play for real ?

[@Brookeloun]

I want one

[@scarred2112]

I don't own one... yet (2/3rds of the way saved financially after 15 years of wanting one but upgrading Bass gear, my primary instrument) but spent a good deal of time trying one out at Bass Club Chicago recently, and it's INCREDIBLY easy to play physically. Because its set up for touchstyle playing, the action is so low that you barely have to fret a note to sound out loudly. As for how to play, it's like a combination of guitar/bass technique with the full-finger playing of keyboards.

[@stickplayer2]

I've been playing stick for about 20 years. I think modernly, there are more tap players, and they'd seriously appreciate the instrument's unique setup. Strings are parallel all the way (lunlike most basses) , and the string height is literally one dime's height all the way up and down, again, unlike most stringed instruments. Because of this, the setup is incredibly touchy and MUST be right. It also results in the instrument being expensive, due to the manufacturing process basically being mostly like custom guitar building, with lots of hand work.

[@WeirdErnie]

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

[@Chavezoid]

I saw Tony Levin play it in Caracas, Venezuela...total mindfuck!

[@petervankan1]

This man is a genius.

[@Slayerplsko]

I DO!!!

[@justgivemethetruth]

Amazing instrument and fun to listen to ... but I think a lot of players ... not sure if it is the instrument or the player stay in one mode and don't quite get the changes right in certain songs that change keys. is that because of so many strings and many of the open strings getting struck in some way? It looks very hard to keep track of all that stuff. Is the tuning the same or do most people open tune them in some way differently? A very unique and powerful sound definitely.

[@redviper747]

@Muzikman127: Boss actually already makes a sustain/compression pedal that I think you'd be interested in. Just google 'Boss Sustain Pedal'

[@JesusisJesus]

@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

[@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

[@astrolopes]

I once saw (and heard) a street musician playing the Chapman Stick, I laughed to myself and thought "only in Cambridge"!

[@User-xw6kd]

So it's like a piano,bass crossover?

[@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.

[@supersonicspringy]

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

[@baboonhunters]

this instrument is crazy. . .

[@roberthempker3931]

I would like to know how the tuning of it is tempered.

[@MEdalFan26]

cool storey bro

[@sclogse1]

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

[@MeMeDaVinci]

How is it I've never seen any artist play this until today, April 14 2024?

[@tommizner3274]

I discovered this instrument while watching King Crimson/ Tony Levin videos, and was like "What the FUCK is that thing. I NEED one!" I'm obsessed with it, being a guitar player and a bass player. It touches me on every level of creativity that I possess in my soul. Too bad I'm broke as hell and will never be able to afford one.

[@smorrow]

Was he going for The Rite of Spring at 4:24?

[@mrkdrm]

I heard that too.

[@cjrhen9279]

I play Chapman stick and it helps to have a guitar and piano background, the more piano techniques I use the easier

[@jjsc4396]

It’s a great instrument. Just be aware it requires a LOT of EQ and processing to stop the inherent “boxy” tone. Seems to be related to the pickup. Several players I know have replaced them with something like EMGs. But once you dial in EQ and tone it’s a wonder.

[@stickplayer2]

I've been playing it for 20 years, and have a 10 and 12 string. I've never had a "boxy" tone at all, but there many different configuration for materials, pickups, and electronics. That said, it does love effects.

[@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.

[@chapdoc1]

Anyone interested in Los Angeles, we are putting on a big event STICK NIGHT Bel Air this Saturday 8/24/13. Five solo Stickists, including Emmett, Greg Howard, Don Schiff, Kevin Keith and Gene Perry, plus a screening of my work-in-progress documentary. At the American Jewish University just off on Mulholland Drive and the 405 fwy. or lookup FreeHandsAcademy online. - Dan Chapman

[@polygog5982]

Note at 0.41 - the sound of King Crimson in the 80s.

[@xsavoie1]

Is there an acoustic version of the Chapman Stick.Could it possibly sound the same as the electric version if created.

[@karaczurin]

Does anyone know what Emmet plays at 1:13-1:22? Sounds a bit like some Queen intro or are they just random chords?

[@dirankoroghlian4202]

Kinda like an Americanized version of the Citar ?? That was my first thought. Regardless it's an amazing instrument for sure. Talk about Multii Functioning.

[@billholder1330]

It's kinda like a bass and a guitar on one neck, but played like a rack of keyboards with 10 (or in my case, 12) chromatic manuals. :D

[@JohnDavidSmithMusic]

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! : )

[@Serge01111967]

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

[@andywright8803]

Excellent instrument, playing etc, but how is the sound actually made? With a every other string instrument, the strings are either plucked, stroked or hit with a hammer. With this, there is no external means of vibrating the strings. How does it work?

[@shawnmcintire4093]

It is the same idea as tap guitar

[@Nosirrah2112]

Why has Tosin not played one of these yet?

[@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.

[@JohnDavidSmithMusic]

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

[@ZappaFan101]

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

[@rafi1234321]

$3000 if you can find one

[@ygg69]

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

[@JohnDavidSmithMusic]

Anyone spot the Stravinsky rite of spring quotation? : )