What Is A Chapman Stick?

Here is a brief video on how the Chapman Stick works and it's tuning for people who are not familiar with this unique instrument. I am often asked, what is that instrument you are playing.
The Stick was invented in 1974 by Emmett Chapman from Southern California. I will be releasing a book with much more information about The Stick and Emmett Chapman.

[@DennisChaves]

It's like a guitar and a bass with the range of a piano. That's awesome.

[@jiminnorthdallas1227]

Met you years ago at the Plano Cottonwood Festival and bought the Cafe cd. All this time later I re-discovered you and am still smitten by what I call the modern harp (the tone reminds me of a harpsichord). I just bought the Celtic cd, and will be most likely expanding my collection. Never stop! ❤

[@bobculbertson]

Thank you for the kind words. Good to hear you have enjoyed my music.

[@shaggybreeks]

I never saw one until somebody handed me one to try. It's surprisingly easy to play, because both hands do the same thing. Or, you can play one like a guitar, fretting with one hand, picking with the other. A very, very smart design.

[@jodiblackman7838]

What a fascinating and rich sounding instrument. I am awed by the concentration you'd need to learn how to play it so beautifully!

[@ytmndan]

I remember wandering around the Poppy Festival in Lancaster, CA once with a cowoker, and saw someone playing the Chapman stick. As a bass player, I was already familiar with Tony Levin playing one. We stood there for about 20-30 minutes watching in awe and chatting a bit with the player in between songs. We both ended up buying a few of his albums that we shared with each other when we got back to the office. Had I had any idea that I had been talking to one of the premier Chapman stick players in the world, I would have certainly asked Mr. Culbertson for his autograph.

[@bobculbertson]

Thank you. It's always nice to hear new people discovering the instrument.

[@davmatt941]

Damn. That's a fucking cool instrument. And the fact that he can play like that makes it all the more awesome.

[@BobHicks137]

I'm not too proud to say I envy his talent...

[@FlipDahlenburg]

You should envy him his hundreds of hours of hard practice!

[@kierankenna]

Fantastic, wonderful instrument, I have never seen one played in real life

[@LeopardxGuitar]

"That should give you a basic idea of how a chapman stick works" Okay, and then you just have to devote the rest of your life to practice if you ever want to get that good at playing one ._. Every I improve and start to feel proud of my tapping skills, I find a video like this

[@richmclenson2240]

Well life IS all about trying to perfect our ability at an instrument, isn't it? As a keys & bass player, I would love to try one of these but . . . I've never seen one in a music shop and know no one who plays or gives lessons!

[@12pak]

What An Inspiration to pick up again God Bless You and Thank You

[@Anonymoose]

Fascinating! The tuning is something I've always wondered about, and the comparison with the guitar brings home the point on hammering. Now... if I just had another lifetime to learn how to play one...

[@johngreenwood3540]

I cannot get my head around this and kudos to those who can! Phenomenal stuff.

[@gewinnste]

Dune brought me here - The Stick was the inspiration to the Baliset in the David Lynch movie.

[@illuminatedrose]

Thanks for a great demonstration! It's like playing 3 parts...with 2 hands...I'm so impressed.

[@AnGhaeilge]

I play a little guitar, and piano - but I just can't imagine my brain being quick enough to be able to process the amount of information needed to play one of those songs. The stick is an amazing instrument. I'd imagine the action is very light?

[@scarred2112]

Such a beautiful sounding Instrument! I've wanted one for about 15 years (a big Sean Malone aka "Gordian Knot" fan, as well as having seen Greg Howard play serveral times over the years), and now that I've got my "Bass Toolbox" pretty well filled I'm doing some SERIOUS savings to get one by Fall 2013. And then comes the decisions of Wood/Bamboo/Carbon Graphite, Pickup, Fret Inlay Color, Tuning, and the small issue of learning how to *play it*... ;-)

[@keithbowman7650]

What a cool instrument. I've never heard of it before. You're very talented. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@tlwatson6845]

Beautiful instrument.

[@TheUrbanmeister]

A real quality video, thank you. I've been wondering how the Chapman Stick worked. Really appreciated.

[@Creciont]

That is an amazing instrument.

[@ApexChrisHansen]

How the hell did that acoustic resonate so well with a hammer on like that???????

[@bobculbertson]

Hello, With some practice and set-up (low action) you can do this on a regular acoustic guitar. When you tap the string make sure the guitar is held firmly, strike and hold the note down for sustain. Also if the strings are slightly loose or smaller gauge except the first and second string they ring better. I hope this helps, Bob

[@rickberry5726]

+Robert Culbertson I'm very interested in the Stick, but I can't find one locally to try. my main question is how hard are you tapping each string? How much force is required to produce good sound?

[@RegulareoldNorseBoy]

Dude. c'mon. You got some serious skills going on. No need to shove it under the carpet :D

[@bobculbertson]

The sound is created by hammering and continuing to hold the string on the fret while adding more notes on other strings, and not lifting off too soon.. The best way to explain the tone technique is on my "Getting a Good Sound" Lesson on youtube showing how it is done. Hope this helps

[@bookymydoor]

Does this take a lot of strength in the fingers?

[@MrFancyFingers]

Super beautiful! I love that sound.

[@dr.suzannefilion6482]

Daniel, YOU ARE AMAZING!! I'm from Canada and I saw you in San Francisco many years ago. We purchased your cassette Baby Magic. I played it so much that I totally used the tape (this was approx 28 yrs ago!) I've been trying to find this old cassette... and I did this morning. I immediately looked you up. Amazing. So glad to see you're still playing. You have such talent. I'd love to hear you play tunes from that old Baby Magic cassette. Do take care and be safe.

[@Festus_Clamrod_]

Deyham that is beautiful music and well played instruments!

[@MikeHummellSoulyAcoustic]

This is soo friken cool!! Gotta love the way the guy "makes it sound so simple" lol...I'd love to see/hear #JonGomm play it!!

[@JackTrice]

Cool stuff...talented string guy...

[@zone47]

Cool! I saw a mini concert with one of these back in San Jose / 1980 and was amazed.

[@mandopiano]

Bob- excellent job once again! I really like how you compared and contrasted Stick & guitar. Hopefully, it will encourage more people to give the Stick a try.

[@WendellAndrade1]

Very nice video for those who don't know anything about this instrument! Its sound is beautiful! I',m not sure, but maybe Brazilian musicians has designed something VERY similar on 40's decade, before Chapman's patent...

[@joaoguilhermenextlevel302]

caraca, tu pode me mostrar algo? fiquei interessado

[@J0909_JOGO]

I learned a lot today. Thanks! とても勉強になりました。ありがとう。

[@MaxwellMcKinnon]

Also, I assumed you had a compressor or something to aid in the sound. Very nice side by side with the acoustic guitar here. I am learning how to do a basic groove on my guitar now :) Thanks for the inspiration!!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

0:50 That is a 12 String strung as a 6 String for this video?

[@shaggybreeks]

Quite the contrary. I played one for only a few minutes, and it's very easy to play.

[@rlin2648]

That thing sounds awesome

[@13crickets]

Simply unbelievable. Greetings from Panama. Pura Vida!! Ron

[@shaggybreeks]

I don't know the price, but the one I played was homemade -- by somebody who had woodworking skills, but not a full blown luthier. It's basically a two-by-six board with tuning pegs, pickups... I guess it would a patent infringement, however.

[@Buck1954]

Amazing!

[@terryjones8360]

Fascinating! Love it!

[@telsport]

Interesting and informative video !

[@lucaseduardowittyx3018]

Amazing

[@48mastadon]

Very well explained. Thank you.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

sweet. I want one

[@johnduffy6546]

I'm gonna have to think about this a bit

[@jimmymiller77]

How FANTASTIC>! ! !

[@Casey_J96]

wow ive never seen one of these before. that sounds awesome but looks incredibly hard. I would not be able to play that ever

[@ForvoQuizlet]

RIP Emmett Chapman.

[@murphymoe753]

Know how it works , you have to be a genius guitarist to just have a go... ' Bravo '

[@attuneu]

excellent video thankyou

[@dennistuinei7150]

Brilliant!

[@GuitarfiendIII]

Effin amazing instrument !

[@demidayaluv7187]

WHERE CAN I LEARN HOW TO PLAY THIS OMG IM OBSESSED

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Chapman Stick reads Grand Staff but it sounds an Octave lower than written just like the Guitar & Bass.

[@mikeshvedov6981]

This is what I should be playing in my church band

[@MaxwellMcKinnon]

Thanks for your wonderful performance Robert!! We loved the Zelda theme. We were also going, "Oh god he plays blues..." when we first saw your blues album, but then you blew us away!!! Great sound and music!! Have any concerts or gigs coming up?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Robert Culbertson Why not the Chapman Sitar? It has a Buzzing Bridge to make it sound like a Sitar.

[@VisionsOfBulgaria]

Das ist fantastisch!

[@SkeeterMcBeater]

Your stick has a lot of character.

[@RegulareoldNorseBoy]

What in the actuall fuck dude. Skills I can only dream of

[@Bolin2James]

Sounds awesome but I have 1 question-- Have you not heard of Cleaning the fretboard? My OCD kicked in seeing the strings and honestly a bit distracting. Get you some Watco Danish Oil and some lint free rags dude! You should look as good as you sound, which is incredible!! Seriously though love it man and you are a awesome player! Appreciate the videos!!

[@stephenrivera4382]

WOW!

[@yoyopg123]

Mind blown.

[@TruthSurge]

great if your fingers are long.

[@GabrielePala]

A Chapman stick is the best instrument ever made, and Bob is a master!! (mine is GrandStick n* 5920) :P

[@powerpopaholic876]

Amazing video...amazing skills. Biggest issue with this instrument - as a listener, the tapping gets old. It doesn't seem to have the dynamics to give it power, or lift in a run. And I don't hear strumming, once again for dynamics and power. Ah well. Still, THANK you for the amazing and patient run-down on how this thing works. Chapman's a genius and you sound amazing - like a wizard.

[@1357maddog]

Thats cool..

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Robert Culbertson Why not a 24 String Chapman Stick? It has 12 Pairs of Strings so it has the 12 String Jangle combined with tapping.

[@TheMrgeo420]

want one!

[@mistermysteryman107]

I am 46 and I just learned about a Chapman stick YESTERDAY. I want to learn to play one. Is it too late for me?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Robert Culbertson Tapping on a 12 String can require a low action.

[@JeffMathews1713]

Great videos but man that finger grim build up is bothering my OCD. But I imagine restringing this thing is a pain in the arse.

[@127069]

funky with more layers than a onion

[@GabrielArruda]

espetáculo!!!!!!

[@rafa3lico]

DAAAAAAAMN nice!!

[@bosatsu76]

Do you play both ten and twelve string sticks?.. What would you suggest for a moderately skilled standard guitar player to play considering that I would probably never master two different styles.

[@kawh8719]

What I want to know, is how did you get into playing this, Robert?

[@JulesMoyaert_photo]

👍

[@FallNorth]

Given his love of tapping and hammering on, wonder if Mr Van Halen had one of these, you'd think it'd be right up his (mean) street. Can't see a video.

[@FlipDahlenburg]

What's with the extra holes in the bridge of that acoustic guitar?

[@bobculbertson]

I did not think of that. The guitar is a 12 string with 6 strings. I liked the wider neck in this case. Thanks for listening! Also for anyone who likes to tap on guitar, I use light gauge strings.

[@MartinRivers26]

But of course you have to do the difficult bit and learn how to play it 😁 Having said that I honestly wish I could have afforded one when I was younger.

[@tonyspro]

basically you can be a bassist and a guitarist at the same time!

[@ThePaulHealy]

genius.

[@airkatmama4]

so with the chapman stick you dont have to hold down the strings to get a certain chord like on a standard guitar ? i have tried playing acoustic but it hurt my fingers . this instrument seems a lot more comfortable on the fingers

[@jonathangwynne1917]

Many acoustic guitars are set up with either a high action (long distance between string and fret) or heavy gauge (thick and stiff) strings. This makes it difficult and even painful for beginners to start with the instrument. If you really want to learn the guitar but are discouraged by the difficulty of holding the strings against the frets, I encourage you to find a local music store where the staff are willing to take the time with you to find a guitar set up for beginners. Tell them you want a guitar with a low action and the lightest possible gauge strings because you're learning to play. The disadvantage of the thin strings is that they don't have as rich a tone as some might like but for a beginner who is struggling to play, I think that's a minor complaint. They also tend not to last as long but a beginner should know how to change their strings as well. So buy a couple of sets. A stratocaster-style electric guitar might also be a good choice. The action is typically lower than an acoustic and it can easily be strung with very light strings. Beginners often dismiss electric guitars but I think that is a mistake. My first guitar was a cheap, Japanese stratocaster clone and I was glad to have it. I didn't have an amplifier for years - I told myself I'd learn to play the thing before I spent money on an amp. Another alternative is a nylon-string guitar. Some people don't like the sound but they are much easier for beginners to learn because the strings themselves are larger and also spaced a bit farther apart. If you're not sure, try one and see what you think. Best of luck!

[@Vegan_Kebab_In_My_Hand]

Every string instrument will take a toll on your fingers, you just need to keep practicing every day and your fingertips will quickly become hardened and you won't feel a thing eventually.

[@Kianquenseda]

are there right and left handed sticks ?

[@ummagumma3946]

So this the Baliset??

[@karlsangree4679]

I want to learn to play one of those. I am going to start by learning to walk and chew gum at the same time.

[@mikewest3108]

Bad ass!

[@LoveFor298Yen]

The baliset (almost)

[@rpiano1]

wow fascinating, so it has the sound of a bass guitar combined with an acoustic?

[@idshanks]

The sound of whatever you wish, to be honest. It is amplified, and so you can put it through distortion and play more rock style licks on the melody side. You can put it through other effects and achieve, for example, a sort of synth-pad kinda sound. The bass and melody side are two separate signals (it is a stereo instrument), and so you can amp the two separately and keep the tones completely separate, or you can opt to amp them together.

[@maxponsetis1948]

is any body knows whats the tunning of that amazing instrument thats a kind of magic

[@bobculbertson]

The guitar side is tuned in 4ths EADGCF. the bass side is the same but inverted 5ths meaning the lowest note is the F. There is a brief demonstration of this on this short. kzbin.infoN9J2hK3Ih7s

[@MrBlackbass59]

This Chapman stick looks like someone played it right after they dropped a transmission!

[@TheDrumonyrecords]

Listen to the origin of this concept on my ' Drumgita Solo ' album. Lori Vambe

[@bigdambluesband6295]

No way could I play this. Can't play piano either. My brain can't split itself. A one track mind.

[@TitanScream]

Bro I feel you on this lol.

[@chuckm4540]

Something tells me the Chapman Stick isn't as easy to play and this gentleman would lead you to believe....

[@Angelillo36]

what a question! easy answer: a musical and devilish puzzle

[@stickymon1]

strong figures

[@aaronrivers64]

Wow, who knew?

[@Markusewitz]

@GabrielePala Mine is a 10 String Grand # 6150 :-) !

[@Scarshockable]

The 12 strings Chapman stick costs about 2800$ and the 10 strings version is about 2500$. I need it ! Oh wait ... I need money ... Hey ! You ! Do want to buy a guitar ? Or even many guitars ? It's useless now, too mainstream ... Yeah Yeah, the Chapman Stick rulz dude, but do you want my guitar ?

[@vogelwild382]

Äääh,,wow!!!!!❤

[@andyblanton6570]

So piano guitar