Does anybody play "THE STICK"

[Zel]

This might be a long shot, but does anyone play, or is familiar with The Stick.

Personally, I'm one degree short of being tone deaf. But I have a 10 year old daughter who is extremely bright, creative, and talented. For the last 6 months she has wanted to learn to play an instrument, but has been agonizing (yes a 10 year old agonizing and it's scary sometimes) about what instrument to pick. The other week we went on a family vacation. At dinner one evening there was a musician serenading tables with an instrument called The Stick. I've never seen one before, but the music that comes out of this thing was absolutely amazing. He let my daughter try it out, and now she has decided this is the instrument she wants to learn. I swear it almost sounds like you hear guitar, bass, keyboards and drums out of this thing.

The way he described it was, that it's a cross between a guitar and a piano. I've checked out their website. The demo they have doesn't do the instrument justice, but the links section that connects to Stick players shows what this thing can do.

My main question and concern is Is it hard to learn to play this instrument? (Another one will be if I can even find someone to instruct her, but they do also sell instructional books.

If anybody knows anything about this instrument, and can give me advise, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Joe

www.stick.com

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I WAS GONNA MOOK THIS UP BUT I WILL LEAVE IT TO AVID, YOUR SERVE

[Dan:]

at first I thought it was an acoustic lap guitar but it appears to be something different. looks pretty difficult to me.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

at first I thought it was an acoustic lap guitar but it appears to be something different. looks pretty difficult to me.

I believe the actual name is a Chapman Stick, very new age 8-)

[Guest avid]

thanks for the opening muddy,

If there wasn't a young girl involved in the thread, you KNOW I would be all over this.

It sort of looks like a sitar, but without the little bulge at the bottom.

I would imagine it is very difficult to master.

but if she has the talent and determination, there is nothing she can't do.

[mattm]

It sort of looks like a sitar, but without the little bulge at the bottom.

Never heard it called a sitar before .

[Zel]

Whewwww forgot the Muddy/Avid factor when I came up with the topic. my mistake!

The instrument had something that was hooked to the waist, and held almost like you would hold a guitar but just a little more vertical. When he let my daughter try it out, he said the instrument was tapped, rather than strummed. He was playing popular, folk, blues, and classical songs during the evening. My daughter chose Edelweiss as the song he played at our table.

From their website:

As they approach the fretboard from opposite sides, your fingers line up parallel to the frets and a powerful new musical language emerges - bass lines, lead melodies, chords, and rhythm, simultaneously, and in any combination you desire.

[FishTank]

I have seen this played and it is an amazing guitar.  The man you need to see and hear play it is Tony Levin.

[justfishin]

Avid and Muddy. You guys are true gentleman not jumping on that after considering there was a young girl involved. I did the same thing, as I suspect you guys might have, when I saw the age of the young fellow whom posted this " Inflatables ?????, Anyone use them ? ",lol. Man, these young un's are ruining our sthtick !!!,lol. My hands were on the keys like a horse in the gate at Pimlico.  

[Fisher of Men]

Yes, this is a VERY interesting instrument.   A friend of mine showed me some videos of these.  It really sounds like a three piece band played by one artist.  I, too, feel it would be hard to master, but then again, I'm not very good with my guitar either.  :-[

[Raul]

Yes, this is a VERY interesting instrument. A friend of mine showed me some videos of these. It really sounds like a three piece band played by one artist. I, too, feel it would be hard to master, but then again, I'm not very good with my guitar either. :-[

My man, there 's no easier musical instrument to master than the door bell, I 'm really good at it.  ;D

[.ghoti.]

I had one of these about twenty years ago. Not difficult to pick up on, but very difficult to master. At the time I was a pretty good bass player, and a damned good piano player. My experience allowed me to get the hang of it pretty quick, but also had instilled some habits that were difficult to get around. I sold mine for more than I payed for it. I kind of wish that I'd kept it, and kept at it. For a person with no previous experience with a musical instrument, this would probably not be my first recommendation. But, since your daughter seems to have picked this one, I'd say go for it. Getting a youngster interested is about 75% of the battle, when it comes to music and instruments. I do know you'll need an amp. This is not going to be cheap. I payed a grand for the one I bought, and sold it for 1400. And that was a long time ago.

Cheers,

GK