One thing I am interested in as a music fan is exploring new sounds, and to achieve that there should always be many instruments to go around, and theres many weird instruments in the world than just the ones we have come to know.
I'll start off with different posts about individual instruments.
Starting with this.
The Chapman Stick:
One thing you will notice right off the bat is that the Chapman Stick dosen't really have a body, rather it's just one big fat neck. It is an electric instrument and there are three varieties, a 8 string, a 10 string and a 12 string. It was designed by Jazz musician Emmett Chapman in the early 70s.
Since it lacks a body, the chapman stick wasn't designed to be picked or plucked but instead it is to be played primarly via tapping and fretting with both hands. Because of this the Chapman is able to sound off many more notes than the average stringed instrument. With every Chapman there are 4, 5 or 6 melody strings and 4, 5 or 6 bass strings. This enables Chapman players to play bass, chords and melody lines simultaneously. The Chapman is also known for its very unique tone.
Notable Chapman Stick players include Guido Ponzini, Don Schiff, Guillermo Cides, Greg Howard and of course Chapman himself. But the most notable is Tony Levin, he was to the Chapman Stick what Hendrix was to the electric guitar as far as popularizing the instrument and truly defining it's capabilities is concerned.
Some demonstrations.
YouTube - King Crimson "Elephant Talk"
Tony Levin with King Crimson some time in 1981/82, performing "Elephant Talk".
YouTube - Don Schiff - Ireland
Don Schiff, performing his piece "Ireland".
YouTube - Guido Ponzini - Rainstorm upon the harbour
Guido Ponzini, with a more virtuoso approach to the instrument with his own improvisation.
YouTube - Guillermo Cides - Dance a Lot
Guillermo Cides, demonstrating the really cool sh*t you can do with just a stick and a loop machine.
YouTube - Big Meadows - Live
Greg Howard, with percussionist Darrell Rose.
YouTube - STICK Master Emmett Chapman-1983
Emmett Chapman, the mad scientist himself.
A little insight into why this is one of my favorite instruments. Tell me what you think.
More to come.