.
.The Stick - 30 + years
of head scratching.....?.
My history
with the Chapman Stick started back in 1987/-88.
The guys in a band I was in mentioned
this "new" instrument that
Peter Gabriel´s bassist played
called the "Chapman Stick" or
"The Stick". Soon after I was in Berlin
and coincidentally ended
up at this jazz club where German Stick
player Hans Hartmann played. I got hooked and ordered a Stick
after that.
No internet and YouTube-clips back then
and also living in Sweden
I really had no one to ask for advice.
Trail and error was the way to
go back then. Lots and lots of head scratching.
And now 30 + years
later I still scratch my head rather often
but I've managed to learn
some tricks. For me being a bass player
from start it came natural
to use the Stick as a bass instrument
initially. The interesting thing
when it comes to this instrument is that
one can have lots of different
approaches to the instrument depending
on where you come from.
A sax player or keyboard player will play
different stuff on it than a
bass player would. But as one gets better
and develop it is common
that ones approach towards the instrument
expand and change along
the road. There are always things to learn
so the head scratching
never stops. But I must say that it is
much easier to learn a new instrument
now because of the internet, Youtube and
to take online lessons by
very experienced players like Steve
Adelson and others.
There are also Stick gatherings going
on around the globe.
Fun to be a part of. That was not possible
back in the days.
I spent years with the instrument before
I figured out basic stuff that
people today learn in 15 minutes.....
.
For me this instrument has expanded my
musical vocabulary.
It has given me a new voice and I've had
lots of fun playing it.
I started out on a regular 10-string Stick.
Played 12-stringed
with midi for awhile but that was not
for me. Too short fingers
and I rather play synth parts on a regular
keyboard.
So back to 10-stringed again. I am back
to where I started actually.
10-stringed with Stickup pick-up. I have
two 10-stringed today tuned
in standard tuning and one Alto Stick.
That does the trick for me.
I've played on symphonic rock albums,
pop, experimental theatre
music but also recorded Stick for a VST/AU
virtual instrument for
Cubase/Logic and other stuff. BroomStickBass.
Definitely the first
virtual instrument with the Stick as part
of it.
.
The Stick has been one part of my musical
vocabulary for a long time
now. Will be a part of my musical self
til I die most likely.
Glad those guys in the band I was in back
in the 80´s told me about
this great instrument. It's been fun.
Fantastic "family" to be a part of
as well. Stick players are just a great
bunch of people.
The Stick is a instrument that forces
you to keep a open mind and I like that.
Some other examples of what I've done....:
Swedish artist Nils Erikson. The album
that this song is on was nominated
for a Grammy and became the most played
album on the night radio in
Sweden back in -96 .....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byruRMQWLDo .
Mats/Morgon - "Tyrschon". Mats Öberg
and Morgan Ågren has played with
Frank Zappa and Zappa´s Universe.
Totally crazy Swedish musicians.
19/16 time signature.
..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTg_6kyK1fw .
Band of Jade - "Riverbed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2NcpKx_Pto Live from a small gig here in Stockholm.
.
Thanks Jan for sharing
your evolution with the instrument.
Epakta.
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