What is a Stick?

by Wayne Leechford

This article is adapted from "The Stick Files". A column dedicated to issues relevant to the Chapman Stick, how it relates to progressive rock, and what role the instrument will play in the 21st century. Taken from the Fall 1998 issue of Clear Future Magazine.

A question that some people might ask is "What is a Stick and what does it have to do with progressive rock?" Well, the Chapman Stick is an electric, fretted stringed instrument invented by Emmett Chapman in the late 1960's with a design that is different from any of it's predecessors. At a glance, the instrument looks like a very long and wide guitar/bass neck with no body and a tapered headpiece. The technique for playing the instrument is different than standard guitar and bass. Each note is lightly "tapped" against the fretboard instead of plucked, picked, or strummed. People unfamiliar with the Stick may have heard of a jazz guitarist named Stanley Jordan who uses the same tapping technique on guitar. The instrument produces both bass and melody (guitar) notes that can be played simultaneously and/or independently with both hands, like a keyboard. More specific information can be found by checking out the Stick Enterprises Website.

Now that we know what a Stick is, how does it relate to progressive rock? The Stick has been intimately intertwined with prog rock ever since it's inception. The first production of these instruments began in the mid 1970's when the first generation of prog rock was in full swing. It didn't take long for the Stick to begin to appear on recordings. The earliest known major label recording was made by ex-Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson in 1976. The first high profile Stick player was Tony Levin. Levin was relatively unknown until he started playing with former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel in the late 70's. Levin's Stick can be heard on Gabriel's solo albums. The big commercial radio hit from these albums, "Shock the Monkey", features Levin on Stick. During and after Gabriel, Levin went on to play with the already prominent art rock band King Crimson. Levin was one of the driving forces behind the 1981-1984 version of King Crimson and his Stick is very upfront on all three of that period's albums. From the very first note on Discipline, the Stick plays a dominant role. Check out "Elephant Talk" to hear the distinctive tonal sounds of the instrument.

Since the early 1980's the Stick has appeared on many progressive rock recordings. Most of the more well known are associated with Robert Fripp and his different musical outfits. The 1995-1996 lineup of King Crimson's "double trio" included both Tony Levin and Trey Gunn on Stick.

The Stick continues to increase in popularity. For those of you who want to become familiar with the Stick the way the rest of us did, I recommend the following Chapman Stick primer:

Peter Gabriel

• Peter Gabriel Geffen 1980
• Security Geffen 1982

King Crimson

• Discipline EG 1981
• Beat EG 1982
• Three of a Perfect Pair EG 1984
• Thrak Virgin 1996
• Absent Lovers (live) DGM 1998

David Sylvian/Fripp

• The First Day Virgin 1993
• Damage (live) Virgin 1994

This should be enough for anybody to get started. Most of these recordings are readily available form a number of sources. Also, there are many good solo Stick CDs out there. Emmett Chapman himself released a CD and instructional video. Not all of the solo Stick recordings are progressive, however. The Stick is not just a prog rock instrument. The Stick is adaptable to any style of music and only the future will tell what kind of role this incredible instrument will have in the music of the future.