February's performance study video is a quick, rocking set of riffs exploring the half crossed position. The Stick can fill a number of different rolls in any musical setting, and I often find myself shifting through rolls using the half crossed position.

Here we see the Stick take on the roll of a bass and a guitar, while still leaving the possibility for more if the situation calls for it.

The bass riff is geared toward more of a beginner level. Yes, there are some quick riffs in the middle part, but playing fast on the Stick is easy, especially in half crossed position. Just take some time to get your targeting on point and you shouldn't have a problem.

The treble side riff is a more intermediate level thing, so beginners I challenge you to try it out, and guys that can get it, it should show you different ways to approach a more traditional sound as well as an expanded, more intervalic lead sound as well.

Tabs and a breakdown video will be available at http://www.patreon.com/jgoldbergmusic on February first, along with the instructional video updates.

Cool beans, Josh! Lol you can consider this stolen, haha

Awesome, keep 'em coming dude!

Kick-ass, Josh! Thanks for the display and lesson.

So, two-hands on one side is called the "Half Crossed Position"? Interesting. I usually call it "about the only way I play my Sticks," and have resigned myself to a 4-hand style. Of course, that means, as your split screen shows, recording the two sides separately.

This has actually been a somewhat mild to medium sense of Stick Guilt to me, which is that nagging feeling that you're somehow "Not Playing That Right," which hits me every so often. So I really dig seeing what you're doing here, as both validation and inspiration.

I could (usually) care less about performance and am only about recording. I suspect a looper would somewhat compensate for the need to do bass and melody separately.

The other validation and inspiration is in hearing your distorted, overdriven sound. I like to hear some molten Stick playing, and a lot of what I hear lately is going more for the "clean" and pure sound. Rock it out!

Great stuff and thanks for sharing!

-Steve

Thanks guys!

Steve - you bring up a good point that I think every Stickist goes through at some point during their journey on the instrument. It was initially designed to be a solo instrument, that's true. So was the piano. The guitar has a rich history as a solo instrument as well, and in fact the single line and accompaniment only roles it's now known for didn't really occur until the 20th century.

Both these instruments, of which lend part of themselves to the Stick, are also quite effective at fitting into an ensemble situation. Modern music shows this to be true almost to the point of forgetting that they can be solo instruments at all. And yet, both these styles of playing are considered not only valid, but often lauded when used cleverly and creatively.

Through my own journey on the instrument, I've encountered countless situations where playing both sides at the same time is wholly inappropriate for the situation. In GEPH, I constantly change and shift my roles, sometimes playing both sides, sometimes only one, sometimes not playing at all. In Body English, my role is bass+, which means that I spend about 90% of my playing using a plucking technique, until the arrangement calls for the use of tapping and the expansion to the Treble side. Much in the way a Swiss Army knife has many tools, each with their own unique usage, so too does the Stick. None are more or less valid than any others, it's all a matter of context.

As for the distortion stuff, I love that sound! There are some small technique adjustments one needs to make to get the most out of distortion, and I'll be doing a Tap Theory video on that soon enough. Most of it involves adjusting your physical connection with your fingers to the strings, especially at the end of notes.

Clearly I need two of me.

I didn't mind having two of me for a little bit but god damn that guy's ego is just huge.

Rock n Roll man sounds good I like doing riffs and playing on one side with both hands, I do that quite a bit

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Yes please!

Good stuff, man!

Thanks guys!