Hey folks,

I've been looking around the list for the last couple weeks, and although it's great that there is so much information, I also feel a bit overwhelmed. It's probably highly appropriate that most of the content targets people who have already found their groove, but it seems like the content relevant to beginners is spread around, and doesn't always provide one clear answer (or even one clear answer given a certain set of conditions). Has anyone else noticed this?

I wonder if it would be useful to have a beginner board? Or at least a sticky thread for "beginner stuff" in the method board, which provides pointers to curated content useful to beginners. Or maybe this does exist and I skimmed over it?

I am happy to help centralize some of that info if it would help... or work with someone to ask stupid questions (while I'm still stupid) and document the answers... or again, maybe someone can simply point me to where this has already been done...?

Hey Pat.

It sounds like a good call. Even though many folk on this forum are quick to support newbies, I can imagine many would like a beginner section as part of the index..

Yes, it seems like a very supportive environment... even psychology aside (having an explicit "beginner" spot), if you try searching for "tuning" or "fingering" or "beginner" or "starting out" or similar newbie type questions, the system will not even look for the keyword as it is too common... so maybe it could help in that way as well, and help sort of "partition" the responses, which personally I think could be helpful...?? But you guys tell me.

I cut the example "stupid questions" from the first post for brevity, in hopes that more people who "view" the topic might read and respond.

* Which models exist and what are the differences and funny letters? (It took me about 6 hours of browsing to answer this for myself.)
* Which tunings exist and why? What is recommended for someone just starting out and why? Is it easy to change later? What string diameters correspond to which possible tunings? etc...
* Okay, you buy one, maybe used, it comes in the mail, you open up the case... now what? (Tuning, setup if needed, wearing properly [though this is covered a bit in the books], some basic scales/songs which may be used with examples for each of the common/recommended tunings, etc.)
* Where to find more advanced (but ideally still free) fingering rudiments or other beginner practice material relevant to a tuning.

To cut to the chase.Go to Stick Enterprises and really study the site.There you will find instrument options. Most people jump into touch style blindly which is par for the course.everybody here has different opinions of your many questions.when people see the price tag of the Stick an eyebrow raises and they become hesitant and lost.take the plunge you most likely wont regret it. Greg Howards Stick book will be your guide to Stick entry and beyond.After years of study you will be open to the art of Stick which has no boundaries.

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for but I didn't two years creating educational videos for the Stick for beginners all the way to advanced levels, complete with supplementary tablature that's available for free. Just search Tap Theory Chapman Stick on youtube. It's got technique, theory and arrangements in multiple tunings, it was fun to do for a while there

The good news now is that there really is a lot of information out there. Just a matter of navigating it to your advantage like you suggest. Do you have an instrument yet?
Josh mentioned his series, really great to watch & small bite sized chunks. Bob culbertson did some nice short instruction vids which are on youtube somewhere, under stickmusic I think. Teachers like Steve Adelson & Greg Howard are fabulous for starting off, Given the value of the instrument even a few sessions are valuable. They also have books, but I've really enjoyed the skype lessons, what could be better than having some of the worlds best players in your room talking to you about it, also with great teaching skills for players at any level.
The Stick site like someone else said covers a lot of ground now also.
This is a very helpful community , as you have seen , even without a " newbie thread" as such I think you can gain lots, just ask!
But jump in, the stick requires a fair bit of effort I think , but is very worthwhile, and still unexplored to some degree, the possibilities really are endless as " Stickyfingers " says above. The price does seem high but it's a unique handcrafted instrument , better than buying a new car! , we all have our priorities! Good luck .

Purchasing a Chapman Stick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPkht0U3zZA

Tunings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaUB5Zm ... e=emb_logo

Hope this helps.

To add a bit to what Bruce said, what you get in addition to the instrument is the community. Very supportive and creative bunch that seek new ways to make music, something near and dear to the creator of the instrument.

You may have to sell an existing instrument to afford one, but what is life without a little risk?

Sorry for the delay in response; I had some personal matters come up.

At the risk of repeating myself, I am not saying this information doesn't exist... only that I wish it were easier to find in one place. Thanks for sharing some links/hints here - for sure I will check them out! I just hope it is easy for other newbies to find, as well.

Also I'll repeat that I am extremely grateful for the supportive people out there, even at high levels of skill. Hopefully I will be in a position to give back, one day!

I did take the plunge on a used 10-string railboard in matched-reciprocal. It is a good (and humbling) first step. For better or worse there are so many GOOD Stick players online, it is a little surprising how bad a newcomer like myself can be, even despite experience with guitar, keyboard, orchestral strings, etc. which I've taken for granted as coming "naturally" whereas this seems like a disproportionately large struggle for some reason. It has been a little demoralizing, but nevertheless I've been managing to stick with it so far (bad pun not intended) and am making progress on scales/etc. And I'm sure it will give me a push in the right direction as to what I want more of vs. less of, next time around.

I've come to discover that I tend to be more of a "pattern learner" than a "think about the intervals" learner, so it has been a bit of a challenge to wrap myself around the new approach... but like I said... one [whole-] step at a time. Okay, that bad pun WAS intended.

First off welcome Pat!!

I think you are right. It would be nice to have a “beginners corner” or something like that. One thing to remember is that there are a few very different approaches to playing the Stick. Style, technique, tunings, function.

What style of music are you into? What drew you to the stick? Do you have any favorite stick players?

Remember every “good” player was once a beginner, a PLEASE ask questions it’s a great community.

Brett