Marnie Stern was recently profiled in the NYTimes as part of an emerging group of young musicians who aren’t ashamed of shameless virtuosity. She has gained fame for adopting the “tapping” style of playing pioneered by Eddie Van Halen.

In a separate web session, I was looking for tablature and/or videos showing the fingering for Jethro Tull’s ‘Cheap Day Return.’ I shouldn’t be amazed at the sheer volume of anything on the web, but I was surprised to see so many examples on YouTube. I clicked on one, and was intrigued by the instrument being played. It wasn’t a guitar. It looked like a double-wide neck with the body cut off, held like a cello (and with a belt clip).

It was a Chapman Stick, which I had never heard of before. It was invented by Emmett Chapman in the early ’70s in order to facilitate his “Free Hands” technique — which looks to be the precursor to Van Halen and Marnie Stern. On Chapman’s company’s website, there is a video showing him on What’s My Line in 1974, stumping the panel with his new musical instrument (applause). Check out the video below.



  • I am going to have nightmares about Gene Shalit talking about his stick...
  • yes, his comment about all sticks being plugged in was troublesome.
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