Guitars
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is a narrow, rectangular electric instrument played almost entirely by tapping both hands independently onto the fretboard, rather than strumming or plucking in the conventional sense. Its strings are divided into separate bass-side and melody-side sets, letting a single player cover both a bass line and a melodic or chordal part at once.
Tapped
United States
| Family | Guitars |
|---|---|
| Region / context | United States |
| Playing method | Played primarily with two-handed tapping directly onto the fretboard; requires a pickup and amplifier |
| Number of strings | Commonly 10 or 12 strings, divided into bass-side and melody-side sets |
| Common tuning | Several layouts exist (such as Classic and Matched Reciprocal tunings), generally arranged so each hand covers a different register |
| String material | Steel |
| Construction | Narrow rectangular solid-body board with no conventional guitar body shape, played nearly vertical, supported by a strap or stand |
| Size range | Long and narrow, with no soundbox |
| Portability | Moderate — Lighter than its size suggests, but its unusual shape makes standard guitar cases unsuitable. |
| Acoustic volume | Silent unamplified — Entirely electric; produces essentially no sound without an amplifier. |
| Musical contexts | Found in progressive rock, jazz fusion, and experimental or solo instrumental music. |
| Beginner learning curve | Demanding — The two-handed tapping approach does not transfer directly from guitar or bass technique and is usually learned from the ground up. |
| Maintenance | Standard electric string and electronics care; tapping technique also wears frets somewhat differently than plucked playing. |
| Amplification | Requires an amplifier; this is a defining feature of the instrument rather than an option. |
| Practice environments | Can be practiced quietly through headphones via an amp or interface. |
Origin and Background
The Chapman Stick was invented and patented by Emmett Chapman in the 1970s, growing out of extended two-handed tapping techniques he developed on the electric guitar neck.
Sources
- Grove Music Online
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History
Content last checked against our reference sources on October 14, 2026. See our sources and methodology page for how we research instrument profiles.