Welcome to Stick Enterprises, home of the Chapman Stick®
Innovative Instruments
Since 1974, we've made our Stick fretboard tapping instruments for musicians around the world. Today thousands of players are pursuing their musical goals on our 8, 10, and 12 string instruments. Our current designs incorporate decades of innovation for easy setup, and consistent low-action.
Explore InstrumentsArtists
Stick players work in any genre — rock, jazz, classical, folk, in bands and as soloists. We carry over a hundred audio and video titles in our catalog. Check out what our featured artists have been up to, and watch performances in our online videos section.
Stick Artists"Free Hands" tapping method
Emmett Chapman invented a new way to make music in 1969. He called it "Free Hands", and in 1974 he began teaching it to new Stick players and guitarists interested in tapping. We offer a growing catalog of books, DVDs and CDs by experienced teachers, plus links to free online videos.
Learn MoreIN MEMORIAM
Greg Howard (1964-2023)
Chapman Stick player, musician, composer and artist Gregory “Greg” Bernard Howard, 58, passed peacefully on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer. His wife held his hand as he departed this earth.
Greg possessed an enormous amount of hope and optimism for a better world and believed his music and love would contribute towards building a kinder society. He woke up each day with joy in his heart. He started each morning with coffee in his hand, entered his studio, and played beautiful music.
CLICK TO READ Greg's obituary written by his loving wife, Joyce Howard.
Learn more about his amazing life and the PLANS FOR HIS SERVICES AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the UVA Young Writers Workshop: Young Writers General Scholarship Fund, in memory of Greg Howard.
photo by Irene YoungONLINE ACESSORIES STORE
If you need strings or other accessories, please check out our Online Accessories Store
RESERVE PRODUCTION AND USED STICKS
Looking for an instrument right away?
Most of out instruments are custom-ordered to the player's specifications for material, pickups, tuning, etc.., and can take up to a few months to be completed. But we have a limited number of completed new instruments, some at a discounted price, and reconditioned used instruments ready for delivery?Interested? Check out our inventory to see what's available.
UPCOMING EVENTS
STICK PERFORMANCES AND LESSONS
"HANDS ACROSS THE BOARD", EMMETT'S 1987 PERFORMANCE/INTERVIEW
NEWLY REMASTERED, ON YOUTUBE
PLAYING HARMONICS ON THE STICK
New Lesson Video from Greg Howard
"TOUCHBOARD TO CIRCUIT BOARD", EMMETT'S 1986 MIDI STICK DEMO CASSETTE
NEWLY REMASTERED, ON YOUTUBE
NOW AVAILABLE: STICKISTAS' 60 FREE SONGS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
IN MEMORIAM
Emmett Chapman (1936-2021)
Watch the service the service and see written and musical tributes from Stick players: EMMETT'S MEMORIAL
Stick Enterprises reopened on November 15, 2021 and is operating on a normal schedule.
photo by Dan ChapmanTHE STRENGTH OF A FAMILY BUSINESS
Meet Grace Chapman
With Emmett's passing, Stick Enterprises is now run by his yougest daughter and longtime head of the SE shop, Grace. Find out more about her....NEW RELEASES
NEW RELEASES: By Stick players available for download.
NEW PICKUP: Introducing the EMG-RB10, a new module for the Railboard from EMG and Stick Enterprises. Watch the demo video.
RESERVE PRODUCTION AND USED STICKS
Looking for an instrument right away?
Most of out instruments are custom-ordered to the player's specifications for material, pickups, tuning, etc.., and can take up to a few months to be completed. But we have a limited number of completed new instruments, some at a discounted price, and reconditioned used instruments ready for delivery?Interested? Check out our inventory to see what's available.
NEWS AND INTERVIEWS
A FUN AND INSPIRING INTERVIEW WITH DON SCHIFF from Bass Musician Magazine
NEW WEBSITE: Stick Music Scores, Olivier Chabasse's new resource for Stick players.
NEW PODCAST: Tune in to the "Tap in Time" podcast for fun and in-depth discussions with Stick players around the world.
June 7, 2020, New hardwood option for Stick fretboard tapping instruments: Machiche
Dec 23, 2019, Los Angeles City Council Celebrates 50 years of Free Hands and The Stick
Dec 6, 2019, New online chord resource
Oct 21, 2019, For Bass Players Only interviews Nick Beggs!
INSTRUMENT GALLERY
Featured Book
New by Greg Howard
Featured Album
Crisis (2021) by Tomás Merlo Group
The debut album from an exciting new fusion trio. Available on CD from Stick Enterprises
Featured DVD
Stick T-shirts
