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 MoreNEWS
"HANDS ACROSS THE BOARD", EMMETT'S 1987 PERFORMANCE/INTERVIEW
NEWLY REMASTERED, ON YOUTUBE
DON'T MISS THE 2022 VANCOUVER CHAPMAN STICK WEEKEND
NOW AVAILABLE: STICKISTAS' 60 FREE SONGS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
Emmett Chapman (1936-2021)
The musician, inventor of the Free Hands two-handed tapping method and The Chapman Stick, and founder of Stick Enterprises, died at his home on Monday, November 1, after a long battle with cancer.Watch the service the service and see written and musical tributes from Stick players: EMMETT'S MEMORIAL
Stick Enterprises reopened on November 15 and is currently shipping instrument and operating on a normal schedule.
photo by Dan Chapman
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: 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.
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.
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.
If you need strings or other accessories, please check out our Online Accessories Store
June 7, 2020, New hardwood option for Stick fretboard tapping instruments: Machiche
New Kevin Keith interview, From forbassplayersonly.com
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!
Awards for Stick Artists and The Stick
Congratulations to Nick Beggs, Gene Perry and Emmett Chapman for acknowledgements from the Prog Awards, Jet Propulsion Labs and The One-Handed Musical Instrument Trust... read more...
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
