It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:11 am




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 
 Tap Theory - Positional Overview 
Author Message
Master Contributor
Master Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:07 pm
Posts: 1113
Post Tap Theory - Positional Overview
This week I've got a quick overview on the pros and cons of what I think of as the three main hand positions used for playing the Stick: crossed, half crossed and uncrossed. I've got exercises with each of the video examples at http://www.patreon.com/jgoldbergmusic, I hope you enjoy it!


_________________
-Josh

http://www.patreon.com/jgoldbergmusic
http://www.facebook.com/jgoldbergmusic
http://www.facebook.com/GEPHband
http://www.facebook.com/thebodyenglish
http://www.facebook.com/theafrocircus


Sun May 07, 2017 7:27 pm
Profile
Multiple Donor
Multiple Donor
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:07 pm
Posts: 7088
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Post Re: Tap Theory - Positional Overview
Hi Josh, I love the little Afro Blue clusters. excellent.

One thing I like about crossed is that both hands are more in a common field of view. Also, it's much more comfortable to play at the extreme ends of the instrument. playing the right hand on the bass strings near the nut is really uncomfortable, for example.

Just as an alternative, I would refer to this as hand relationships or orientations, since positions already has such a strong context with where the notes are.

Thanks for posting.

_________________
Happy tapping, greg
Schedule an online Stick lesson


Mon May 08, 2017 4:14 am
Profile My Photo Gallery
Master Contributor
Master Contributor
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:07 pm
Posts: 1113
Post Re: Tap Theory - Positional Overview
Hi Greg, thanks for the kind words!

That's a really good point to the pros of crossed and the cons of uncrossed. I find each method has its uses depending on what sound I'm trying to evoke.

I thought a lot about what to call them aside from "positions." Coming from guitar especially, that connotation really holds. In guitar, the position is the lowest fret that your first finger would play, followed by the subsequent three frets covered by the rest of your fingers. However I don't think it's quite as relevant on the Stick. I'm not sure anyone is talking about "15th" position for things in the right hand etc. With the inlays set up in 4ths as they are, one note will only appear in one octave once per quadrant, so I know that if I say B4 in quad 3, in MR tuning that's always going to be the 14th fret on the 4th string.

I chose "positions" because it reminds me a lot of the different positions one works from in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. The whole martial art is codified through moves that one works off of a broader body position. The similarities between that and the hand positions seemed very striking to me (no pun intended). However, I do see what you mean and I suppose the name doesn't matter too much so long as people know what the techniques allow for.

_________________
-Josh

http://www.patreon.com/jgoldbergmusic
http://www.facebook.com/jgoldbergmusic
http://www.facebook.com/GEPHband
http://www.facebook.com/thebodyenglish
http://www.facebook.com/theafrocircus


Mon May 08, 2017 7:18 am
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 3 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 24 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

board3 Portal - based on phpBB3 Portal Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Designed by Vjacheslav Trushkin for Free Forums/DivisionCore.
Heavily modified by Stickist.com. Stickist.com is an authorized Chapman Stick® site. The Chapman Stick® and NS/Stick™ and their marks are federally registered trademarks exclusively licensed to Stick Enterprises, Inc., and are used on Stickist.com and NSstickist.com with SEI's permission.
Click here for more information.