Been looking at Sticks for a while now.
Found some very impressive videos on YouTube lately,
have decided to take the next step; serious investigation, early shopping.

I love that the Stick is available in SO many variations and finishes, butI already know I'm leaning HARD towards the Wenge.
I have a Cort B5FL in that wood already and love it.
Rosewood would be my second choice, I believe.

However, before we can even get carried away...What variation and tuning do you guys recommend for beginners? I've been playing music all my life and play keys, sax, bass and some guitar. Guitar has always been my downfall; chording is just tough for me.

Anyways, I won't be talking much, just reading and soaking in your knowledge, drooling at your pics and videos.

Thanks!

~Michael

Michael,
Congratulations on making the move to the STICK... With your background, I think you will have no problems making music and making the STICK your own.... As far as tunings, Classic tuning and Matched Reciprocal are favored... I have mine tune in 5th's on bass and melody... There is a lot of info on the Stick site and here as well. Pick up Greg's new DVD,as it is one of the best ever... take some Skype lessons with him after you watch the DVD... and above all, enjoy yourself and PLAY!!!!

Hi Michael,

I too like Wenge very much, beautiful texture! But when getting my first Stick two years ago I nevertheless decided to go with bamboo because the light weight of that material. What I did to decide on a tuning was to study the tuning diagrams at stick.com and imagine playing all kinds of music and simply thinking of where on the two fretboards I would need to tap. My finding was that for the two hand stuff I was interested in playing the Matched Reciprocal would mean the least issues with both hands getting in the way of each other. But since I started playing I've many times come across musical situations where I've noticed that the Classical tuning would have worked better - so I don't really know which one of those two that is the better.

Thanks guys!
Per, just checked out your Köln Concert excerpt #5.
Wow, I LOVE the use of loopers and effects with the Stick!
Honored to have you posting in my thread.

I'll be looking over the tuning diagrams, looking for training videos, etc.
Thanks again!

~M

I highly recommend getting a good used stick (stick enterprises has several, though only polycarbs right now) Sticks retain their value so if it's not right for you, you can sell it fairly easily. Also with a used stick you can get started right away. My only recommendation is to send it to Emmett for a setup. Having your stick set up properly is essential for beginning players.

http://www.stick.com/instruments/used/current_used.html

I think a 10 string is always great to start on, although many folks start on a grand and have no problems.

Tuning? pick one and stick with it.

as far as guitar chords go I still can't play a guitar to save my life. I found the Stick much easier for chords.


What kind of music are you into? and which players/videos have you gotten into?

Good luck

Brett

I'd try to choose a tuning that's well represented in the tutor books- to make it simpler.

Agree - get a used stick, they keep their value well, so you can trade up easily. A 19yr old stick went on eBay in the UK recently and sold for over $2000 - remarkable..

You are entering a fascinating and addictive world..

That's very encouraging!





In general, I like about everything.
I listen to a lot of Peter Gabriel, '80s alternative/pop, prog rock, jazz, etc.
I play mostly contemporary Christian worship though, but I've yet to see the Stick attempted there. Wouldn't mind being one of the first.

You can hear the styles of music I usually write in at my SoundCloud link in my sig.

As far as Stick players go, I've VERY new to researching this, so I haven't seen a lot. The basic top hits on YouTube; Jan Laurenz, Per (above), Wukeduo, Abby Clutario, etc. Going to be pouring through Stick.com for everything I can find.

Thanks!

~M

I've Been doing this for about 10 years now and Jaap Kremer (sp?) does also. It works on a lot of different levels. It depends on how big the group is and what role you'll be in.

Good luck to you!

Would love to see some video of this, if you have any, any at all.
We do a lot of IHOP, Hillsong, Bethel, etc stuff.

I know Fergus Marsh does Christian stuff.


Brett