Chapman Stick player Greg Howard's Web Site - Free Hands Two-Handed Tapping Instruction

Greg has written two method boks for Emmett Chapman's Free Hands two-handed tapping method, The Stick Book, Volume 1, published by Stick Enterprises, and the Greg Howard Songbook, published by Greg's Espresso record label, and also available through Stick Enterprises

Both of these books are based on the StaffTab™ fretboard notation system that Greg co-developed with Emmett Chapman in the mid-1990s. StafTab combines elements of guitar tablature with the standard Grand Staff used for piano notation, and also with Emmett's finger symbols from his original Free Hands method book. Every element needed to convey the pitch, rhythm, fingering and note placement is contained on two staves.

Both books are now available for a variety of popular Stick tunings. To order the Stick Book Volume One for 10 string and 12-string Classic tunings, Baritone Melody 10-string, or 10-string or 12-string Matched Reciprocal tunings please see the Stick Enterprises Website.

The Greg Howard Songbook is available in two versions, Baritone Melody (works for 10-string Baritone Melody or 12-string Classic), and Matched Reciprocal, which works for the 10-string and 12-string Matched Reciprocal tunings.

This video explains the StaffTab fretboard notation system and shows how some of Greg's technique concepts can be learned through exercises in The Stick Book.

To see a sample of the notation from the Songbook, see below

ORDERING THE SONGBOOK (see below to order by check or money order)

Greg Howard Songbook original version (for 10-string Baritone Melody tuning, 12-string Classic tuning or 10-string Extended Alto tuning.

Greg Howard Songbook Matched Reciprocal version (for 10-string or 12-string Matched Reciprocal tunings.

To order the Greg Howard Songbook with a CHECK or MONEY ORDER in $US, please send the check or money order payable to "Espresso" to:

Espresso
P O Box 4051
Charlottesville VA 22903
USA

please be sure to specify whether you want the original version or the Matched Reciprocal version. If you're not sure which would be best for your tuning please email Greg for advice.

Sample of one of the songbook charts: