Marc Butler
Interview 1 February 2005
Marc was also at the Swiss Stick Seminar in 2003
Which Stick do you play ?
I have a ten string in Indian Rosewood I've had since around '93, made for me by
Emmett. I acquired a newer Grand Stick via Ebay last year in Paduak, it's got the
newer Block pickup on. I'm not sure which one I will bring ...
What tuning do you use?
I did have the ten string set up in standard 5ths bass / 4ths melody, then the 12
string the same but with the two extra strings.
However, about a month ago I decided to experiment with uncrossing my tuning.
I've done this on the ten string to begin with, so I've swapped the bass and
melody groupings, and reversed the bass. This tuning is similar to the one used
by Matthias Sorof, only I understand his melody strings are tuned more like a
guitar.
I can explain my rationale in trying this tuning if you want, but tuning is a bit
like religion ... people seem to argue about which is the best when most tunings
have advantages / disadvantages ...
Which gauge strings?
I'm using medium on the ten string. The twelve string came with some unidentified
strings on but they are quite heavy gauge (the melody side has an extra round
wound string on) I need to swap them for some proper SE ones soon.
I was initially very surprised by the medium gauge SE strings (the low bass is
.126!) and on my ten string it has been quite a battle to get the action down to
an acceptable level - particularly important after uncrossing the tuning. If I
can solve this problem, I might try heavy, because the change from medium to
heavy mainly seems to effect the melody strings, and they could do with thickening.
How long do you play Stick?
I've had a Stick since 1989 until 1994, then played intermittently, then started
playing again more seriously around 2000 until present day.
Which other instruments do you play and how long?
I played bass guitar from 1987 until 1991, then 6 string electric / acoustic
guitar around 2000 until present day. I have a keyboard synthesiser as well, but
I haven't really practised / studied that, but its fairly easy to get a sound out
of.
If you would have to choose to 4 levels of playing in which 1=absolute
beginner 2=beginner but knows some music theory,play a simple song
3=intermediate 4=advanced , which number would you give yourself?
2
Please give me also a number(1,2,3 or 4) of the level of knowledge/skill of
the next subject:
Reading Staff Notation
2 - I Can read bass clef, not so good at reading treble clef (I literally move it
down a line in my head which is stupid)
Reading Tablature
3 - Good, although perhaps not so good after uncrossing!
Can you play major/minor chords? In open and close harmony?
2- Yes
Do you know all 7 modes/scales/chords ?
2- I understand the concept of modes, but I haven't really practiced them. Some
knowledge of scales and chords.
Can you play chordprogressions?
2- Yes.
Can you play a song?
2 - Yes, although my repertoire is a bit limited - I can play
Roxanne (Police)
Little Reggae (Frank Joliffe)
bits of Little Over Darkness (Marco Celletti)
I'm currently working on
Black Orpheus / Manhana (?) de Carnival
Some irish folk pieces
Horizons (Genesis)
Do you play in a band or solo?
I guess I play solo, but really I would like to play in a band.
Which specific subjects would you like the teachers to concentrate on?
Don't mind, but I'm keen to work! So plenty of application as well as theory.
How's your sense of rhythm? Do you read rhythm notation?
Poor, but I'm working on this. I'm comfortable with quarter or 8th notes, not so
comfortable with triplets or 16ths. I'm also less comfortable with polyrhythms /
odd time signatures.
On Sundaynight we?ve got the Jamsession, would you like to jam with us?
Maybe.
Which kind of music do you like?
Marilyn Manson! He's weird enough to have a Stick player in his band, you'd just
need to wear lots of makeup!
Apart from that Nine Inch Nails, Kraftwerk, Mick Karn, David Torn, David Bowie,
Adrian Belew, Muse ... etc
However my guitar teacher generally isn't in to this stuff so I'm quite happy
playing Round Midnight if forced ...
How did you discover the Stick?
Tony Levin + Guitarist magazine, then I met Jim Lampi fairly early on, who is
just amazing.
What is your goal in music?
To play Stick in a band.
Do you eat meat/fish or are you vegetarian ?
Meat / fish
Thanks Marc for sharing your secrets with us:)
Cheers, got to get back to work now
Marc
Copyright © Galaxy Gypsy Productions 2002-2006.