Why Strumstick?
Learning the guitar can feel like a slow-motion car crash. Your fingertips go numb. Your chords sound like furniture falling down the stairs. You realize playing “Wonderwall” takes weeks, not hours. Worst of all? You can hear yourself struggling in real time.
As we’ve all found out at some point in our journey, the guitar is unforgiving in its early stages. Many people give up before they even begin. The instrument ends up zipped away in its case, or shoved in the closet, next to all the other things you bought once and then never tried again.
But here’s a little secret: every single musician, even the absolute greats, all went through that same pain period. Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen didn’t come out the womb as a guitar virtuoso. They learned it just like you.
Thus, what if your first instrument didn’t fight back? What if your introduction to music actually made you feel good?
That’s where the Strumstick comes in.
A Kinder First Step
The McNally Strumstick isn’t a guitar in the traditional sense. Not quite. And that’s the point.
First conceived in the 1980s by luthier and retired music teacher Bob McNally, the Strumstick was built on a radical idea: make learning accessible to everyone. Not just trained players. Not just the rhythmically gifted. Everyone.
Inspired by the Appalachian dulcimer, McNally stripped away fretboard complexity, simplified the form factor, and crafted something closer to a “musical pennywhistle”—a three-stringed gateway into sound. It’s long and teardrop-shaped, with a narrow neck and natural finish. Guitar-like enough to give you the confidence to learn more, but without the complexity of a full guitar.
The First Time You Sound Good
Ask any beginner: the hardest part of learning an instrument isn’t physical. It’s psychological. It’s the toll of sounding bad over and over again.
The Strumstick changes that.
Tuned diatonically—usually to G-D-G or D-A-D—it’s designed so every fret plays a note that fits. That means: no wrong notes, no clashing chords, no dead ends. Just grab it, strum any fret, and it works. You hear something good. And that little win keeps you going.
Imagine a six-year-old plucking out a melody minutes after picking it up—or a grandparent and grandchild trading notes on a rainy afternoon. That’s the kind of joy this instrument sparks.
“You’re not unmusical. You just needed the right doorway.”
Strumstick at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Strings | 3 steel |
| Tuning | G-D-G or D-A-D |
| Scale Length | ~23 inches (varies by model) |
| Body Woods | Spruce top; Maple or Padauk |
| Weight | ~1.5 lbs |
| Electric Option | Yes (select models) |
| Price Range | $170–$250+ depending on model |
Beautiful, But Never Fussy
Each Strumstick is handcrafted in New Jersey by Bob McNally and a small team. It features a solid spruce top with either maple or padauk for the back and neck. The satin finish is smooth and natural, with a soft folk art quality that feels more inviting than ornamental.
Carefully dressed frets and stable tuners make it easy to play, and the whole build feels like it was designed to stay out of your way. It’s lightweight, durable, and compact enough to fit on your lap or sling over your back with ease.
There are multiple models, each designed for different tonal ranges or playing preferences:
- G-31 – Brighter and higher-pitched
- D-33 (Grand) – Richer, deeper tone
- Chromatic Strumstick – Adds all 12 notes for full key access
- Strumulele – A four-string ukulele hybrid
- Limited Editions – Exotic woods, custom engravings, and built-in pickups
No matter which one you choose, the core values remain: simplicity, portability, and playability.
How the Strumstick Sounds (And Why It Might Surprise You)
Tonally, the Strumstick is somewhere between a dulcimer, a banjo, and a steel-stringed ukulele. Bright, a little twangy, and full of rustic charm—it evokes the sound of porch swings, quiet mornings, and the smell of pine in the air.
But plug it into an amp, and things get interesting. Add reverb or delay and it becomes ethereal. Throw on some distortion and you’ve got something closer to a garage-rock experiment. It might look like a folk instrument, but with a little imagination, the Strumstick is full of sonic surprises.
Want to hear it in action? Head to the official Strumstick site or search YouTube for “Strumstick jam.” You’ll find everything from ambient textures to blues riffs.
More Than Playable. It’s Affirming.
Here’s the truth: most people who quit music early didn’t lack talent. They lacked confidence.
Maybe someone told them they weren’t musical. Maybe they couldn’t sight-read. Maybe they froze during a recital. Whatever the reason may be, usually all it takes is one bad experience.
The Strumstick changes that story.
It’s not just easy to learn—it’s emotionally accessible. You’re rewarded with good sound right away, and that feedback loop builds the confidence to keep going. That’s why it’s used in:
- Music therapy for emotional and cognitive support
- Classrooms to teach fundamentals of melody and rhythm
- Homes as an intergenerational bonding tool
- Studios for quick songwriting or idea capture on the go
And once you’re ready to explore more, the Strumstick grows with you. McNally includes a guide to playing chords. You can try fingerpicking, switch tunings, or move to a chromatic model. It’s an instrument that scales with your curiosity.
Final Thoughts: A Stick, a Song, and a Second Chance
Running the risk of sounding like a Nirvana song, the McNally Strumstick feels like someone reaching out and saying, “Come as you are.”
It doesn’t require years of training or being the next wunderkind on guitar. Just curiosity and a little time.
If you’ve ever walked away from music thinking, “Maybe it’s not for me,” this might be your invitation back in.
You’re not unmusical. You just needed a different beginning. And the Strumstick might be your second chance.
