The pickin' stick is an easy-to-play, steel-stringed instrument with a diatonic scale, but it is also the perfect first instrument for aspiring luthiers. This illustrated woodworking guide will take you step-by-step as you build, string, tune, and play your own pickin' stick. From choosing materials to precision woodworking skills, you will learn the ins and outs of building wooden instruments. Complete with charts, diagrams, and tips for placing frets and tuning your instrument. This guide even has a mini chord book, a guide to playing your pickin' stick, and a list of retailers that carry the tools and supplies you need for creating your pickin' stick and other acoustic instruments. AUTHOR: John Ressler is a lifetime woodworker. Building guitars, dulcimers, and other folk instruments occupies much of his time away from stair building. He lives in Illinois.