Forum Activity for @joy-w

Let's talk about VSL and Scale and smaller hands and other wonderful things...

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I have dulcimers of varying size including three McSpaddens (standard and baritone at 28.5" and one with the shorter 26" VSL).  While I find chording on the 26" is a bit easier in terms of reach I think there is at least a small sacrifice in terms of sustained sound. When I want a fuller-bodied, more resonant sound I still go back to my standard 28.5" McSpadden.

I love your arrangements Guy, and would definitely be in line to buy a book of your tabs. :)

Free Tabs: "Der Heiland ist geboren" - An Austrian & German Christmas Carol

Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Thanks so much for providing the Tab for this!

A new podcast about the mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've been enjoying the Hearts of the Dulcimer podcasts and look forward to each episode. Thank you for compiling historical pieces and preserving the present for the future. The dulcimer community is enriched by your efforts.

Where are all the dulcimers by Gary Gallier, Bonnie Carol, Jerry Rockwell, David Beede, Dwain Wilder, . . .?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I watched the David's video of the Eedy Beede. It, too, is a beautiful instrument with a very lovely sound! Thank you for sharing it.

Where are all the dulcimers by Gary Gallier, Bonnie Carol, Jerry Rockwell, David Beede, Dwain Wilder, . . .?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Dusty, I call this dulcimer my "Itty Bitty" because it is only 25 inches long. The VSL is 18 inches. I was surprised when I first played it, just how much I liked it. It was a spur-of-the-moment purchase from Gary Sager at Prussia Valley Dulcimers in late August and I've not had a moment's regret since.

$10 Dulcimer Stand Conversion Project

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That is great. Thanks for sharing! I've got the sewing part covered but when it comes to welding ... not so much. ;-)

Where are all the dulcimers by Gary Gallier, Bonnie Carol, Jerry Rockwell, David Beede, Dwain Wilder, . . .?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I haven't one of those that you mentioned, but in addition to my beloved McSpaddens, I have a "Mule" that was built by Jim Fox. It has the best tone I've ever heard from a short scale dulcimer. It's a little hard to pick up in the video that Christine Shoemaker recently posted ("Little Lydia") but I'll try to post a video in the future to showcase the sound. I'll also try to take a photo and post it this weekend. Along with the fabulous tone, it is one of the cutest dulcimers I've ever seen. :-)

The Midland Folk Music Festival really is a great little gathering, isn't it? You picked a great day to attend the festival and it was nice to cross paths with you this year. :-)

Marg, you're right about the collection of dulciborn videos available on the YouTube link that you posted. The musician, Christine Shoemaker, is also a member of FOTMD, but I don't think she has been active on this website in a while. She and I have worked on some dulciborn duets together and, last summer, recorded some of our efforts at a practice session. Here are two of my favorites:

Southwind - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaRKcaKZpkA

John Stinson's #2 -

On her YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS9PAgUI8AfFoxZFZ_XsTcQ Christine also posted some really beautiful pieces that she plays on a McSpadden 6-string baritone.

I must confess I do not know enough about this to comment intelligently. I had a friend, who is also a Dulciborn owner, take mine in to a reputable shop in Lansing, Michigan. She asked them to lower the action. They did and it is much more playable. Beyond that, I couldn't really say how they did it.

Here is a video of a song I recently wrote for the Dulciborn. It is called, "When Bears Dance" and I am playing four equidistant strings tuned DGdd.

(Apparently my bears get faster and faster as they dance. HA! Maybe next time I'll work with a rhythm track to stay closer to one tempo from start to finish.)

I've had one for a while. The string action was set very high. Much too high, in fact, for me to play it. I've taken it to a Luthier and had frets added and the action lowered. Last month I had it set up so I could play with four equidistant strings and for me, it is much better that way. My instrument is not without some issues though. When I tune it, all is fine, but once I begin using frets (particularly the middle string), it is sharp. I have to do some fancy "almost in tune" tuning so that I can play without making my ears cringe. I have several other dulcimer and none have that issue except the Dulciborn.

What a timely discussion this is for me to read! I've been playing for six months now and just a day or two ago I was pointing out to my husband the visible wear on my favorite dulcimer. I wasn't sure what is considered "normal" wear and tear so it looks like I need to take a look at how I am strumming and how I'm holding my pick. You all are such a wonderful resource!

That's great, John. Very silly and a lot offun.

I love the Fisher's Hornpipe and hearing David Schnaufer play. My daughter and I used to crank up this version (on CD) when we lived in a duplex years ago and there were, lets just say, inappropriate noises coming from the teenager who lived on theother side. We had some real boot-stompin' laughs with this tune. Thanks for bringing back some very fond memories for me!!

Some things just make me smile. Thiswould be one of them.

Robin Thompson said:

Margie, though I believe this is not Turkey in the Straw , this one would have to be one of my favorites:

I'd never heard of The Low Anthem before. Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing that one, Randy.

Randy Adams said:

The tune is Johnson Boys Robin. I don't know if that old dood ever really gets with the rhythm... but at about 1 minute he gets closer! It's a precious vid huh?

Got a bunch of favs but here's a couple. No dulcimer but they gots drones!...f'sure...

What a neat way to find more wonderful music on FOTMD. Ijust watched "Sapphire" and loved it. Now I've gone to watch all of Kim's videos. Great thread!