Ken Longfield

Location:

Location: Reedsville, PA
Country: US

My Latest Followers:

Mary_Adelee Chaplain Peter SJMawhee87 Kris Paul 1 dronehound Homer Ross mac bhodaich Kenneth Woolley III dreadnought28 Dulcimerlady JDH54 AndiBear Susan Ann MandaPanda NancyH Dulcianne Quigley John Desaulniers Jr Wendell G dchenaul syoung Big Bubba chiselerinwood Wally Venable KnobbyNotes Blackhawk13 Emjay Noah Cline hstulips haydee025 Ballad Gal Exukaden Ariane sbarnett524 Debbie Kopp Simpkins Sue MacKenzie - ADK Friends sweetbriar jcurtis55 steve c. FretFull giddykitty Tennessee Jed Billy T Lucky Dave Mary MacGowan Kevin R. TLKelly PonderThis hugssandi

Stats

youtube videos: 1
images: 77
events: 3
Groups: 1

I am retired and live in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. I built my first mountain dulcimer in 1974.  I continue to build mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers and do repair work on them as well as guitars and banjos. I enjoy old time music, bluegrass, and folk music from before and after the folk scare of the 1950s and 1960s.

Latest Activity

  All
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 7 hours ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @vadajwolf:
"Welcome to FOTMD Vadajwolf. I am sorry that you have to sell your dulcimer due to your husband's illness. I trust you will find a generous buyer and good..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @oldy-b-goodie:
"Welcome to FOTMD Old-B-Goodie. It's good to have you here. I trust that you will enjoy exploring this site and will participate in these discussions. Ken..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @bonzerinc:
"Welcome FOTMD Bonzerinc. Do a search here on modes and I'm sure you will find lots  of information. If you don't find what your are looking for, ask a..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "R.I.P. George Haggerty":
"Thanks for that sharing that article Strumelia. It captures the essence of George and his relationship with the mountain dulcimer and dulcimer people. His..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 55
Posted a new Comment on Show us your stick dulcimer!:
"Nice three stringed lutes and an interesting combination of woods. Good job. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @g-lee:
"Welcome to FOTMD G-Lee. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions.  Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 6 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @angie:
"Welcome to FOTMD Angie. This is a great place to connect with the mountain dulcimer community. Have fun exploring this site. I look forward to your..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @revjosh:
"Welcome to FOTMD Revjosh. It's good to have you aboard. Let us know what you want to discuss. I'm sure you will find some folks here who are happy to..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @mogunn:
"Welcome to FOTMD Mogunn. It is good to have you aboard. Best wishes are you continue on your dulcimer journey. Have fun exploring this site. If you have any..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @catherinesmirnoff:
"Welcome to FOTMD Catherine. It's good to have you aboard. You will find lots of help here in learning to play the mountain dulcimer. Let us know if you have..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @coraeick:
"Welcome to FOTMD Coraeick. It's good to have you aboard. If you have any questions about dulcimers and playing them, just ask. The friendly people here are..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @tophatjuggler:
"Welcome to FOTMD Tophatjuggler. If you want to know about the mountain dulcimer, this is the place to be. Ask questions if you can't find what you want to..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @sam-jc:
"Welcome to FOTMD Sam JC. It's good to have you aboard. Let us know if we can help you along on your dulcimer journey. You will find a good many helpful..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @wilk:
"Welcome to FOTMD Wilk. It's good to have you here. Best wishes as your begin your dulcimer journey. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Dulcimer repair":
"Molly, I charge anywhere from $15 to $25 a fret. Replacing a fret involves pulling the old fret and putting in a new one. If you damage the fret board in..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimerica Episode 650 - "State & County Roads":
"Thanks, Bing. Some of those roads look very familiar. Good video and song. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @mary-adelee:
"Welcome to FOTMD Mary_Adelee. It is good to have you aboard. I hope you enjoy looking through these discussions and welcome your participation in them. If..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Another Tabledit question:
"Me, too, Dusty. Thanks for your help. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Another Tabledit question:
"Problem solved. In setting up the update I inadvertently check a box named "Automatic Cursor Advancement." When I unchecked everything worked as it should...."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Another Tabledit question:
"Thanks again Dusty. I just posted a message there. I forgot all about that resource. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Another Tabledit question:
"Dusty Turtle: Ah. OK. I misunderstood. I don't have that problem. Indicating frets higher than 9, I can just click a 1 and then the next number and TablEdit..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Another Tabledit question:
"Thanks, Dusty, but I'm not adding measures. I am trying to put in a 10 fret number in the tab, but every time I try to type ten I get one not for the "1" and..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @karlydawn-ky:
"Welcome to FOTMD KarlyDawn-Ky. It is good to have you aboard. There are a few of us here who concentrate on noter style playing. You can search for topics in..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Created a new Group discussion "Another Tabledit question":
"Yesterday I updated my Tabledit for Mac to version 3.03 a4a. I can no longer add frets above number 9. Is anyone else experiencing this problem in either..."
Arranging/composing for Dulcimers
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 3
Liked a youtube item created by @mark-gilston: Rock Island Line
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @banjobeth:
"Hi, Beth. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you a month ago. I've never been Evart. During my working life I didn't have the time off to do it and since..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @kevinh:
"Welcome to FOTMD KevinH. It is good to have you aboard. Always nice to have another Pennsylvanian here, especially one who lives just over the mountain from..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @keene-for-music:
"Welcome to FOTMD Keene For Music. It is good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 15
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimers in novels:
"Thanks, Tony. That's what I thought you were thinking. I don't know of any novels based around a mountain dulcimer like that. There were a couple of..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 15
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimers in novels:
"I read Songcatcher many years ago. There may have been a reference to a mountain dulcimer in it, but I can't recall it. Tonyg, what do you by "features"? Is..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @cassidybole:
"Welcome to FOTMD Cassidybole. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @lauram:
"Welcome to FOTMD LauraM. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @crystal-b:
"Welcome to FOTMD Crystal-B. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation here. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Dulcimer Players News demise":
"Just another brief thought. I was surprised when attending festivals that many folks had never heard of DPN. One would mention the magazine in a workshop and..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Strumming with No. 18 pocket watch spring:
"Yes, we do!"

Latest Group Discussions

  All
Ken Longfield

Another Tabledit question


Yesterday I updated my Tabledit for Mac to version 3.03 a4a. I can no...
@Ken Longfield 2 weeks ago - Comments: 10
Ken Longfield

T - 6


This is my sixth teardrop dulcimer. The shape comes from plans by Scott...
@Ken Longfield 2 years ago - Comments: 12
Ken Longfield

Latest project - Prichard


I started to build a C.N. Prichard reproduction, but made a mistake...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 9
Ken Longfield

Making wood tuning pegs


For those of us who make wood tuning pegs, what finish do you put on...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 3
Ken Longfield

Current build


Here are some photos as I near the completion of this project. The...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 15
Ken Longfield

Tuning peg knobs


I have a customer who is having the tuning pegs replaced on two of his...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 23
Ken Longfield

Wood Choice - Food For Thought


I came across this experiment for classical guitars and found it...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 13
Ken Longfield

The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story


Somewhere and at sometime someone decided to build a mountain dulcimer...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 8
Ken Longfield

Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer


While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 17
Ken Longfield

PA German Zitter


Here are some photos of PA German zitter reproduction I'm making. There...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 17
Ken Longfield

Not a Mountain Dulcimer


A few folks here at FOTMD know that I was working on a hammered...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 9
Ken Longfield

A New "Old" Project


Back maybe 20 to 25 years ago, my sister was wandering through a yard...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 2
Ken Longfield

Stanley Hicks article


Although not dulcimer specific, Stanley Hicks played a significant...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 8
Ken Longfield

The Story of the Dulcimer, Second Edition


This is just a notice that it is available for pre-ordering on Amazon.
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 14
Ken Longfield

PA German Zitter


As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 0
Ken Longfield

Old-time West Virginia bands


County Sales currently has these two CDs on sale for $7.00 each if...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 1
Ken Longfield

Wartz Tab Book Corrections


In the Wartz tab book for the DAA "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms," the...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 2
Ken Longfield

My First Prichard


It is not quite finished, but I thought I would share a photo of my...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 14
Ken Longfield

J. E. Thomas Dulcimer #1465 played by Joe Collins


Here is a link to a video of Joe Collins playing my James E. "Uncle Ed"...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 6
Ken Longfield

String tension calculations


Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 5

Latest Audio

  All

Latest Videos

  All
Landis Valley Zitter

Landis Valley Zitter


@Ken Longfield
5 years ago - Comments: 17

Latest Photos

  All
IMG_0832 copy.jpg
DSCN0219.JPG
IMG_4925.JPG
sch1mi.jpg
IMG_4602.JPG
IMG_3995.jpg
IMG_3992.jpg
IMG_3991.jpg
IMG_3990.jpg
IMG_3989.jpg
IMG_3924.JPG
IMG_2847.jpeg
IMG_2756.jpg
IMG_2733.jpg
IMG_2516.jpg
IMG_2511.jpg
IMG_2510.jpg
IMG_2506.jpg

Latest Forum Discussions

  All

Dulcimer Players News demise

Posted: Friday May 19 2023, 10:58 AM
By: @Strumelia

Gary Sager

Posted: Thursday March 23 2023, 9:43 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

John Crocker

Posted: Thursday March 9 2023, 5:02 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Mike Clemmer

Posted: Friday December 17 2021, 9:41 AM
By: @Skip

Don Pedi honored

Posted: Thursday September 16 2021, 6:11 AM
By: @Susie

Joni Mitchell and Mountain Dulcimers

Posted: Thursday August 26 2021, 8:38 PM
By: @Dusty Turtle

Zoom group invitation

Posted: Sunday May 23 2021, 6:24 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

An Interesting News Story from West Virginia

Posted: Thursday April 15 2021, 8:15 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Bonnie Carol

Posted: Saturday April 3 2021, 6:54 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Newspaper Article

Posted: Saturday March 13 2021, 10:38 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Jon Pickow's last performance

Posted: Saturday January 23 2021, 10:07 PM
By: @Ken Hulme

Sad News -- RIP Ralph Lee Smith

Posted: Thursday December 31 2020, 3:05 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Dr. George Orthey, Mountain dulcimer and...

Posted: Thursday November 26 2020, 12:07 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Anyone bidding"

Posted: Thursday September 17 2020, 5:49 AM
By: @Susie

The New ED

Posted: Sunday April 19 2020, 10:50 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Guitar project

Posted: Tuesday January 28 2020, 9:13 PM
By: @Susie

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...

Posted: Monday April 8 2019, 5:54 PM
By: @Strumelia

Sad News

Posted: Tuesday January 15 2019, 8:16 PM
By: @jeffrey charles foster

Capritaurus Dulcimer - Oh My!

Posted: Thursday November 22 2018, 7:56 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming

Posted: Monday February 26 2018, 12:56 PM
By: @Jan Potts

Ukulele construction

Posted: Thursday September 14 2017, 9:42 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Hindman, Kentucky

Posted: Saturday November 26 2016, 9:14 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Wayfaring Strangers

Posted: Thursday February 4 2016, 1:05 PM
By: @Ron Larson2

Clifford Glenn

Posted: Sunday July 26 2015, 10:17 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

For Old Time Music Fans

Posted: Friday April 3 2015, 1:07 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Folk Music Resources

Posted: Wednesday February 11 2015, 1:18 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

A photo for Patty from Virginia

Posted: Thursday January 15 2015, 8:28 PM
By: @Patty from Virginia

The Dulcimer in Eastern Kentucky Videos

Posted: Thursday December 11 2014, 5:41 AM
By: @Rob N Lackey

2014 National Mountain Dulcimer Champions

Posted: Sunday September 21 2014, 7:35 AM
By: @John Keane

Encyclopedia of Appalachia

Posted: Friday October 19 2012, 10:17 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Comments

Angie
06/07/23 12:01:35PM @angie:

Thank you Ken for the kind welcome. 


Crystal-B
05/18/23 07:32:48PM @crystal-b:

Thank you for the welcome, Ken!


banjobeth
04/17/23 08:46:24PM @banjobeth:

Hello Ken. Thank you for the warm welcome. I am already enjoying the site and listening to some great videos. I found some great online lessons as well. I'm a quick study when learning new instruments so I expect to be playing soon. I'm hoping to go to Evart  Festival in Michigan this summer. Do you go to this?


Bluefish
04/03/23 03:56:41PM @bluefish:

Thank you.


DJMalus
03/31/23 11:43:29AM @djmalus:

Thank you Ken! 


Chaplain Peter
03/18/23 10:34:23AM @chaplain-peter:

Thank you, Ken!  It's perfect for playing "songs without words," as well as for accompanying a singer.


TriciaL
03/13/23 07:26:25PM @tricial:

Thank you so much. I look forward to learning a lot on here.


Sharon G Key
03/12/23 12:02:23PM @sharon-g-key:

Thank you for the kind welcome. 


angelm
03/12/23 09:49:44AM @angelm:

Thanks for the nice welcome! 


Rickyt
03/06/23 10:11:18PM @rickyt:

thank you..


colindaguthrie
02/17/23 09:24:36PM @colindaguthrie:

Thank you for your kind welcome.


shootrj2003
02/11/23 09:39:02AM @shootrj2003:

Thanks for welcoming me here!


shootrj2003
01/28/23 07:41:52PM @shootrj2003:

Thank you for your welcome I do indeed appreciate it.I’m sure I can learn much here.


tobaiko
01/25/23 04:15:02PM @tobaiko:

Hello Ken,

Thank You for warm welcoming me.

Greetings from Germany

Torsten


ksinden243
01/17/23 03:23:21PM @ksinden243:

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Looks like a great community here.

Kyle


ErthLing
01/09/23 05:07:06PM @erthling:

Thank you!  I have a question.   If I have a Chromatic Dulcimer can I play it the same as a diatonic by just ignoring the extra frets?


bruce
01/06/23 02:42:04PM @bruce:

Hi Ken,

Thanks. Looking forward to learning to play the dulcimer.

Bruce


Antony
01/05/23 09:21:14PM @antony:

Thanks Ken!

I arrived yesterday.


Sara
01/04/23 11:00:08AM @sara:

Thanks for the welcome! 


Antony
12/29/22 09:05:20AM @antony:

Thanks Ken.