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Location:

Location: Morgantown WV
Country: USA

My Latest Followers:

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images: 3

events: 3

My wife, Norma began playing and acquiring dulcimers about fifteen years ago. I make musical instruments as a creative activity, and play DAA Noter Drone, ukulele, U-Bass and concert and hand percussion.

I am active in the production of PattyFest and the Gardner Winter Music Festival and attend many events in North Central West Virginia.

Latest Activity

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@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Dulcimer-Ukulele WHAT":

">>> just playing the tunes root chord will work when you can't figure out the other chords That is essentially what you are doing if you only..."

@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Dulcimer-Ukulele WHAT":

"Yes, an A chord is just an A chord, no mater what the instrument, but ...... Unless you have a chromatic dulcimer, there will be lots of times when you can't..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Traditional dulcimer makers":

"Re Prichard: >>> John C. Knopf>>> Wally, I don't know about Prichard's sales methods, but I haven't heard of him using a push-cart like Ed..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Traditional dulcimer makers":

"Origin of the Hour Glass Shape I would like to offer a bit of speculation about the Hour Glass shape most commonly used for lap dulcimers. I know of no..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 13
Posted a new Comment on UK and European Mountain Dulcimers:

"Nonsuch also publishes a quarterly newsletter. It runs about 40 pages, and is split about equally between club news, Mountain/Fretted/Appalachian Dulcimers,..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 13
Posted a new Comment on UK and European Mountain Dulcimers:

"I use a wooden dowel about 1 cm in diameter and about 20 cm long. I can cut several from a single length costing less than about 2 pounds. I'm in the USA and..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0

Is attending an Event:
Fort New Salem Dulcimer Fest (WV)

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0

Created a new Event:
Fort New Salem Dulcimer Fest (WV)

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "How to dehumidify":

"Is there any more reason to worry about the effect of humidity on wooden musical instruments than the effect on wooden furniture? Humidifiers and..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 19
Posted a new Comment on Mountain Dulcimer History & Traditions:

"Howie Mitchell's book is readily available as a .PDF download from the Smithsonian website...."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on PattyFest -(WV):

"From a program standpoint, everything went well. The new location works well, although we need some bigger signs in a couple of places. Attendance was..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 1
Liked a photos item created by @richard-streib: detail on back

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "tremolo":

"The Russian balalaika shares problems an sounds with the mandolin. It is an instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck,..."

Latest Group Discussions

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Latest Audio

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Latest Videos

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Latest Photos

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Latest Forum Discussions

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Gardner Dulcimers - Grafton, Ohio

Posted: Sunday June 7 2026, 10:03 AM
By: @Wally Venable

Liquid Electrical Tape

Posted: Saturday November 25 2023, 9:30 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Looking for a Small Dulcimer

Posted: Wednesday October 26 2022, 11:06 AM
By: @Tom McShane

Comments

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06/14/26 02:09:32PM @strumelia:

@Wally-Venable , thank you SO much for your very thoughtful donation to FOTMD! It is deeply appreciated. sun -Strumelia

11/25/19 02:27:14PM @wally-venable:

The photo shows my first dulcimer project and my third.

The design of the first was based on a cardboard body instrument Norma borrowed for her first dulcimer class.

The third is an octave dulcimer tuned DAA, but an octave above the usual set of notes. It is short enough to fit in an airline carry-on bag.

Both have fingerboards made from 1x2 lumber, with most of the body constructed from 1/8" and 3/32" birch plywood.

02/19/19 08:26:15PM @richard-streib:

Welcome Wallyvenable to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Glad you joined. Sounds like a great event you will be attending. Best wishes on your musical journey.

02/18/19 02:08:20PM @wally-venable:

I'll be at the Gardner Winter Music Fest this Saturday. http://www.gwmf.org

I'm playing with the DAA Strummers and OLLI Orchestra.

The GWMF has a lot of room for mountain dulcimer player or wanna be's. We enjoyed it last year. You can't beat the registration fee - FREE if you bring an instrument.

02/18/19 05:43:39AM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Wally, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.

Ben

02/17/19 08:54:20PM @jim-fawcett:

Hey Wally, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.

02/17/19 07:37:53PM @ken-longfield:

Welcome to FOTMD, Wally Venable. It is good to have you aboard. Look for West Virginia players under Groups and join that group.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."