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Location:

Location: Reedsville, PA
Country: US

My Latest Followers:

Stats

youtube videos: 1

images: 77

events: 3

Groups: 1

audio tracks: 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 • 21 hours ago • comments: 0
Liked a forum discussions item created by @redmando: Talking with Geoff Reeve-Black

@ken-longfield • 22 hours ago • comments: 2
Liked a music item created by @davisjames: Back to the sugar camp.

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 13
Liked a music item created by @robin-thompson: In Knee-Deep Snow

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 1
Liked a photos item created by @tukanu: dsci0006

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 0
Liked a photos item created by @tukanu: dsci0007

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @appalachiasky:

"Welcome to FOTMD Appalachiasky. It's good to have you aboard. I make reproductions of Pennsylvania German zitters based on ones in museums here in..."

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @mitchbob:

"Welcome to FOTMD Mitchbob. A Clifford Glenn dulcimer is a wonderful acquisition. It should be great for playing noter style or finger dancing. Have fun..."

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @dusty-picker:

"Welcome to FOTMD Dusty Picker. Go ahead and ask questions. We are happy to answer them. If we don't the answer we will make up something. Just kidding. There..."

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @trekrider:

"Welcome to FOTMD Trekrider. It's good to have you aboard. Let us know if you have any questions. You'll find lots of resources here to help you along your..."

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @wolftones:

"Welcome to FOTMD Wolftones. Sorry about the lateness of this welcome. I've been away. You can find a lot of what you want to learn by exploring this site...."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @robwanger:

"Welcome to FOTMD robwanger. I hope you will connect with some bowed dulcimer enthusiasts. If you play the fiddle you should have little problem adapting to..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @janice-j:

"Welcome to FOTMD Janice J. It's good to have you aboard. If you have any troubleshooting tips, we would enjoy hearing them. It is amazing what can cause a..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Jean with Gene Bluestein, 1986:

"What a great find. Thanks for sharing it. It is a delightful video. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "A conversation with Italian dulcimer player Gianna Williams":

"I agree with Ken. That's a great interview. You did a good job. Thanks for sharing it. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @dahobbit:

"Dahobbit, welcome to FOTMD. The mountain dulcimer can be a little confusing coming from chromatic instruments. Let us know if we can help you as you begin..."

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @erich:

"Welcome to FOTMD EricH. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation here. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @bownes:

"Welcome to FOTMD Downes. It is good to have another Pennsylvanian on board and especially one interested in noter/drone style playing. Let us know if we can..."

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @matthewlyon:

"Welcome to FOTMD MatthewLyon. I'm glad to hear that you are getting back in to playing the mountain dulcimer. There are some Traditonal style players here..."

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @itsnoyou:

"Welcome to FOTMD Itsnoyou. As a banjo and guitar player you should have no problem figuring out the dulcimer. If you have questions, just ask us. I, too,..."

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @jerrytro:

"Glad to hear. No DA for you. (Dulcimaniacs anonymous) Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @jerrytro:

"Be careful Jerry. DAD (dulcimer acquisition disorder) is a highly contagious disease. You just getting started and you already have two. After 50 years on..."

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on from Suzie Glaze on Jean's "One I Love":

"You're forgiven, Robin. It's a natural mistake. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on from Suzie Glaze on Jean's "One I Love":

"Thanks for sharing this story, Robin. I have the Dear Jean album and went back and listened to it. Susie Glaze played Jean in the play "Singing the Moon Up."..."

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @jim-dickens:

"Welcome to FOTMD Jim. It's good that you finally joined. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "What's fer dinner?":

"I enjoy eating stuffed peppers. It would have been nice to see a photo of yours. You made my mouth water. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 4 weeks ago • comments: 1
Posted a new Comment on Challenges of old age: connecting with digital hearing aids:

"Hi, Beth. Thanks for sharing your solution to hearing your dulcimer in jams. While I do not have the problem you described (yet), I will share it with some..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @yarnred:

"Welcome to FOTMD Yarnred. This is a great place to learn about the mountain dulcimer and how to play it. It's good to have you aboard. Let us know if you..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @betty-bates:

"Welcome to FOTMD Betty. It's good to have you aboard. Have fun exploring this site. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Ken "The dulcimer..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "For sale my beautiful Folkcraft Baritone custom Dulcimer (SOLD)":

"I agree with Dusty. I'm sorry you had to part with it and I'm sure the new owner will enjoy playing it. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @obiekaybie:

"Welcome to FOTMD Obiekaybie. We might be able to help you with maker of your dulcimer. Do you know who that is or do you need help identifying the maker? If..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @jerrytro:

"Welcome to FOTMD Jerrytro. It's good to have you aboard. If you want to learn about the mountain dulcimer and how to play it, this is a good place to do..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @shalan1234:

"Welcome to FOTMD Shalan1234. It is good to have you here with us. If we can help you as you begin your dulcimer journey, let us know. I look forward to your..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @sueru:

"Welcome to FOTMD Sueru. Let us know if we can help you as you learn to play the mountain dulcimer. I look forward to your participation here. Ken "The..."

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Help with ID of recent thrift shop purchase":

"This is great news. Glad to see that progress has been made on this issue. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • one month ago • comments: 116
Posted a new Comment on Beginner players:

"Thanks, Wally. That's a very helpful handout with a lot good information. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

Latest Group Discussions

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Another Tabledit question

Yesterday I updated my Tabledit for Mac to version 3.03 a4a. I can no...
@Ken Longfield 6 months ago - Comments: 10

T - 6

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

Latest project - Prichard

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

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

Current build

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

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

Wood Choice - Food For Thought

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

The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story

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

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

PA German Zitter

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

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

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

Stanley Hicks article

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

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

PA German Zitter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Oh Lord, What A Morning

@Ken Longfield
3 months ago - Comments: 7

Latest Videos

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Landis Valley Zitter

@Ken Longfield
5 years ago - Comments: 17

Latest Photos

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Latest Forum Discussions

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Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...

Posted: Tuesday September 12 2023, 1:38 PM
By: @John W. McKinstry

Dulcimer Players News demise

Posted: Tuesday July 18 2023, 12:45 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Everythingdulcimer.com

Posted: Sunday July 16 2023, 1:58 PM
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

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, 8:56 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

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

Comments

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11/04/23 12:45:47PM @jerrytro:

DAD, similar in some respects to "Boat's Disease", the feeling that after you get a boat, even if it's just a canoe, you'll need to get another, bigger better one? I hear you and it would actually be great to become accomplished enough that I can "justify" additional instruments. But for perspective, I've known people to spend more in one night at a bar or casino than the cost of even a very high end dulcimer so I think I'll be OK.

10/20/23 01:52:52PM @mowog:

Thank you, Ken.

David

10/11/23 01:29:05PM @cottage-timbre:

Thank you for your offer to be of help if needed. I hope not to wear it out!

10/06/23 07:24:33AM @wibble:

many thanks for the warm welcome. I am already finding very useful articles & posts

10/01/23 04:31:48PM @liquidtouch:

Thank you!

09/26/23 08:56:31PM @bill-g:

Thank you for the link you provided. I haven't yet had time to read the article, but it looks very interesting, and I am looking forward to doing so.

09/20/23 07:07:37AM @bill-g:

Thank you for welcoming me.

09/13/23 07:15:53PM @vicki-h:

Thanks for the kind words!

08/23/23 04:13:35PM @aldorwhit74:

Thanks for the welcoming message, Ken!

08/20/23 12:06:01PM @bebe:

Thank you for the nice welcome!

08/17/23 10:36:47PM @michelle-kaasa:

Thank you!

07/25/23 03:26:18PM @joy-m:

Thank you!

07/16/23 04:46:32AM @swerner:

Hello Ken, Thank you for welcoming me to FOTMD and for your good wishes in my selling the dulcimer. Sincerely, Susan Werner

07/08/23 02:38:27PM @olddog75:

Thank you, Ken. I hope to learn from the site and make some friends. My name is Jay Testa. the "olddog" moniker comes from me being an old dog (75) trying to learn a new trick (mountain dulcimer) :)

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

Thank you Ken for the kind welcome.

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

Thank you for the welcome, Ken!

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?

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

Thank you.

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

Thank you Ken!

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.

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