Ken Longfield

Yeah, thanks for the welcome.

Thank you for welcoming me in.  I have started building from scratch.  My time is very limited and I have a bunch of projects on my bench.  I am also trying to learn to play.  I have little musical experience but I also like the challenge.  At some point I think having an in person teacher will be very helpful.

Thanks for the welcome, Ken.  I am a beginner to the mountain dulcimer, although I play guitar, banjo and a little mandolin.  I am trying to be intentional about learning, rather than reading tabs and trying to mimic arrangements I hear.  I’d prefer not to rely on tabs, in fact,  but rather learn the notes so I can play from regular music.  Right now I am working my way through some Brett Ridgeway you tube videos, but if you have other advice, I’d be happy to hear it.  I have been playing in DAD so far. 

Thanks, guess I'll call Just Strings for a little help since the Dulcimer is new to me.

Virtually any lap dulcimer can be strung with the common package sets for either DAA or DAD. Typically plain Steel .012, .012, .014, Nickel Wound .022.

I'm planning to try .014 melody strings one of these days since I ONLY tune to DAA. I don't expect to hear much difference. The .014 strings often break if tuned much above A# or so.

Thanks, Ken. I think you solved the middle string as being a 0.014 gauge, the "A" string. So, if I wanted to buy strings to restring the instrument for D A D tuning in the pattern that the nut and bridge are cut for, can you suggest the correct gauges?

Thank you so much!

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Thanks Ken. It's that sound that got me interested in Dulcimer playing.

Rich H

Thanks Ken

Ken I am new to this world of instruments but am looking forward to making and sharing.

Gene

Thank you, Ken. I've enjoyed reading some of your posts. 

Thanks for the welcome, Ken! I just took a 10 hr dulcimer class taught by Anne Lough through John C Campbell Folk School, and I'm loving every moment spent practicing. I look forward to learning from and giving back to this community. 

Lisa

Thank you for the warm welcome Ken. I will be posting pictures of my dulcimer soon. I'm not seeing any cracks, and I'm going to take it slow, so it shouldn't be too huge of a challenge.

Thank you very much for welcoming me. Im very happy to have found FOTMD,  its a goldmine for me to find so much information. Mountain dulcimer is a very rare instrument in Sweden so this is great! 

Thanks!

Ken:  Nice to hear from you.  We met in Indiana a few years ago when I sold you a double dulcimer case.  All the best to you.

Thanks Richard....so the 4th melody string is a duplicate to on of the 3, so as to create more of that same note? Correct? 

Yes, many of the 4 stringers have a doubled melody set of 2. To play with 3 strings simply remove one of the two. Some people do play 4 equidistant strings.

Ken I really appreciate your thorough response. As a beginner this gives me the detail I need. I was AWOL for a bit but am now following your advice with these makers and shopping on EBay. Im looking for simplicity so learning is easier. There seem to be a lot more 4 stringers for sale than 3 strings. I'm drawn to the 3 for ease and simplicity. Why are there 4 stringers ? Are 2 strings duplicates? Please give me your feelings and opinions as a seasoned player. Again, I appreciate your assistance very, very much.

 Kindly, Todd Metcalf