Hi Jim - 

My personal preference is a step or two lower, but yes, D-a-d tuning is fine for the Dulciborn.  The VSL is 27".  I think your style will work great.  Happy playing, Jim!  

Christine,

I love to hear you play the Dulciborn!  Is DAD a good tuning for this instrument?

My main style is chord/melody fingerpicking with flailing and quite a bit of cross picking (no finger picks).  Do you think my style would lend itself well to the Dulciborn?

What is the actual VSL on the Dulciborn?

Thanks,

Jim Phillips

Thank you Babs! I really appreciate you taking the time to find my Youtube channel and I'm happy you liked "Devil's Snare". I had a lot of fun writing and playing that one! According to Goldtone's website, it looks like they have a few distributors in the UK. I don't know if they would carry the Dulcibornor not. It could be worth a call to find out, right?

Christine, as you know I am with Mandy on the "full view" while playing. It makes more of a connection between the listener and the performer. When I first joined FOTMD I couldn't understand why so many members had no heads.

Thank you for the compliment Marg! Don't worry - as long as you're enjoying your sweet "noise" the language will become clearer as you go along. Just like it did with your artwork, right?

Thank you Mandy! I don't think I could play without my 1-1/2, 8-1/2 and 13-1/2 frets. I guess that means my next one will be chromatic, eh? ;-) So, do you think we should tone ourselves down when we play? For me, I find that it's reflected in the music if I'm holding the reins too tightly. My pony really likes to let loose - ha!

Thank you for your reply: "when Im relaxed and not fussing over the technicalities..."

Not only do you play beautifully but are very kind in answering our questions. 3 years playing the dulcimer is not very long, you have a gift.

"follow where ever it takes you. " I can do this with my art, but playing the dulcimer is like learning a different language and I'm not sure of the words yet but I do enjoy the sweet noise I make.

YES!!!! I love this. Please don't ever quit showing this view. I get so tired of the hands only shots (as some here already know, but that's another BAG story). I love seeing how much you got into this. I always try and tone myself down some when I play, especially when I'm playing in front of people. I've never seen a dulciborn before. Cool How do you like the 1 1/2 and 8 1/2 frets you have on there? I considered adding them when I was building mine in class but decided against it just because I was already accustomed to only having the 6 1/2. Great job!

Thank you for your lovely comment, Marg! Ive been playing dulcimer for about 3 years now. I played keyboard prior to that. You asked a very good question about the zone. I cant speak for everyone, but how it works for me is when Im relaxed and not fussing over the technicalities of reproducing each and every note as written, then I feel the music and the zone finds me - not the other way around. Can it be learned? I would think so. I believe the key is to ease off and open yourself to the music, then follow where ever it takes you. I dont play in the Zone every time. Some songs I feel more than others. But it doesnt mean its just notes and not a real song. Dont put that kind of pressure on yourself, Marg! ;-)

How long have you been playing the dulcimer? did you know music before? To get into the 'zone' is this something that you either have or don't? Can it ever be learned or is it - if one doesn't feel the music than it's just notes played, not a song.

I'm in awwww of your playing and how you are connected with the song.

thank you for posting

Aww, geeIm so glad you like my playing Helen & Marg! As there are no dulcimer clubs near me, like a lot of people, I play alone - never really knowing if Im on the right track or not. I find the responses Im receiving a bit overwhelming (in a very good way!). With all of your encouragement, I will keep working on my technique and will periodically post videos both here and on YouTube. Thank you for watching and for your feedback.

So glad you have posted a few videos on here. I'm with Dusty, not that I play well enough to "steal some hot licks" but love watching your fingers to see what they/you are doing.

thank's for posting, love hearing what the dulciborn can do in the right hands

Wow! In the zone indeed!

I hear you Ken. For me, I trust my ears more than my eyes - which aren't as dependable as they used to be! I was just watching Frank Ledgerwood's fantastic performance of John Stenson's #2 on his Dulciborn and had to close my eyes in order to follow where he was taking it. So there's my 1/2 cent - between us, we have it covered! ;-)

Aw, shucks. Anyway, back in my day (I'm starting to talk like my Grandfather - yikes) we didn't have videos or internet. If we wanted to pick up a lick or technique we would have to listen to a record (not a CD, a record. You know the round flat thing that looks like a black pizza) and pull it off from that. I think pickers at that time were better ear trained at following chord progressions and what was happening in a tune. Anyway, that was my two cents (Canadian at that so it is only 1 1/2 cents)

Thanks Ken and Cindy! But I think Dusty wants me to stay with the fretboard close ups. No worries Dusty. That is how I normally video anyway- just so I can remember what in the heck I did later on! Hi Tumbleweed - I love your profile pic and handle! Thanks for your encouragement.

Christine, now that's great! Seeing your whole person playing and performing is much more enjoyable. Way to go!

OK, the full "head shot" is great because we see how great you look and how much you get into your playing, but those of us who want to steal some hot licks would prefer a close-up of the fingerboard. I'm not saying . . . I'm just saying . . . there's a method to the headless madness.

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!