An educator and folk/roots music enthusiast living the good life in Northern California, I run a local dulcimer group called River City Dulcimers .
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When tyrants tremble thick with fear
And hear their death knells ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?
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Latest Activity
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Latest Group Discussions
Allkey signature for modal music
I hesitate to ask this question, for I don't want to start a debate. My...
@Dusty Turtle 2 years ago - Comments: 15
cleaning up cruddy geared tuners
How would you suggest cleaning up nice geared tuners that were stored...
@Dusty Turtle 2 years ago - Comments: 3
tightening a pickup jack
The pickup jack on my dulcimer is loose. It rattles around and...
@Dusty Turtle 3 years ago - Comments: 2
Swedish origins of the dulcimer?
Found an interesting article arguing for the Swedish origins of the...
@Dusty Turtle 3 years ago - Comments: 7
documentary on the dulcimer from Lexington Public Library
The Lexington Public LIbrary has produced a very nice documentary...
@Dusty Turtle 3 years ago - Comments: 5
Is a Dmaj7 too weird for this song?
Hey folks. I am arranging an old lullaby called "A La Ru" that...
@Dusty Turtle 3 years ago - Comments: 4
changing the font size of chord names in Tabledit
Hi all. In Tabledit I use the Text Manager function to indicate chord...
@Dusty Turtle 4 years ago - Comments: 2
Surfer Girl on mountain dulcimer
Here's my three-stringed take on the Beach Boys classic. Southern...
@Dusty Turtle 4 years ago - Comments: 7
article and video on San Diego dulcimer ensemble
Hey Golden Staters. Our brethren in San Diego got some positive press...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 0
material to enter public domain this New Year!
On New Year's Day 2019, anything published in 1923 will enter the...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 7
name that (partial) chord: 5-6-6+ in DAd
This is not a game, but a genuine question. I am working on an...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 9
Margaret Wright's dulcimer ministry in the Baptist Press
Members of this group might be interested in this article from The...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 4
teaching multiple versions of a song
I have had a lot of success teaching beginning dulcimer players by...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 3
Smithsonian Folkways on Appalachian Women Heritage Fellows
I thought fans of Jean might find this short article from Smithsonian...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 2
four notes in place of three
In a duple meter such as 2/4 or 4/4, when three notes take the place of...
@Dusty Turtle 5 years ago - Comments: 6
MFA Boston exhibit on zithers
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has a collection of musical...
@Dusty Turtle 6 years ago - Comments: 3
no longer a beginner?
How do you know when you are no longer a beginner? What left-hand or...
@Dusty Turtle 6 years ago - Comments: 16
Bonne Humeur -- a Haitian méringue on appalachian dulcimer
Here is a hoppin' Haitian méringue by the violinist Arthur Duroseau....
@Dusty Turtle 7 years ago - Comments: 8
Little dulcimer...or epinette?
So just out of curiosity (and maybe in my capacity as...
@Strumelia 8 years ago - Comments: 4
how to indicate a capo in Tabledit?
Howdy good people. I am trying to tab a simple version of "Rights of...
@Dusty Turtle 8 years ago - Comments: 20
Latest Photos
AllLatest Forum Discussions
AllInternational Appalachian Dulcimer Day
By: @Alegre1
How do I create a new forum discussion?
By: @Strumelia
baritone guitar
By: @Dusty Turtle
Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for...
By: @Dusty Turtle
50th anniversary of Joni Mitchell's "Blue"
By: @Robin Thompson
How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting...
By: @B. Ross Ashley
Leonard Bernstein explaining the...
By: @Steven Berger
Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan...
By: @Lisa C
Lego Microtonal Guitar
By: @Robin Thompson
music and the pleasure center of the brain
By: @Ken Longfield
Where have all the beginners gone, long...
By: @Strumelia
How to add a new Discussion in a Group
By: @Dusty Turtle
Giving Thanks
By: @Strumelia
The Mountain Minor movie
By: @Dusty Turtle
If I Had a Hammer (dulcimer) but no left-hand
By: @Dusty Turtle
North Carolina dulcimers getting media...
By: @Robin Thompson
Holiday Music Recommendations
By: @Dusty Turtle
online sources for traditional music
By: @Dusty Turtle
Si Bheag Si Mohr dulcimer duet
By: @Ken Hulme
What's your favorite FOTMD smiley?
By: @Strumelia
Where are all the dulcimers by Gary...
By: @D. chitwood
Dulcimer Week at Cigar Box Nation!
By: @Patty from Virginia
Oh Fiddlesticks!
By: @Bob Reinsel
pocket tunes and maintaining the backpack
By: @Skip
Joni explaining and playing the dulcimer
By: @Dusty Turtle
acoustic bass guitar
By: @Dusty Turtle
Celtic Tunes Commonly Played on the Dulcimer
By: @john p
help me name that fiddle tune -- please!
By: @Janene Millen
RIP Pete Seeger
By: @Doug Jones
Common Dulcimer Jam Tunes
By: @Dusty Turtle
Comments
Dusty, recorded a couple of video clips recently on Achill Island, was wondering if Vimeo and Youtube were the only way of posting Videos here on FOTMD. Val.
Just coming back to playing after too long a lay off. Opened the case and "POP" went the string... I am so very glad you posted the info about the Smother;s string calculator, Must wanted to say THANK YOU!!
Again Dusty thank you, what you say about true use of chords answers that very clearly.
Thank you Dusty for you very prompt and easy to understand reply. So would I be right in saying that back in the day when the ladies and gents were sitting on their porches playing ND or melody drone, whether they new it or were playing melody and chords? and does this mean that the Dulcimer is not just a melody instrument but also a chordal instrument?
Hello Dusty, Was going to put this question out there then thought you would be one of many who could answer it. Firstly from a young age I was a whistle player so playing melody was my thing, the jigs, reels etc. Left others to worry about chords. When I started playing Dulcimer I was playing mainly melody drone and at that time mainly in Dad. That was down to lack of knowledge of other tunings. I still play melody drone but now have a few more tunings. The tunings I use mostly are Dad, Dgd, Ddd, Dac and Ddc. The question I want to put to you is, in any of those tunings, playing melody drone and starting to strum at the first fret and working my way down the fret board is there a chord or part of a chord being played? It might be a silly question but have my reasons for asking which I will explain later. I have no interest in getting in to chord playing at my age, but in songs and slower tunes I do play chords not knowing what they are but if they sound good to me they go in. The answer to my question may not be a simple yes or no. You do not have to go into too much detail in your answer. Look forward to hearing from you Val.
Dusty, appreciate the follow. I love the Morning Blues video with what I assume is your daughter. Do you have the tabs for it for the dulcimer or is it from memory.
Jerry
Hey Dusty, how do you like your (daughter's) Eede Beede? Is it something for an adult to consider for travel?
hi dusty - have enjoyed your playing since i found this website - just wish your reggae video continued to the end of the song. i see that you play a probst dulcimer in 3 of your vids - could you tell me how you like it? sounds very balanced, but hard to tell on youtube. thanks, and keep posting -lots of fans out here! alan
Dusty, still can't figure the PM bit. However, I do have a 1+ so can play John Henry. Still working on it. Thanks for showing Polly wolly ... did'nt need that at this time. Like it also.
You mentioned Walter Lay, did'nt see any dulcimers on web site. Bonnie Carol--way up there. What are you playing that you favor at present, cause you have some good sounding Dulcimers.
I play a Jenny Lind from Ron Gibson and my fingers catch on some fret bars. Kinda hurts on John Henry slides. Its a Black Walnut.
Tried following instructions for PM but did"nt work.
By the way, I do like my Jenny Lind. Just want to upgrade.
Hi Dusty, can we PM I had some questions on a Dulcimer comment you made to me and wanted more info. Thanks. Dave
Hey Dusty, Been watching your youtube from 1yr ago of John Henry. Fairly addicted to it at this time. Told my wife give me 3 weeks and I'll have it. Might do it in 10 days. thats all I play.
Loving it. Such a gruve on it.
Dusty, I do like how you played Booth Shot Lincoln! I've learned it from Bing so it will be interesting to compare your tab to how he plays it in A. I'm back here in WI.
Dusty, can't figure out how to send you a message, but thank you. All are purr-fect.