Forum Activity for @strumelia

Update:  i believe your ad was deleted after being up for a period of time.
You can post a new ad if you like.  Be sure to include a photo and a price.  Thanks!

Hi Dawg. You can just tell me what you want the change made to, and i can then change it for you. (The original post of a For Sale ad can only be changed by admins)
Post here the change you want made, then I'll do the change and delete this thread.  Thanks!

Great work Richard!

It's way more fun to work on our fun projects than to clean up after them, for sure!

Well that's pretty cool.  Is it going to turn in the wind?  Where will you put it?

I'm not so sure it is " not more popular with traditional players".  I've used the 'reverse' often.
It's really just a slight variation of an open tuning, which is always popular with traditional music players on clawhammer banjo and fiddle (AEAE). For me, I view it as just an open tuning that avoids string breakage.

I see you already know about modes and are comfortable with retuning instruments.

You seldom go wrong if your tuning contains both the tonic/key note (note "1" in your scale) and the 5th note of your scale.  So if you are playing in the key of A and A is "1", then count A(1) ,B(2),C(3),D(4), E(5th) -- thus EAA or EAe or AEa are all tunings which give you the tonic key note A plus its 5th interval note (E) when strummed open.  Notes 1 + 5 in a scale always sound sweet!
I hope I have not simply added confusion here.  

Dusty gave a great explanation of your 'reverse' tuning Tony.  One thing I'd like to add is that one reason people use it is because it helps avoid having to tune the bass string to A if going to Aea or Aee (the low A would be too floppy if not a baritone dulcimer, the higher A might break the bass string).
As Dusty said of EAA tuning, "If you are normally tuned DAA or DAd, you can quickly switch to the key of A using that "reverse" tuning."  You can also go to EAe tuning easily from DAd... which gives you the very versatile ionian tuning for the key of A. (with your home A note on the third fret of the melody string).

Greetings!
You don't say your dulcimer playing style-  do you play while making chords with melody?  Or do you play melody only on the melody string while letting the drones strings ring open?  (It might be tricky to play classical music on the melody string only)

If you are open to playing very simple traditional Hungarian folk tune melodies in 'drone style', then it might not be too difficult to pick out the melody notes on the melody string and then write them down once you 'find' the tune on your melody string. You'd have to locate the place on the string where you can play all the notes and not be 'missing' any due to the diatonic fret spacing. BUT that's a useful skill to have and it's not all that hard to get the hang of. In effect, you will be making your own simple tab in drone style.
What i do is I find a very simple folk tune written in sheet music for the melody line only. Then I locate where the tune can sit on my fretboard where all its notes are available to me on the melody string. Then I write the fret number in on the sheet music music for each note of the melody. Later you can embellish it a little in your own way, once you get comfortable playing the simple melody line.

Just things to consider!
Here is a starting point search for finding some Hungarian folk melodies in sheet music, perhaps.

I listened to your little Singleton clip, @john-c-knopf .  It sounds sooo sweet and slide-y. Such a great traditional sound.

Ooooh, lucky YOU, Steven!  

I think i recall when you started that guitar, Ken. Your planned projects sound very worthwhile and satisfying!  

John, Robin-  if it's a video clip, John would have to first upload it to Youtube, and then post a link to that here in a post. Or, upload it to youtube and then add it to your own group of personal videos here on fotmd. Videos have to be living on youtube, and only then referenced to here. I mean you can't actually attach a video file to a post here.  Some of the same issues occur with audio files as well, though Robin obviously has lots of experience adding audio files here on fotmd, so she should know better than I.  

John that Singleton reproduction is gorgeous. Sooo much character and charm!
I love what you did there.  

@studentofrhythm , that all sounds so wonderful!  I love that you are using various instruments for different 'settings'. The low whistle and harmonium must have been particularly intimate and I bet people had chills listening while also experiencing the art.  Great going, friend!

Thanks Richard.
I feel so badly for all farmers and ag workers lately. They face such terrible conditions-  climate-wise, weather disasters, plus they are facing awful economic burdens as well in their struggle to make a decent living while not going bankrupt.
Farmers and farm workers feed us all!

Robin... "About two in a hill."... sounds like a reference to potatoes, but i'm still not sure exactly what it means to convey.
Can you explain for us clueless 'city folk' please

Tell us about something positive lately in your life that you have experienced or observed.

As for me, there have been a few positive things lately. But one I'm very happy and grateful about is that my husband got cataract surgery in both eyes a couple months ago, and now his vision is healed and he goes to get new glasses today (waaaay less strong ones). He has been cleared to drive again, and what with all the various trips and appts we go to that sure makes my life a bit less hectic!  He can see so much better now, and I'm so happy for him!  

Our little NY village was hit hard by a violent storm late thursday night. It knocked down many trees and power lines, torrential rain and high winds... but only last an hour.
Our mayor declared a state of emergency, with no travel allowed the next day. Now 2 days later, I hear there are still parts of the village with no power and no water (!).  Our little cluster up on the hill here was so lucky. We never lost power for some reason so we still have AC all through this awful heat wave.  We're very grateful! 

Yay... America's founding fathers and founding principles.
I was 22 and living in NYC during our country's 200th birthday celebration in 1976. It was amazing, everyone seemed united together and happy. The historic tall ships (tall sailing ships with multiple masts) all sailed into New York Harbor, a beautiful thing to behold alongside the Statue of Liberty... it was a wonderful celebration.
We certainly live in a great nation... happy 250th birthday America!

Sometimes when i see pix of people out in the heat wave with no hat, shirt, or even sunglasses... I wonder how they never managed to learn common sense for heat survival.

  Wow it sure is HOT out there!!

I'm blessed to have AC at home, but i did have to drive to the PO and the bakery today... I'm surprised the car was not melted in the driveway.
Right now I'm guzzling ice water at home and really hoping the power stays on through the next few days... they say the whole power grid is strained to its max.  I've got no plans to be outside this July4th weekend.

Are you all doing ok?  

Such terrible sad news. Wayne was incredibly talented and brought so much to our dulcimer community. 
My heart goes out to Wayne's family.

What a generous and thoughtful project to help the people who can't afford most dulcimers these days, Richard.  I love that you are doing this.

Alex, I'm a little confused as to why the reversed strings on the stick dulcimer disappoints you. -Are you wanting to learn how she plays that particular song and worried that you won't be able to figure it out for your regular dulcimer which is not strung in reverse like the stick dulcimer?

That video of Amy Grant is a very touching, sweet but sad song.  Makes me nostalgic for the old times.

Stephens does have a membership here on FOTMD... though he has not posted in about 5 years. https://fotmd.com/bob-stephens
Also, there's a FOTMD threa d on his dulcimers from about 2 yrs ago.

What about Vince Haley of "HX dulcimers" (also mentioned in that article)... anyone heard of his instruments lately?

Interesting article!

A new article on National Geographic site...
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/stradivarius-violins-tree-ring-analysis

Hi friends.
I run this site on donations, and usually it tends to break even. But lately I've had to pay for server fees etc out of my pocket. I'd really appreciate it if any of you who are able can make a donation to help me keep FOTMD running.
If you are so inclined, simply use the Donate button on the main page .
Thank you so much!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...  

I wonder if in the vein of “animal adoption/rescue,” there is a “dulcimer adoption/rescue” forum here for legacy instruments that are likely to become wall hangers unless someone conserves/restores them? I did not see one but might have missed it.

Well there are a lot of discussions in the "Care and Maintenance Group" on this site, including some threads on rescuing and repairing old damaged instruments.

Easier to answer this if you include a little photo of your tuners.

If it's just a matter of using a screwdriver to remove the old tuner and screw in the new one, you should be fine. Be sure to use the right size screwdriver that fits the screw head.

Wally, your post and info would be terrific over on the inverted capo thread!:
https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/93/the-false-nut-upon-the-road

Hi Ken and @Shopdad , it might make more sense to continue your scheitholt building discussion here in this discussion:
https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/2841/has-anyone-made-a-scheitholt

That way, people in the future looking for info on this subject will be able to more easily find it.  

(you'll need to JOIN the Builders' Group there is you have not joined it already, to see the full discussion and participate)

Maybe this video from a real pro will help give you some tips?:

Thanks for that, Ken!

Since there is more than one way to skin a cat...  
You can temporarily raise the pitch of one or more strings without using a conventional capo by either pulling a string down and under a little hook as described (a technique used by banjo players for the 5th drone string, using a  tiny model railroad spike), OR by using a 'reverse capo' or more accurately a 'false nut' that is placed under the string to raise the pitch or just one or two or more strings without retuning the strings. It is then easily removed when not wanted.
Here's a good description and discussion of this method, with photos:
https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/93/the-false-nut-upon-the-road

Here is why I like DAA tuning and the advantage it gives to me.

If your McSp dulcimer has individual metal tuning machines, you may be able to send them a closeup photo of your headstock and let them know which machine is failing... and they might be able to ship yo a replacement. Does swapping the tuner look like a job you would be able to do yourself? Are they attached with simple screws?
Do your tuners look like this ?

Sounds like most likely a problem just with that one tuner.
But to be safe, also check all around the dulcimer - the back, sides, and the headstock- check for any cracks or glue failures, or any lifting away of the edges or the headstock separating from the body (though i don't think this is very likely on a reasonably recent McSpadden)
I suggest you call McSpadden on the phone and ask them what they think.