Terry I love the way you look at it here. I'm going to incorporate your "first time in my life I've been...." attitude towards my age from now on. Thank you! 
Truer words never spoken, Terry! 
Ron, welcome to fotmd! i suggest you start a new discussion in our general Forums area for your guitar tuning question, rather than asking about it in this "Introduce Yourself" discussion.
Go to the general forum area and use the plus button+ to start a new discussion. :)
(When you, be sure to give us the scale length (length in inches between nut and bridge) of your guitar. You'll likely have to change some strings and maybe remove other strings from your guitar. Remember too when you ask about a '4 string dulcimer'...that a guitar does not have a pair of closely set strings like most 4 string dulcimers have on the melody string.)
Please do start your new separate discussion in the forums, so we can help you further there in it. :)
Hi Don, there is more than one tuning possible- you'll find lots of info and discussions of tunings and fingerings for 4 equidistant string setup in our Group of the same name:
https://fotmd.com/heidi-muller/group/27/four-equidistant-strings
Remember you'll need to click the "join group" button in order to see the discussion replies and comment wall of a group. (You can always click the same button to easily UNjoin later.)
Hi Matthew! How great that something so lovely as music is helping your Parkinson symptoms. I'm glad you're back to playing! Good luck with your exploration of a chromatic dulcimer.
When in doubt, refresh your browser page.. it often helps when things look to be 'disappeared'.
Ken, the text box issues have to do with the tinyMCE text editor software that is used here. It's not something that I can fix and has nothing to do with our part of the platform. TinyMCE is its own software, and they've been having some issues lately. I do know that they are working on fixes for their current text editor problems. We'll have to simply let that work itself out for a few weeks. If it continues to happen after say three or four more weeks from now, let me know again then. Thanks!
Meanwhile, the other group discussion re-ordering is being worked on to find the solution.
That's great SkipII! You have an advantage already- you are aware that you can do various things by using various tunings, and also you don't seem to be afraid of trying out new things. Good for you! Have FUN with your music and your instruments. :D
I would suggest you listen to the dulcimer players who play the kind of music you want to play and ask them how they are tuned.
That.
The discussions have been re-ordered again. But this issue has not been 'solved' yet. There's a fix that has been applied, but the cause is yet unknown, so it may happen again until the cause is figured out.
Ken please post here if/when it happens again. Meanwhile the developers of our software are trying to figure out what's causing it. This might take some time. Thanks for your patience!
Ok, thanks Ken, I'll get on this as soon as I can.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you as well! 
I love my Keith Young limberjack dearly. I hope yours make the safe journey home to you for a happy dance reunion. 
Follow simple instructions to see which apps currently on your Mac are 32 bit and will not function in Catalina: https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/macos-find-32-bit-apps/
@black-dog-bess : keep your eye on this Webroot support forum thread: https://community.webroot.com/webroot-secureanywhere-for-macs-18/product-update-webroot-secureanywhere-for-macos-catalina-340620
It looks as though you might have a Catalina-compatible Webroot version available by mid November. You should be able to get your remaining paid subscription applied when you update your WR version.
Well, it's that time again... doing the vegetable garden cleanup. Piles and piles of pulled wilted dead plants, rotten tomatoes, weeds, etc. Heaped on tarps and then we haul them into the woods to a big ditch across the road. So much less fun than the beginning of the garden season.
Nice to get things cleaned up in the Fall though. Way worse if you wait til Spring, because then the ground's all muddy and half frozen when you're trying to pull out dead plants and clean things up for planting. In the Fall the ground is still dry and fluffy- easier to pull out the plants! Then I'll rake things up a bit and lay down thick straw over the beds for the winter.
Amazing, I still got a couple of nice big red peppers today... probably the last before the plants frost and die.
I've made two blueberry cobblers this week with blueberries I froze in July. :D I still have enough in the freezer for about 5 more cobblers... for special occasions I think.
The bees are slowing down. Time to put the mouse guards on the hive entrances and insulate the tops for the winter.
Ken, I think this is now fixed up. Please go take a look and also let me know if you see any lingering or additional problems related to this.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention. 
I should mention that our members who are dulcimer makers/luthiers often utilize our Dulcimer Making Group to post about their latest creations that they themselves constructed. :)
I'm looking into this Ken. It looks like if you make a new post in a group discussion, it does rise to the top as it should. (there are sometimes a couple of 'pinned' discussions that always stay at top though). However, it also seems that after a recent site update, past group discussions got a bit scrambled in order, making it hard to find discussions that were somewhat recent, if they have not had a new post after the site update.
Not sure I'll be able to re-order them again, but am looking into it.
Ken, I'm currently looking in to this issue.
In the Beginner Group, I'm seeing that the Comment Wall 'comments' are in the correct order- with the most recent comments on top. Are you not seeing it this way?
However, I am seeing a problem with the group's discussions being shown out of order. It 'should' be so that the discussions with the newest replies show on the top, and discussion threads that have not had recent activity get listed later on in the order of the group threads. Is that what you are referring to as the problem?
Tell me whether you still see an 'ordered by' problem with the Comment Wall comments in groups.
I'm thinking there's only a problem with the order of group discussions, and NOT aproblem with the rder of group Comment Wall comments. Tell me if that's what you see too, so I don't wind up chasing any non-existent issues. Thanks
Gregg, you could post this festival in our "Festivals/Events section here on FOTMD, since it has various performers/instructors and is a music gathering. Then it would appear in our site's Events calendar. You can add a picture for it as well.
Kendra, it'd work better for you if you posted this info and link to the tab etc right in the Comments section of your Lillies video.
That way, your info about the tab and the video will all be in one place, right on the actual video page. If you start a forum thread in the Forums about your video in the video section, the two will not stay connected and people's comments here about your video will sink out of sight as the forum thread gets older. That's the trouble with having two different comment areas about one item (the video, where comments are left... and this thread about the video, in a forum that is not part of the video.)
I know you are having some confusions about using this site, so I'm trying to help you. It's best not to start a forum discussion about your own video- each videos has its own comment area where you can post thoughts and info and hold discussions about the video right there, on the video's own page. It gets quite confusing after a while to have comments on the video page and also comments about the video in a separate forum thread like this one. Go to your "Lillies" video's page (find your video by going to the main link for Videos at top banner, OR by going to your own profile page and clicking the Videos Tab to see your VIDEOS there) and post your info and tab link there in the video comments instead of starting forum discussions about each of your videos. That way everyone will find all the comments, discussion, and info on the video right there, on the video's page. I hope I've explained this without confusing things!
I can’t find comments or read them on something I posted...
Kendra, please tell me an actual example of 'something you posted' that you cannot see the comments on. I need that.
Kendra it's hard to know exactly what comments you are talking about- can you please post here an URL where there is a comment you cannot read? or tell me what the comment says so i can find it? that would enable me to help guide you better. I'm understanding only that you somehow know there has been a comment or message to you, but are not using the correct link that takes to the comment or message so that you can see and respond to it. I'm not knowing how/where you are being presented with these links or notifications so that I can advise you where you are going wrong.
My best guess right now without getting further clarifications from you:
Is it in an email that you find out about a new comment? This would a site notification, which typically has two or three links in it (to unsubscribe, to go see a comment, to turn off notifications altogether). If so, please copy/paste the text of what the email says here... that will help me determine whether these 'comments' you are referring to are comments on your videos, private messages, comments on your profile page, etc. Or, it will help me guess which incorrect link you are clicking on in the notification. Knowing that will help me tell you how you are perhaps going to the wrong place, resulting in your not seeing the items.
Not quite clear on what comments you are referring to, (this thread here is about what to do if you can't see the entire discussion in a group because you;ve not joined it yet) but....if you are referring maybe to email site notifications you get when people have commented on your items, then follow the LINK provided in the notification, which leads you to the comment itself, on your item.
Maybe you are clicking on the wrong link in the notification. Please look carefully at the notification- the link to follow should be near the top, above the comment.
Kendra, have you tried reading this thread?
It explains how you need to join a group in order to be able to read the complete discussions in the group. It also shows pictures on how to join a group. Try that.
Hi Sharon, an Admin needs to remove the threads from the For Sale forum. I have deleted it for you. Thanks!
How about we drop the debating and get back to simply discussing cbrown's instrument fixing project, which is the subject of this thread? Thanks.
Hi folks, I'd like to keep this discussion focused more simply on 'introducing ourselves'- so feel free to start new discussions in either the Music Theory Group or the Traditional NoterDrone Group if you would like to continue in depth discussions on modes, ballad resources, etc.
Thank you!
David, your Sheba is very sweet looking! 
We have a kitty named Sheba too!- she's a brown tabby. We usually call her by her silly nickname, Boo Boo.
Phroe... I'm thinking you'll eventually have to make a decision whether to continue putting in your time and expense to make this a dulcimer that is enjoyable to play . Sometimes we just have to let an instrument-fixing project go and chalk it up to good learning experience. But only you can decide where that point might be in your personal scale of pros and cons. You might opt to keep this instrument as a good one for hauling around to campouts or trips without having to worry about it like you would with a more expensive dulcimer. Or it may be the instrument that prompted you to make one from scratch. Or it may be the one that caused you to go out and try some dulcimers made by known and respected makers. You have lots of choices as to how to see this and what to do next. But I think your attitude has been real positive through this experience.
I buckled down and made a BIG batch of green tomatillo sauce today, and canned it. Always a project to haul out the canning stuff.
I started with approx. 14 lbs of tomatillos (before husking), and finished up with about 16 nice looking pint jars. It also included 4 onions, 13 cloves garlic, 2 fresh garden red peppers, an entire large bunch of fresh cilantro, 1.5 cups lime juice, and 2 T. ground cumin. About 1 tablespoon each of ground black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes.
My oh my but it tastes divine!
So satisfying to get the messy kitchen all cleaned up and hear the 'pinggg!' sound as each jar top dimple seals down while cooling. 
When the snow flies outside, every time we open a jar it'll bring back the taste of Summer.
Tomatoes are gearing down. We had big tomato & bacon sandwiches on sesame hamburger buns for dinner. I like mine with mayo spread on the buns, Brian likes with guacamole spread. Won't be more than another week or two for those big slabs of red tomato slices.
Still getting lots of tomatillos though, so I'll have to make more green sauce this week. I'll probably can some jars of it since there'll be too much for just keeping in the fridge. Those plants get mighty big! Next year I'll have to remember to give them more elbow room on all sides.
I also discovered that tomatillo branches are absolutely gorgeous when cut and arranged in a vase. The sun shines through the light green leaves, and the little tomatillos 'lanterns' hang from the stems, draping gracefully. Beautiful! and they last for almost 2 weeks in a vase looking nice.
Mary i loved your story. How great that you are forging ahead, enjoying the journey, and not letting anything get in your way this time!
Wayne, a 28" or 28.5" nut-to-bridge scale length is about as long as it gets and still be considered 'standard scale length' range. So it seems to me this instrument was designed with a scale length in mind that is several inches longer than that. Whoever laid out this fret board with the nut positioned where it is now had the goal of making this longer dulcimer have a 'standard' length scale.
If you replaced the current fret board and put the nut where it would 'normally' be expected, this dulcimer would likely have a scale of 31" or so-- really a bit too long to comfortably tune up to the usual dulcimer key of D, and such a long scale would also make for difficult-to-reach finger stretches while making chords. So, somebody made this dulcimer have a 'normal' scale by the easiest way possible- by having the nut moved up by several inches.
How long is the overall length of this dulcimer? I assume it did not come with a case? Might be a little fragile and expensive to ship because of its added length.
About the Merlin, I can't say much because I feel like it's comparing apples to oranges. Instruments are tools, and much depends on what your own personal goals are for your playing. Choose a tool that will help you get where you want to go. :)
Someone laid out the scale a little differently by starting the nut higher up the fret board than usual. That shortened the scale overall.. which actually might make it easier to play if you have smaller hands. As long as the frets are placed so that it plays in tune on all frets, you're good to go! (use a tuner to fine-check the fret placement, but at first glance it looks to be generally correct)
I'd be interested to know the scale length of this arrangement- what's the length in inches between the black nut and the bridge? Perhaps the instrument itself is extra long, and the owner decided to shorten the scale to a more standard length, to make it easier to play.
I'd say that if it plays in tune and comfortably, you can enjoy having this dulcimer that didn't cost much! 
Thanks Dusty! :D
Tatts, I'd like to also mention that in this "How do I.." forum (and thank you for posting your question in the right forum!), there is a thread about how to change your profile/account picture. That thread may explain further details for you that might be helpful:
https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/site-questions-how-do-i/15152/change-upload-your-avatar-member-profile-picture#r21272
Gorgeous Thomas style walnut dulcimore, John! The matching possum board is icing on the cake.
Some additional points beyond what Ken L went over:
Victoria, are you trying to post a profile/avatar picture of yourself that replaces the generic one of the tan dulcimer?...one that will show to the left of your posts?
If that's what you're trying to do, then you need to go into your Settings to replace the generic image.
There are two easy ways to get to your account Settings:
1) go to your Profile page, and click on the GEAR icon at the right top corner to the right of your large name. Once in your Settings, notice that there are two tabs: one for Profile and one for Account. Go to both those Tabs and follow the directions to upload your picture for your avatar (one pic will show only on your Profile page, and the other will show next to all your posts elsewhere the site. They can both be the same picture if you like).
2) the other quick way to get to your member settings is to hover over your name at the very top of any page here, on the right... the drop down menu will appear and just click on "account settings" - it will take you to the same place in your profile settings where you'll see those two tabs for Profile and Account.
If you see a bunch of weird code- it may be a bug of some sort in the site coding. If it is, I'll need you to tell me exactly what your steps were that make the code pop up, and a screenshot of the odd code you see would be invaluable to me in tracking down the problem and fixing it. If you're seeing an error message, then I'd need to know exactly what the message says, and what steps you did that produce the message. If I can't reproduce a bug or get detailed descriptions of how it happens, then it becomes very difficult to track it down and fix it. Thanks!~
I liked your video too, David... loved your elderly neighbor chuckling there at his own limberJill playing 
Robin, you and mark do such a wonderful duet dance between your two instruments... terrific porch playing!
@ken-longfield , is that an old collar stay pick?... and a hollow reed noter? 
