Forum Activity for @strumelia

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/12/18 09:16:52AM
2,373 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Don't forget to wear your FOTMD buttons if you have them!  Laugh

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/06/18 02:30:55PM
2,373 posts

Help with a Hungarian citera


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That's a lovely instrument Dave!

Don't forget you can use Google to translate Hungarian webpages to English.  It won't be a perfect translation bu tenables you to understand most of the info.

You may benefit greatly from watching Youtube videos of Hungarian citera players in action.  It'll show how they utilize all those strings when they strum.  Remember also that Youtube has a setting where you can slow the video down to half speed while staying in the same pitch.  That way you can watch their hands better.

I transferred this thread into our 'other instruments' forum, btw.

Strumelia
@strumelia
02/01/18 12:15:09PM
2,373 posts

What's in a NAME???


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

When you have more than 3 or 4 of a kind of instrument (like dulcimers, banjos, drums, etc) it helps to have names to refer to them, even if the 'name' is only the maker's name. 
When I check in with my fiddler husband about what instruments we'll be taking to a party or gig, or simply when we're going to practice at home, it helps us to be on the same page when I refer to a specific banjo by name... the Ramsey, Blondie, Stichter, Hog Sisters, Cockerham, PigHead, Man in the Moon...  thus my husband knows immediately which banjo I'm talking about and thus what kind of repertoire/style I'm thinking we might be playing in, and what keys.  Plus, it's just more fun!
Since I never eat my instruments, I've never found naming them to have any effect on my ability to sell them.  spaghetti   heheheh

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/30/18 06:58:49PM
2,373 posts

Thoughts on Harmonicas


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Terry that's so great!  That large 2-sided tabor drum of yours is quite impressive and 'primitive' looking with its lacing.  I bet that lady feels like a Wild Thang playing it.  red drummer   grin     So nice that your tabor drum has found a new honorable life of service!

Btw, I put up my five old harmonicas in the For Sale forum.  Figured I would start trying to move along instruments I will never play anymore.  Part of my Spring cleaning goals to myself.  I also went through my spice cabinet like a tornado yesterday!  pimento

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/27/18 05:22:32PM
2,373 posts

Thoughts on Harmonicas


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Ah, those tabor drums we conspired on and purchased... co-enablers!   lolol... I do still like my drum and it was perfect for a children's parade I participated in last year.  I think they have great tone and yes I too am glad to still have my tabor drum!

I have NOT been playing the tabor pipe though... once I found out I had all the notes more quickly available on my penny whistles.  But I've kept up with the penny whistle and I really love playing.  I'm not a great player but that doesn't bother me- might take years to become proficient, but it's a happy pastime.  I have a small collection of mid-level pennywhistles now...Terry you know how we get tempted.  winker   Happily, the whistles don't cost all that much compared to most stringed instruments.  hamster   

I don't have to tell you to keep playing and having fun with your music... cuz I know you will.

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/27/18 03:08:48PM
2,373 posts

Thoughts on Harmonicas


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Terry Wilson: Here is the great thing:   I have never been a by ear dulcimer player, always using tab and memorizing the songs.   Here it is:  The harmonica is a by ear instrument.   Once I learning to play harmonica by ear, I began playing dulcimer by ear.   It just happens.  Why, I don't know, but it does...

It's funny how that works.  I usually find that making a little progress in one instrument leads to progress or insight on another instrument.  I love when that happens.   :)   I think Edelweiss would be a perfect tune for the tremolo harmonica. I actually had one of those big tremolo harps waaay back when i was a teenager (!) and I enjoyed playing it in my amateur way.


Terry, it's great to see you back on FOTMD again, and I'm so glad to learn of your wife's health outcome, and to know that you've had help for all the hand pain that was preventing you from playing almost everything.  I'm happy to hear you are still playing for the senior home... I remember how you described their joy (and yours) in your musical visits there. clapper

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/23/18 02:53:33PM
2,373 posts

Wind Instruments????


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Bob, that's so cool!  You are multi talented for sure.

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/23/18 10:49:48AM
2,373 posts

Wind Instruments????


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hewalker- beautiful recorders!  BTW did you know we have a thread here in this forum specifically about recorders:
https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/adventures-with-other-instruments/6926/recorder

 

Bob, I wish you'd post a clip of you playing one of your pipes!

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/23/18 10:07:25AM
2,373 posts

Wind Instruments????


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

HeWalker, what brand are your 'serious' recorders?  Can you post a photo of them here?  

I have a whole playlist on my itunes of medieval and renaissance recorder music. It's so beautiful to listen to!  I stick with penny whistles because recorders are simply too much of a learning curve for me at this point... and I had a much easier time learning the PW.  But I do think recorders sound the most heavenly.  angellic

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/21/18 01:32:32PM
2,373 posts



Here is my collection of lower key Susato 'Kildare' polymer penny whistles.  I have them in C, Bb, A, and G.  The A and the G each have one key on the lowest hole to make it easier for those of us with smaller hands to reach that bottom hole.  I'm really enjoying the mellow sound of these lower whistles.  :)

DSC02520s.jpg

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/17/18 07:25:41PM
2,373 posts

Oberflacht Lyre Finished


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Very nice Ken!  I really like the pic of you proudly holding it.  :)

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/13/18 02:36:57PM
2,373 posts

Help with a twang/buzz?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Hi Dave, you posted this thread in the For Sale forum, so I moved it here instead.

I hope someone will help you with your buzz issue!

Strumelia
@strumelia
01/11/18 09:48:42AM
2,373 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


To whoever submits the notice in our site's "Events/Festivals" list....some info bits you should know:

1) it's free

2) you can add an image to the listing, which makes it way more eye catching interesting to look at.

3) It won't actually show up for the general membership until I approve it- but I'll be watching for it and will approve it right away once it's submitted by someone.

4) make sure just 'one' person is going to submit it to the fotmd calendar, so there are not 'dueling submissions'.   ;)

5) to create the calendar listing, you need to do it from your own profile page.


updated by @strumelia: 01/11/18 09:49:54AM
Strumelia
@strumelia
12/13/17 05:14:59PM
2,373 posts

Folks, do you have pending 'Followers' left hanging...!?


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?


Hi everyone,

I'ts recently come to my attention the lots of members don't realize that they have Followers waiting to be approved by them.. sometimes for many months.  Members cannot exchange private messages or keep track of great new items posted by people they admire if their 'follow' has remained PENDING.  Some members have turned OFF their site notifications for when a new Follower has requested approval of them, so the poor pending follower remains in limbo.

I'd like to ask all members to please CHECK your Followers list to see if you have PENDING followers that require that you either Approve them or Delete their request.

There are TWO ways to check for PENDING followers:

1) Simply go to your Profile Page (by clicking on your name at top right of any FOTMD page...if you see your name then you know you are logged IN)... and on your profile page you should click the Followers TAB.  That's where you can approve or delete Followers as you like. (btw, deleting them will not send them a notice, it will simply quietly remove them from your follower list).  See this image for what you'll see to approve Followers that may be Pending in your profile:

followers.jpg

2) The other easy way to check for any Pending followers is to HOVER your mouse over your NAME at the top right corner of the site (when you are logged in) and you'll see a dropdown menu appear.  In the menu is a link to "Pending Followers", with a number after it indicating if you have any.  Click there to approve any pending ones.

Ok, so....

Once you've updated your Followers list so no Followers have been left hanging, you can check how you have your site notifications set for you account.  For example, you can set your account to just automatically approve any new follower!

To check your settings for this, click on the Gear picture icon in your profile page ...there you will see three TABS:  Profile, Account, and Notifications.  --> Under the Profile TAb, there's a little checkbox that says: " Keep Followers Pending Until My Approval" .  Make sure that checkbox is UNCHECKED if you want people to be able to freely become a follower of yours without needing or waiting for your approval.

  --> While you are there in your Settings... under your Notifications TAB, you can use the drop down menu to set it to send you a notification for various site events... like when you get someone requesting that their Follow of you be approved... or when someone makes a comment on one of your videos or photos, etc.

Please take a couple minutes to go over your profile/account settings.. it greatly effects how you experience the site, and makes things easier for everyone!

Thanks so much!   howdy


updated by @strumelia: 02/25/18 04:41:02PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
11/29/17 10:40:42AM
2,373 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Oh my, what a great find, Rocks!  Whatever you do, don't change this perfect and wonderful old dulcimer- that's a collector's instrument and is in mint condition!  I see the frets are only under the melody string..so enjoy playing it in drone style, as it was intended to be played.  (you can always later get a nice second dulcimer for chord style playing, with extra frets too if you want to explore that style)  winker    You're a lucky lady to now be the Amburgey's new player!

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/28/17 08:00:22PM
2,373 posts

compendium of makers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

We don't host a comprehensive list of dulcimer makers here on FOTMD.  However, over on Everythingdulcimer's site there are a couple of things that might help you:

http://everythingdulcimer.com/builders_display.php

http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=23533

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/28/17 10:42:51AM
2,373 posts

DAA tuning: Plus frets


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I always find your videos so enjoyable and helpful Robin. You have such a practical way of solving playing problems and explaining them in a simple hands-on way.  Please don't ever delete them- they help a whole lot of people!  happydance

P.S. nice that Candy makes a little appearance in this one.  flower

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/28/17 10:38:36AM
2,373 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Any members who would like to tell us a little something about themselves?  We love to welcome new FOTMD family members, especially during the holiday season!  grphug  dulcimer dulcimer dulcimer dulcimer dulcimer

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/27/17 04:34:54PM
2,373 posts

DAA tuning: Plus frets


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Don Grundy: With DAA tuning how often do you use 1 1/2; 6 1/2; 8 1/2; and 13 1/2 frets?

I use all those extra frets fairly regularly, in (DAA type) ionian tuning.  I like to play lots of renaissance and medieval music, and those tunes seem to have many accidentals in them which call for those odd sharps and flats in the middle an otherwise major/normal tune.

I also used those extra frets a whole lot when playing minor sounding archaic oldtime fiddle tunes.  I can't explain why, but I just needed them to get through the tunes.


updated by @strumelia: 11/27/17 04:36:13PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
11/27/17 04:30:01PM
2,373 posts

Dulcimers in wooden cases?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Did you look in your browser's History to try to relocate the link where you had seen it?

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/17/17 09:16:25PM
2,373 posts

Healthy Living- healthy eating, exercise, weight loss, veggie gardening, etc.


OFF TOPIC discussions

Oh man, once tomato season winds down, I lose all interest in working in my veggie garden, and the weeds always get the best of me.  Dang!  I love gardening digging/planting/weeding/picking in the Spring and all Summer.... but by Fall my spare time energy usually turns to sewing, knitting, cooking, and playing music (aside from my regular day job, I mean...I'm not retired yet).

This Fall the weeds got especially out of control since I was sick for a couple of months at the end of Summer.  What a mess the garden became...difficult to even walk through it. redface     And the perennial flowerbed, and the overgrown thorny raspberry patch and the masses of 7 feet tall decorative grasses...  I really needed someone strong to come in and help clean up before Winter.  But I had a heck of a time finding someone who either wasn't all booked up or didn't cost a fortune.  The fellow who has helped me in the past had moved away.  I kept making phone calls, following leads...and the days were ticking by and it was getting colder. sneeze   The forecast is predicting some snow and sub-freezing after this next week, so I was really getting nervous that I'd have a horrendous mess on my hands next Spring if I couldn't get someone in time.

The good news is I found a fellow who was available, happy to work for a decent rate, and who knew what he was doing.  

Yay!- this swell feller came today with his pickup truck and wheelbarrow and hedge trimmer and clipper....and he was like a tornado going through the beds and paths pulling weeds and raking and clearing.  I bought a ton of mulch at Agway and he went to pick it all up with his truck, and he'll rototill my veggie beds, then spread the mulch for me... 40 big bags of wood chips/a whole pallet, and 8 bales of straw.  He's going to save my lower back for sure, and i won't spend the winter dreading Spring!  sun    

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/04/17 10:28:06AM
2,373 posts



I have a Dixon Trad brass in D too, Jennifer.  I really like the 'temple bell'-like tone it has, don't you?  It sounds prettier to me than for example the Generation brass whistles I have.

Strumelia
@strumelia
11/02/17 05:55:53PM
2,373 posts

etiquette with dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Any sales transaction should have return terms made clear before the purchase.  That's true for online purchases, retail stores, and yes even between friends.

Always find out seller's return policy before buying or commissioning any instrument, new or used!

Why?  Because 'etiquette' is not legally binding in any way.. and it also varies tremendously.  There is no standard policy for returns- different people/sellers all have different return policies... or no returns at all sometimes.
Paypal will usually help you if the item was damaged or misrepresented.  But if it's a just matter of you changing your mind and the seller doesn't want it shipped back and had not stipulated a return policy, then paypal might not get involved.  If the seller did not mention any return policy at all, then they have a right to say 'no returns' after the sale is complete. Unless they misrepresented the item or its condition.

As a buyer, you should ask for the return policy to be spelled out in writing if it's not already.  Before money changes hands.  We are talking about significant amounts of money here!


updated by @strumelia: 11/02/17 06:38:13PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
10/29/17 11:45:26PM
2,373 posts



Jennifer, maybe you're like me? ...and find that the two instruments feel so different to play that it's almost impossible to compare the dulcimer and the whistle against each other.   
What kind of Dixon did you get?  I like my Dixon whistles very much.  grin


updated by @strumelia: 10/29/17 11:47:14PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
10/29/17 10:39:08PM
2,373 posts




Some whistles don't play in tune on some notes, and that can be infuriating.  But some cheaper whistles are quite nice too. Then there are the odd duds as well, even with higher priced whistles. 

Yikes Sheryl... those Carbonys are like over $400...?!  Out of my league... at least when it comes to whistles.  lolol

I like being able to reach for a whistle based on my mood that day.  I keep my whistles handy, standing in a metal cannister on my desk... like a bouquet of flowers!   flower flower flower

mywhistles_4.jpg


updated by @strumelia: 10/29/17 10:39:42PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
10/25/17 10:07:53AM
2,373 posts



I'm still playing my penny whistles.  Because I like to play like six instruments and various genres/repertoires, I have to spread my music practice between them.. so I don't progress as fast as i could if I devoted my full attention to one instrument and one kind of music.  Alas!

But even though I don't play a whole lot on the penny whistle, I do find I'm still sloooowly improving.. yay, I'll take it!  blue flute

I'm amazed at how different each whistle brand and key sounds and feels to play.  I now understand why some folks buy many whistles to try out... especially since it's so much cheaper than it would be 'experimenting' with guitars or mandolins for example.  surprised    I now have over a dozen whistles... but there are at least 4 that I don't care for and will sell soon... and 3 or 4 that I want to buy and try out in the future.  lol   

It does take a while to find the kind of whistles that 'suit you'... in size, playing characteristics, and tone.  For instance most Irish trad players tend to like a 'chiffy' tone with some breath texture to it.  Personally, since I play more medieval or English country dance repertoire, I myself tend to favor the whistles that sound more 'woody' or flute/recorder-like.  The polymer or wood whistles usually sound more this way, while the metal whistles innately have more 'chiff'.  But I have a couple of traditional brass whistles that have a very appealing tone appropriate for Irish tunes, that I like to play very much too.

Penny whistles are less expensive than dulcimers by far, so it's easy to have a collection!  grin

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/25/17 09:16:13AM
2,373 posts

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music


OFF TOPIC discussions

Here's something I sometimes say(privately) to Brian when people in a jam play one of our favorite tunes at 100 mph so we can't savor it or play all the little musical things we like to do in it:  "Well at least it was over with a lot faster."    shhh

giggle2

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/25/17 09:11:31AM
2,373 posts

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music


OFF TOPIC discussions

Val, I love both of those you posted!  Laugh

Here's one along the same lines.  A professional musician I know once said this (I don't know if he made it up or not):

"If you're playing in a jam and you can't hear yourself playing... then you're playing too loud."

(implying of course that if everyone followed this, the whole jam would get quieter and everyone would again be able to hear themselves.)

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/24/17 02:23:25PM
2,373 posts

What's in a NAME???


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I had two custom made mandolins for many years- an F5 and an octave mandolin... both with similar inlays and made by the same luthier.  I called them The Little Snapper and The Big Snapper.  They were gorgeous.  I sold them last year, both to the same person.

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/24/17 02:13:25PM
2,373 posts

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music


OFF TOPIC discussions

"People think I take some sort of masochistic pleasure out of putting out music that's gonna be unpopular."

- Billy Corgan

(lead singer Smashing Pumpkins)

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/23/17 09:38:21PM
2,373 posts

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music


OFF TOPIC discussions

Sometimes between songs at a gig, I'll say to the audience:  "We've had a request from the audience... but we're going to keep playing anyway."   Always gets a laugh.  tmi

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/21/17 12:14:45PM
2,373 posts

Oberflacht Lyre started


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Wow... Ken that 5th century style, spalted mango top lyre you made is just gorgeous.  Did you make that for someone, or for yourself?

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/20/17 11:23:55AM
2,373 posts

Oberflacht Lyre started


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Would love to eventually hear a clip of these lyres playing a simple tune or just hearing them being plucked, Ken.

Fun!

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/20/17 11:19:01AM
2,373 posts

Introducing Pretty Betty


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Betty is just gorgeous!    clapper     Dan made another winner.

Strumelia
@strumelia
10/19/17 03:22:51PM
2,373 posts

Oberflacht Lyre started


Adventures with 'other' instruments...


That's very cool, Ken!

My recently commissioned epinette in pearwood has kolrosing designs as well.  It's a wonderful way to decorate wood items and instruments.  My future Langspil will feature kolrosing as well.

How many strings are these two lyres going to have, Ken?


updated by @strumelia: 10/19/17 03:23:04PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
10/01/17 10:34:43AM
2,373 posts



Tillmanator, you are to be admired for all your musical energy and enthusiasm for teaching! And thank you for supporting FOTMD.  HUG
Folks, Tillmanator has just purchased a new Banner Ad in our FOTMD ad slideshow on the site's main page, to promote her project of bringing several mountain dulcimers into her students' school music program. Half of the students at her school are underprivileged and have very limited opportunities to learn music.  To take a peek at her site describing the project, just click on her ad.

Strumelia
@strumelia
09/02/17 06:30:58PM
2,373 posts

How do I tune this Bass Dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

OK, so the VSL scale length is 28 1/2"... that actually the same I believe as a typical McSpadden dulcimer- that's not unusually long at all!   It's apparently the other dimensions that make it 'big'-  and the 6-string two inch wide fretboard is quite wide.  The 3 " deep body is very tall as well.  Seems like it'd have a big boomy hummel like sound with all thos strings and the big soundbox.

Strumelia
@strumelia
09/02/17 08:57:22AM
2,373 posts

How do I tune this Bass Dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


The long size of this dulcimer means you will have to calculate what gauge strings to put on it in order to get a particular tuning you are after.  You won't be able to simply tune it like a regular mountain dulcimer or a regular Galax dulcimer, without paying attention to string gauges (thicknesses).

George gave the overall length of 44", but you really need to tell us the scale length in inches: from nut to bridge.


updated by @strumelia: 09/02/17 08:58:15AM
Strumelia
@strumelia
08/26/17 11:23:53PM
2,373 posts

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Gail... thinking of you today.  What you did was so full of love and strength.

I'm afraid the closest I came to the porch thing was that I spent several hours painting our new porch doors with several coats of blue paint before they are to be hung.  Had to work against the clock today, with more to paint on them tomorrow... the paint (primer plus two coats) has to all be totally dry by Monday morning early when the guy comes to put the doors on.

  33