Forum Activity for @gayle-maurer

Do you play by ear or by sight?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Wow! Those are great answers so far. I am going to try playing by ear more. I didn't know that was something you could learn (thinking you either had it or you didn't), so will give it a try! I have always felt tied to my sheet music.

As for tab, I am just learning tab. I have only recently noticed more tab for guitar and it's helping as I learn more Travis Picking patterns. I like it, but only if it's below the standard music. I don't see how you can figure out the timing from just tab - unless you know the song ahead of time. When I originally took guitar lessons, it was then called Spanish guitar and similar to what they call Carter Style or flat-picking these days. You pick the melody and fill in with strummed chords. Later, I took lessons from a teacher who taught chord accompaniment with a bit of Travis Picking. Anyway, I've only noticed tabs recently when I wanted to learn more Travis Picking patterns and found a book (with CD again) and it had the tabs. Helpful in their place.

I can see where tabs would be more helpful for people who don't know SMN at all. If it gets people playing, then it's wonderful.

Do you play by ear or by sight?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The last discussion I started (and enjoyed everyone's answers) was about if you memorize your music. That brought up the subject I was wondering about as well. When you learn a song do you listen to it several times and then pick it out on the dulcimer, or do you need the music either in tab or traditional music notation in front of you?

I need the music in front of me. But I also need to hear it as well. In a way, I am kind of in between. When I was taking piano lessons the last time (I was around 12 or 13) I found it very frustrating because my teacher had cataracts. She had to hold the music with her left hand close to her face and then only play with her right hand. I couldn't hear what the piece was supposed to sound like with both hands. That was my excuse for eventually quitting the lessons. Even now with learning the dulcimer, I don't have an actual teacher, but I found teaching materials that came with a CD so I can hear the music before I try to play it myself. I do read music, so I could plunk it out eventually by reading it, but hearing it speeds up the process tremendously.

How about you? What is your method of learning?

updated by @gayle-maurer: 02/25/19 10:36:32AM

He, she or it?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Oh dear! I never gave it a thought and (possibly incorrectly) have been referring to my dulcimer as "it". I haven't thought of it as either male or female and I haven't named it. Of course, I never even named my dolls - unless they came with a name. This was pointed out to me when a friend told me she even named her blankets when she was a kid (hm, maybe she still does?!?). Well, I hope I haven't traumatized the poor thing. I have decided, since mine is hour glass shaped, it will be a she. I hereby name her Hannah after my great-great-grandmother. I would dearly love a pear shaped one which will be a he (name to be decided later). Maybe there will be some of those itty-bitty dulcimers someday. I am so glad you people set me straight!

Oh, by the way, Sam..... No offense, but Hannah is off limits!

Do you memorize your music?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I think when you're playing in a band, you have to learn so many songs. By repeating them over and over, they probably really get embeded in your mind after awhile. It does get harder, though, as you get a little older, and medications and head injuries probably don't help matters either. If you're not in a band anymore, I wouldn't worry about it. If you play for your own enjoyment, do it by whatever means you can and just enjoy making music.

I do envy those of you who have 50-75 songs memorized!

Do you memorize your music?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

So far, when I play the dulcimer, I am remembering the numbers or at least that the first note of a sequence starts with 6 then back to a sequence that starts with 2. Of course I know I am wrong if it doesn't sound right - so it must be a combination of sound and numbers.

I never played tab with the guitar. It was all just traditional music notation - basically flat-picking or sometimes they call it Carter Style. So playing with tabs is new to me.

I really do have those numbers going through my head as I'm playing. I know I'm not thinking what note I'm playing (a,b, c etc.) because that is all relative to the tuning and changes with each mode.

That's probably the difference between people who play strictly by ear and those of us who have to have a roadmap. Hm! Kind of a topic for another discussion.

Do you memorize your music?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, remembering a tune long enough to record it is different than long term remembering it.I was happy when I remembered "Golden Slippers" long enough to record it. Even now I would want to go back and review it before performing it for someone.

I can't even imagine how much time and work Hillary Hahn put in to perfect the violin concerto. That was wonderful, by the way! People with that much talent simply amaze me.

It is liberating, though, when you don't have to rely on the sheet music in front of you. That's probably why so many performers never play the same tune exactly the same way twice. Once you know it well enough, you can tweek it here and there according to your current whim or mood.

Do you memorize your music?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

For some reason I am finding it easier to memorize dulcimer music than I ever did guitar music. Maybe it's because I'm down to three strings (I even took the double string off for now) and don't have all the sharps and flats a chromatic keyboard has. In any event, I am enjoying memorizing it because then I can concentrate on getting the notes to sound correct when I'm not constantly referring to my sheet music. Just wonder what others think and if it helps them to play better - or not.

updated by @gayle-maurer: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just ordered two sets of dulcimer strings from juststrings.com. Now I will have no excuse not to change them if I think a string is starting to sound a little thuddy. Now on to my guitar...

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just checked out www.juststrings.com . Great prices! Now I'm confused. There are several brands there but Martin is the only name I recognize. Any recommendations? My dulcimer uses loop end strings .Right now as I am learning, I am tuned DAA, but will want to go lower, eventually, to go with my alto voice.

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the string website. I'll give it a look and will probably buy a couple sets. I guess I just never realized the sound quality of older strings went down that much even if they look fine. Rest assured I will take this advice and change the strings. Thanks!

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

This is very impressive!

Also, I looked up the book online. I like the fact that there are sound files along with it so I can hear what they are talking about (always makes things make more sense). I also like their songbook. It even gives permission to pretty much do anything you like with the songs - performance or copying.

Thanks!

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I borrowed my copy from the local library, but I am enjoying it so much that I might get a copy. It explains a lot of things very clearly.

Another thing they say is to change your strings. I still have the original strings on my dulcimer, but the bass string seems a little thuddy. One of the strings on my guitar is that way. I am so frugal, I hate to throw out what I think is a perfectly good string, but maybe they're right about that too.

Do dulcimers actually sound better if they are played a lot?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I was just reading in the book "In Search of the Wild Dulcimer" by Robert Force & Albert d'OSSCHE where they say "... there is one definite thing to say about wood: the more you play it, the better it sounds. For this reason older instruments are often more valuable and sought-after than newer ones. When an instrument is played, the constant vibration within the sound chamber alters the physical structure of the wood cells - some shrink and change shape, some elongate - and the sound of the instrument slowly becomes richer."

Have any of you experienced this to be true? Or is it just that the player himself gets better with time and so he thinks it sounds better? Just curious.

updated by @gayle-maurer: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That is amazing! Loved it. It is such a unique sound. Thanks for posting.

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

How cool is that? Thanks for the link. I enjoyed that and will pass it on to other people who are not necessarily into dulcimers. They will get a kick out of it.

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That I'd like to hear. I didn't realize there were fretless dulcimers. Well the violin is fretless so it would be like that. I don't think I'd be very good at that. Sorry it took me a few days to answer. We were out of town in a place with no cell service and the motel had internet but the elderly ladies running it didn't know the password. I was in techno withdrawal. I love it there, but I love modern technology!

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Such interesting responses! This is like a whole new world to me - dulcimer playing - that I never knew existed. Just goes to show that at any age, you can still learn stuff. I listened to the audio clips, Geekling, and that sound is incredible. Don't worry if you don't like making videos, sound clips are fine. I personally get more nervous if I play in front of people. I can sing in a group, but when I have to do a solo, my mouth gets all dry and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. Exceptionally hard to sing that way. lol. On my videos, you don't see the bad versions before I finally do it reasonably well! Anyway, I am finding all this fascinating. Mountain dulcimer players are very inventive.

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I would love to hear the electric noter/bow! Please post a video. That should be really interesting sounding!

Are some dulcimers made just for bowing? I'm thinking a violin's strings aren't in line with each other, but the center strings are higher so the bow can reach them. Aren't some dulcimers made that way too? I don't know if I am explaining it correctly. I'm thinking a regular dulcimer would have to be bowed drone style or you could just reach the outer strings.

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll take a look (and listen). Thanks! I never realized when I looked into dulcimer playing what different styles there are out there. The first I heard was the noter and drone style. I fell in love with that and it looked relatively easy (I find it's not quite so easy, but not impossible to learn). That's why I just had to have one. Now that I look into it more, I find there's chord playing and fingerpicking. There's even people who play it with a bow. Quite an instrument.

Electric Dulcimer Players Out There?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

One of my groups on facebook has a video of someone playing the electric dulcimer. It had a very lovely sound, but was so many miles away from what I originally thought of as a dulcimer sound. I guess it shows that there are many ways to play the dulcimer and at least one way should appeal to everyone. Does anyone here play an electric version?

updated by @gayle-maurer: 06/11/15 07:32:02AM

Great Song Title "We Just Ain't Right!"

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you so much!

Dana R. McCall said:

We Just Aint Right D(2 on melody)G(3 mel 1 on mid) A(4 mel 1 bass

Well we sit and strum all day long

D D D D D D D D

Making videos and singing songs

G G GGG G G G G

Then the bee boopin starts

G G A A A A

And we chat all night

A A A A A

But some people say

A A A A A

We just aint right!

A A 3 2

We just aint right , thats what they all say

D D D D D D D D D

But we dont care, cause we like us this way

D G G G G G G G G G

So join the Bee boopers, were outa sight

G A A A A A A A A A

But some folks say We just aint right

A A A A A A 3 2

Were always happy and havin fun

D D D D D D D D D

So jump right in, so you can have some

D G G G G G G G G

Your toes will be tappin

A A A A A A

All through the night

A A A A

Then they will be sayin

A A A A A A

You just aint right!

A A 3 2

We Just aint right , thats what they all say

D D D D D D D D D

But we dont care, cause we like us this way

D G G G G G G G G G

So join the Bee boopers, were outa sight

G A A A A A A A A A

But some folks say We just aint right

A A A A A A 3 2

Great Song Title "We Just Ain't Right!"

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

We are all on pins and needles to hear what it sounds like.

Great Song Title "We Just Ain't Right!"

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Love it!

Great Song Title "We Just Ain't Right!"

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Someone really needs to write a song for this group titled "We Just Ain't Right!" I have been hearing that a lot. Any takers?Or did someone already write one?

updated by @gayle-maurer: 02/05/16 09:51:25PM

Recorder

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

So sorry I hadn't followed up on these comments. Was busy with other projects so kind of let my mountain dulcimer and recorders sit in the corner. But, I am back (would really love to retire!). I need to practice like crazy in the next couple of days. I will be seeing my brother and his wife - both avid recorder players. When we get together, we play three part harmony. So much fun! Earlier this year I was practicing more on my tenor recorder so I can play that part now.

Recorder

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I just watched the first lesson on the tin whistle. I will get mine out and try it. Ryan Dun looks like he teaches in an interesting, straight-forward way. Should be fun (plus it's free on YouTube - free is good). Thanks!

Recorder

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Does anyone else play the recorder? I play the soprano and am learning the tenor. I have an alto but it uses different fingering (actually the same fingering but plays something like two and a half notes up - or is that down?) so haven't actually learned to play that one. The tenor has the same fingering as the soprano but uses more breath and the lowest C note is trickier to play. It has a nice mellow tone - which I love. I think they go well with dulcimer music so plan on doing some computer fenagling to play them together. That's what I get for not having friends nearby who play instruments!

Also I have a tin whistle, but haven't found a good self-teaching method. I bought one book with CD but it started out with these Irish jigs with 16 notes per measure. Not a beginner book at all and the CD was just the author showing off how they could sound. Great music, but I doubt if I'll ever get that proficient.

updated by @gayle-maurer: 02/26/19 05:48:03PM

Are Dulcimer Players Nicer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, everyone is making sense - except maybe the "Hogfiddle" part. Ha ha! I'll have to remember that! OK As soon as I can play anything well enough, I will make a video and post it. I am working through the "You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer" book. I have the CD and DVD. She plays so gracefully with her fingers dancing up and down the frets. Mine don't quite dance yet - just kind of fumble along...

Are Dulcimer Players Nicer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

What a lot of good responses! I think the other group I mentioned just needs to lighten up. There's probably a lot of people, like me, who play for the fun of it but are afraid to post anything because they're not polished enough. Also, the mountain dulcimer has always been kind of a social instrument, hasn't it? Get the fiddle, banjo, guitar together (maybe the spoons or whatever else anyone plays) with the dulcimer and just have fun.

Are Dulcimer Players Nicer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I recently joined Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer but have made some friends here already. Everyone is so nice, friendly and helpful.

I also play another instrument and decided to join a group set up similar to this one. I was greeted with one welcome (I believe from the moderator), but none of the other members have said anything to me yet. I have looked at some of their videos and everyone seems very professional. Some were wearing tuxedos. I didn't see any videos from beginners or people just playing for the fun of it.

Needless to say, I probably won't be putting any videos on there of my playing. I would never think I was good enough.

So what is it about mountain dulcimer players that makes you so friendly - even to a beginner like me?

updated by @gayle-maurer: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Thanks! I watched that YouTube video. I'd forgotten that John Boy ever sang in any episodes. I especially didn't know that he played the mountain dulcimer. Such a sweet song!