Oh Dusty Turtle, thank you for saying that! My husky/malamute obviously dislikes my dulcimer playing. I'm not sure if it's because he can't get my attention then or if it hurts his ears. To make matters even worse, he seems to really enjoy my husband's banjo playing!
Somewhere in my Getting Reacquainted prowling yesterday I found the comment (by Dusty Turtle?) that could be the maxim for this site and all our musical questions: The dulcimer takes 5 minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.
As for "Mixolydian tune book songs are not Mixolydian modal songs. They are Ionian Mode songs being played in Mixolydian DAd using the 6+ fret" , that's because I guess we could take another saying and turn it into a call for da da da dum: Music Theory! Accidentals happen.
Just did a print out of the chart, to keep with my music. Think I'll do a download on my tablet, too.
Thanks, Ken! That's so quick! I am on my tablet now, but am eager to print it out when back on my desktop. Similarly I have found YouTube recommendations about strumming I am looking forward to trying. It's good to be back here.
CGG seems to fit my voice better, although I am definitely not wedded to it. I have found so many books in Mixolydian that I have found myself playing it more and more. I would really like to find chords in Ionian.
Care to share, Jim? I am not worried about transposing. As long as I allow for the 6 1/2 fret that is not a problem.
O.k. I missed a step initially just posting something on my page. Have just tried the Events, Single Instructor page with the plus sign. Sorry for the multiple attempts, but at least none of them generated the dreaded "You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action!"
I had gone to a dulcimer gathering, but not to play dulcimer. I wanted to play along on my acoustic bass guitar. It was good practice and I also got to hear again a local group I enjoy, Picks 'n' Sticks. The day started with an offer to let people borrow a dulcimer, probably the cardboard body ones, for a year. I said to myself, since I already have way to many instruments, no way.
Never say never. Later that year I was out with my daughter visiting flea markets and antique shops in her area and found what I call "the Orphan." A smallish locally made dulcimer abandoned in a flea market. Decided to try it and, yes, just as I feared earlier, became hooked!
Leo and Ken, Thank you for posting this. I can't begin to say how much this has confused me and kept me away. Why do we get the "You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action" message. There must be a purpose, but I, too, am definitely missing it.
Way back when I mentioned it to Strumelia, I was supposed to send in all kinds of documentation. Just didn't have the time back then & just skipped FOTMD instead. If this message hadn't shown up in my Inbox, I'd still be away.
At the end of last week I broke my wrist -- the right, dominant, strumming hand. Can tell that, once the pain eases up, the switch to thumb picks will let me play. Turns out to be a good idea for more than just the original reason
Tried 2 of Tom's picks. The skinny little grey one is perfect. Can strum back and forth and it also helps for a bit more volume. Sorry I don't know who makes it.
My husband's banjo picks might be worth a try. It would be an adjustment as I've been using the nails of my fingers (I, M, R). Quick Dumb Question, Ken, how does Liquid Skin do if you apply it repeatedly? It would be if I continued using those finger nails.
A pick tends to create arthritic pain, so I've been using my hand for strumming. I try to use just my fingernails, but often get the skin on my first knuckles. Is there something to protect my skin besides improving my aim?
Yes, the idea of CATS transporting dulcimers is a great laugh, but one dog can do the work of a dozen cats. There are cloth bags that fit on either side of a dog. Of course my dog (a husky/malamute mix) would just run away with the instruments quicker than I could shout MUSH! Maybe somebody with a more obedient dog inclined towards being a service dog?
Hi Jan,
Held off during the transition time to our new site. Have two carts to show and describe. The first doesn't show instruments, but it's a walker (complete with hand brake) & uses a large gym bag. The earlier version and slightly smaller one
O'Mara's, thank you for mentioning fake books. I'm not a big fan of bluegrass, but saw your comment in the daily list & a light bulb went on over my brain just like in a cartoon! My 1st instrument was the piano & I really need SMN there. Never could manage a fake book. As a result I ruled them out for me for any instrument.
Thanks for widening my thinking. (Can't get tablet to stop underlining, but that's o.k. as this is such an expanding idea.)
My former music teacher worked with me on this, even trying to get me to learn the notes like you might learn multiplication tables for the different keys. Didn't ever get to the point where I can do it automatically. I can figure it out (& am grateful for piano training to make the 1/2 step, whole step dance make sense), but want a good resource to check.
This is especially since the dulcimer's ability to re-tune, & thereby change where the notes are, tends to throw me at times. Yes, I did a bit of Drop D tuning on the guitar, but if I try to think in SMN it takes me a bit to wrap my head about it. My teacher didn't seem to understand this, but to me it was as if the piano suddenly had the keys move, change colors, & generally become altogether different.
What can I say? We all have our mental blocks & weaknesses. I say I'm Numerically Impaired. This is just another way it shows up.
This may also be why tab issomething so many cling to. Personally I find the dulcimer comes the closest to letting me learn a song & not be unable to play without the music. I may have said that in a backward way because I love having the security of the music there, but I can look away a bit more comfortably.
Quick Dumb Question almost erupted. Was going to ask if there's a reason to get the so-called Encyclopedia, too. For now I'll skip the QDQ worry and get Neal Hellman's book. It + the SMN should do all I need at this stage in my development.
Hope the next wanderer on this path of learning finds our discussion useful. Thank you, Wout, Dan, and Ken.
Ken,
Like you, I tend to play pieces with SMN and chords often are listed. Figure the melody note is needed as I need all its help in singing, so that meant figuring out the other 2 notes. Compared to guitar, I'm finding when I want to switch from melody/drone to a bit of actual chord, it's a simpler, but less automatic process than guitar. Yes, a guitar is flexible, too, but most of the time I don't bother with unusual tunings or chords on guitar.
Thanks, Dan, yes, I read that on the Mel Bay site. My question on that particular book is what keys does it cover? Oh the joys of long-distance book shopping!
Definitely not my preferred way, but maybe this discussion will also help others when similarly seeking.
Yes, Wout, that lack of fixed tuning keeps cropping up as both a blessing and a curse. Still most of us use Ionian, Mixolidian, or Aeolian, so 7 major keys & minor keys are probably the most used. Yes, people could also do things like A flat, G sharp, etc., but the 14 main keys would seem basic.
Dan, what keys does your book cover? Mel Bayis a standard music publisher, but looking through their listings a while ago and now once again, I find myself with questions. It's the sort of thing handled so easily by browsing, but frustrating long distance. What keys does the Hellman book cover? The "Encyclopedia" omits Aeolian! If I eliminate the books only in the key of D, Mel Bay seems to come down to those 2 books in print or e-version.
Any other options beyond those 2? Even if it's an out-of-print book, there may be ways to find it without needing to create something that should be a standard reference.
Walkedinto a music store yesterday -- always a dangerous thing! -- and saw guitar chord books. There have been various links and, I believe, even books for dulcimer chords in the key of D. Is there anything for other keys?
If Ican give a title, they can order it. Yes, I can do transposing, or work it up through SMN, but think it shouldn't be necessary to do all of that if someone has already done the work.
It's true, my swan dulcimer has no 1/2 fret, but I've always loved it's tone and it handled GDD beautifully. Good to know it handles looser tuning. Dulcimers have their personalities, strengths, and shortcomings.
Just had an experience related to the discussion on tunings. Have been mainly using CGG because it's closer to my alto voice than DAA. I can hit higher notes, but it often feels too high or sounds strange to me. I'm working on For the Beauty of the Earth, but wasn't happy with my singing. Today I was happily singing it while on the trail with my dog. That's when it dawned on me . . . tune the melody strings to that! How obvious.
Wound up with it as D for that melody string and GDD in Ionian. The dulcimer I was using sounds slightly loose, so I'm going to see if my other dulcimer can take that tuning a bit better.
The key of G shouldn't have surprised me. I can sing to that on my concertina. It's just the obvious idea of tuning to my voice that caught me so off guard.
Dulci-more by Bill Schilling sounds like a book you'd like. It's mainly DAA, loaded with folk and traditional songs in the Public Domain and that includes many hymns and a back section of Christmas music. 250 songs in the first section and then 45 in the Christmas section. I don't see a traditional ISBN so I'm not sure if I bought it from Elderly or had a local music store order it. The book seems to be self-produced by the author who gives this contact info: 984 Homewood Ave., Salem, OH 44460-3816; 330-332-4420 & there are 2 sets of websites and emails bill@billschilling.org with
http://www.billschilling.org and bill@dulcimore.org with http://www.dulcimore.org .
Haven't been able to catch all of this by any means after seeing the discussion late, but just have to get in my 3 cents worth (inflation should up it to worth at least that much).
Storytelling is also mainly a folk art, just as most dulcimer players are "folk-y." I remember someone once saying something like "How should I say this? You should look sort of like a hippie gone to seed." Well I don't think we want to look "seedy", but we should have a look that says we're folk artists. Sitting with a dulcimer also probably says either a long skirt or pants. Jeans would probably not be something I'd ever feel respected a performance for anything other than a meeting with fellow performers, but I'd not rule out a jeans skirt.
Because for years I had a 12-letter last name that hardly anybody could pronounce, I took up using LoiS as my logo and play games with it when signing emails, such as LoiS(pringtime can't come soon enough!). In fact a storytelling friend once introduced me to other storytellers who see me on storytelling sites as "LoiS with the big S" to which I looked over my shoulder at my backside and said in a proper mock offended tone, "I beg your pardon!" (My husband swears I married him for his short last name.) All of this to show how I consider a t-shirt or turtleneck with my logo a form of "shameless self-promotion."
It's not appropriate for all of my programs, especially the historical reenactments. I'm looking forward to using my dulcimer as an example of ways one-room schoolteachers could bring music to their classes. For that program I have long turn-of-the-previous-century outfits.
I'm not all that well-endowed in the chest and doubt my approach to performing would lead many to wonder, "when is the bingo game gonna start?", but the main thing is it needs to help my program, not hinder it.
Oh, Phil, I do understand the heartbreak of going through those things that hold memories! That was one of the reasons I said you need to be in as good condition personally as possible. It will never be the same, but I'm so happy for you having the housing as a place to retreat and get ready for your new life. May many of those items surprise you by still being worth saving.
As a personal example, this bibliomaniac lost tons of books, but just yesterday came across a book on vintage clothing I thought was lost. No, it's definitely water damaged, but was saved from being unusable. Don't mind a bit the condition since I can still use it to figure out what I need to know.
I'm sure you'll have damaged items that you will choose to keep...especially since this means both smoke damage, heat, and probably many things have water damage in stopping the fire. I am sure from what you say here that it will just affirm how strong this very difficult time shows you can be. Nobody would wish for it, but you will come through it.
Phil,
Having been away from FOTMD for most of January, I'm just catching your news updates. BOO! to Wal-Mart and the comments from a former employee here saying it's typical of a company that tries to claim it cares about its local community. Yeahrightsure. I now feel better about the Red Cross, however, as I was led to expect much worse. Oh I hope and pray your house sale goes well for you. May the rental be working well. Did you have more to say about your instruments? Sure hope you have health insurance at least and that you are taking care to get better. This is a time that could make anyone overwhelmed -- as I said earlier from my own house flood experiences -- so you need to do whatever it takes because this is enough to make a healthy horse sick. (Not that I'm calling you that!) Is there any hope of ever getting your dogs back? That alone would be the equivalent of a death in the family situation for me.
This storyteller says you've got the makings for a That's Bad/That's Good story where the luck alternates until a whole bunch of it finally is the same and brings it to a conclusion. May your conclusion be "And I strummed happily ever after!"
Oh, Phil, what a horrible start to 2014! You don't mention insurance covering anything. I hope some of that is possible, even though I know first-hand that can be a long miserable process.
Back in 2010 we came home from a music festival to a house flooded by a broken plumbing part. ServPro was great getting us to as close to normal as possible in the early stages. I knew at the time our flood was nowhere near as bad as a fire would have been, because then you have both smoke and water on anything left. We also, unlike you, were able to stay in our home, even though it was under reconstruction. The whole thing happened the day I was starting a very demanding play plus continuing my storytelling business. Our flood was bad enough even though your situation definitely is worse. As a result, back then I went to my storytelling community for advise on coping with disasters. It led to a multi-part series on my blog. Go to Storytelling + Research series on disaster -- the blog format puts everything in reverse order unfortunately and the first thing you'll see is a much later article on libraries coping with "Superstorm Sandy." To make sense of it, go to the bottom of the series and work your way backwards through it. By the way, a year later I was resolving to finish the paperwork, but there just was some -- books and clothing -- that I finally skipped for a variety of reasons.
Life starts all over after disaster. If any of my thoughts in the wake of my own lesser disaster can help you, Phil, it will be worth my offering it and your taking whatever might work for you.
As others said, I'm so sorry for you and hope things start to improve even if it feels like too little.
Babs,
Have never heard of Strip the Willow, but the movement looks familiar. Loving bagpipes, I'd love to see our annual Highland Games start this. Here in the Detroit metro area we've the oldest U.S. Highland Games, but all dancing is left to the young lassies and occasional lads in competition. When I get to the next Contra dance I'll have to ask about Strip the Willow. Dare I presume it's the name of the tune?
Of course just saying "We do a lot of Strip the Willow here, though I'm not sure if it's contra-dancing but it is fun" could be subject to misinterpretation if folks just see "strip" and "fun."
Our folklore society joins with a contra group to produce an annual dance. Have gone to the past 2 years. This past year I was all set to join the contra group when health problems got in the way. It will come up again this February. I'll have the insanity of being in Sweet Charity in March, but hope this is the year I finally start being a contra dancer and not just a contra newbie visitor. Dance is definitely my favorite exercise and mainly it's been belly dancing in recent years, so this looks like a fun way to add more dance.
Loved this, Ellen! So funny but with a lot of truth, especially that part about speed of playing.
LoiS(low pieces a specialty...even if the rest of the world plays them faster)
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Years of piano left me figuring there were those who played by ear and those who couldn't. I even too one of those one night wonder courses on playing by ear, but had a heck of a time figuring out where to start. My other instruments never helped as I still needed SMN or at least tab even though I could transpose to different keys. Only dulcimer has helped me realize even I can pick out melodies and the rest of the accompaniment. Okay it's still fairly primitive and at a beginner level, but I'm looking at the BINGO or A HA moment from the opposite side and loving it.
Hi Garland,
I, too, love NA flute. Need to play them more, but love their improvisational style. I'm impressed at your jamming with it. Our flute circle tends to improv in related keys and on a rare time or 2 a guitar or other instrument may follow along, but that's as close to jamming as we've tried.
I have a bowed psaltery that I play now and then. I'm on the list Strumelia mentioned. It's much quieter than this list. I'm no lefty, but the psaltery's quite easy to play. Be sure it has notes marked. I had the choice of marked or unmarked and am happy I didn't go unmarked. The biggest problem is tuning. The more strings, the more to tune, but you do want full chromatic, which means getting all the sharps and flats. Initially I had a "skate key" tuner, but it's worth getting a tuner that is more sensitive. The kind that have a handle are much easier.
Go to the psaltery site and look around.
It's worth asking if the m.d. group plays in D. Most do, but not all. I like to sing with mine, so I play in CGG.
Hope that helps.
I realize there may be more than one Neville Price, but someone by that name lived in Shelby, Indiana. He was born in 1904 and died June 10, 1989. I did one of those online searches Ken mentioned because it was suggested that Price might be the maker of my Swan shaped dulcimer (mentioned in another thread here) because of the woodburning on it. Since I bought it in an area of Michigan near the IN border that seemed likely. Don't know if any of the Indiana group will respond, but I'm going to make a plea for one of them to post on their group my own information. Whether by Neville Price or another Hoosier, I think they're my next resource and you might want to see what develops there.
UPDATE!
I see that, while you are in GA, you joined the Indiana group, possibly because of this question. Would you post in their group my discussion, Swan Dulcimer - Anybody recognize it? and say whether it's from Neville Price or not, I'd greatly appreciate folks looking at the photos to see if they can tell me more. The signature woodburned on it and the logo are in the photos, but are a bit hard to read. Possibly it's familiar to others in IN. If I joined their group I'd not stay long as I'm barely up-to-date here with other groups.
Life beyond FOTMD has been busy. That's not to say I'm leaving my dulcimer playing. Have a new song I want to include in my One Room Schoolteacher program. The music is fairly straightforward, but the lyrics at the same time are challenging.
My classical music station this past week talked about a study showing that choir members had synchronized blood pressure when singing. It was comparable to the way yoga breathing could lower blood pressure. So sing with those dulcimers and your other instruments...especially the soothing songs.
Ah, Sharna, I've a song my husband & I are working on for Paint Creek Folklore Society's monthly Song Swap about Elderly. Unfortunately it's to the tune of two songs that are under copyright so we can't send them here .
Like you, I've told about my 1st dulcimer here already. Mine was what some call a Junker. I'll just say it was an Orphan. I was prowling an antique mall that was a bit of a flea market in the section where I saw it hanging off the end of some bookshelves. (Books are a magnet for this Bibliomaniac.) The poor baby was made locally here in Michigan, but I'll protect the name of the maker as it was of the thinnest plywood, probably to make it affordable. Whoever sold and bought it didn't know to take the strings off tension, so its body and fingerboard suffered. I thought the fingerboard looked straight, but my demanding teacher disagreed. He had my husband file down the Bridge and Nut (no, not me!) and do all he could to glue and clamp the body as tightly as possible. The body wants to pull apart, especially right under the Fingerboard, so I kept it in DAA for the least tension possible.
It's funny, but I took my acoustic bass guitar the spring before finding my Orphan to a day-long folk music gathering that turned out to be offered by area dulcimer folks, both hammered and mountain. At that time a year-long loan of a mountain dulcimer was offered and I foolishly didn't expect to want such a thing since I already have quite a menagerie of instruments. Never say never!
I don't regret adopting my Orphan. It convinced me this was a good instrument for me. Now if I just stay off the computer long enough, I'll improve on my new Folk Craft dulcimer bought where else? . . . Elderly!
Oh, Lord, lead me not into temptation for I can find it myself!!!
This reminds me of a very sad story from Mongolia called Suho and the White Horse.It's definitely not my favorite as a boy' loses his beloved horse. The horse's bones are used to make the horseheaded fiddle that is a Mongolian folk instrument.
Fortunately your story has a happy ending for your local fox.
