Heck Lana, I live in a 26 ft sailboat. I don't have the dogs but I do have 7 dulcimers, a Carolingian Lyre, four or five board psalteries, a couple penny whistles, and three crossbows, over and above the usual sort of things. You've got LOTS of room for more instruments!
Forum Activity for @ken-hulme
I live in the Hurricane zone. My retirement home/boat contain what little I own - some clothes, a few tools and books, and my dulcimers. It is, in somevery real sense, a survival kit/lifeboat. Do I
- get the boat down river, out to sea, try to guess which way the storm will zig, and then zag the other way to avoid it?
- get the boat as far upriver and inland, as far as I can, tie up in the mangroves batten down the hatches, ride the storm out there, and pray?
- tie the boat up extra good to the dock where I am, head to Lady Sally's shuttered home, ride the storm out there, and pray?
- Grab Sally, the pets, dulcimers and whatever else we can cram in her CRV and head inland and north to ride out the storm?
John Henry..thought I'd share
OFF TOPIC discussions
's about time ye got better, John!! A' the best!
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
...because hearts are traditional???
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Kerry' not building anymore??? Dang! She made some fabulous dulcimers.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
David - what you're calling a 'jam dulcimer" is actually called a Courting Dulcimer, and the intent is/was that two people could play at the same time.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Another nice job, Sam. Now when are you gonna try scroll heads for even more class??
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Nice job Sam!
Is it an optical delusion, or is the top bout (nearest the tuners) wider than the bottom bout?
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
No pictures, but I too vote for the Bag lady Double bag. Not exactly cheap; but has been my carry-all half way 'round the world for at least 10 years, ans still going strong!
"John the Balladeer" Stories
OFF TOPIC discussions
I've been a fan of Manly Wade Wellman and John the Balladeer for many, many years. In fact I just the other day finished re-reading a collection of his short stories from the Fort Myers public library.Arizona Folksinger/guitarist Joe Betancourt recorded and published a number of years ago a Cassette/ now CD of John the Balladeer songs
Sam;Don't sit with the dulcimer square across your lap. If you're right handed, sit slightly sideways, with your left hip and leg forward. Knees wide spread. Put the 1st fret over your left knee, and tuck the tail of the dulcimer towards your right hip. I use the non-pickholding fingers of my right hand to repeatedly pull the dulcimer back into my right hip as I strum.
Although I've played noter & drone for over 35 years, the easiest method, IMHO is to start picking out songs using just your index finger to pick out songs. Then over time advance to using multiple fingers on the melody string(s) - called Melody Drone or Fingerdancing style. This does require developing a callus on your index and/or other fingers, though.Once you get proficient with your index finger, you can try substituting a noter for that finger. You can read the article I wrote on EverythingDulcimer called Get Noterized by Ken Hulme. Lisa also has a couple of good YouTube vids...
FUNNY songs you sing & play on your dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Cholesterol - from SweetwaterThe Portree Kid - from the Corries (to the tune of Ghost Riders in the Sky)
Dulcimer Strings
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I've not found the phosphor Bronze to be any different in my playing than any other strings. I usually go to www.juststrings.com and order a dozen sets of inexpensive strings at a time. I tune primarily DAA and prefer 12s for the melody string(s) , 14 for the middle drone, and 22wound or 24wound for the base.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Welcome to the ranks of the retired, Ken. File for your Social Insecurity on line and start collecting your dues! I get my first check in a couple weeks.
There is no standard for position dots on dulcimers. But there are good reasons to put dots in certain places:Frets 3 and 10 - mark the start and end of the DAA octaveFret 4 marks where you fret the bass string to tune the As for DAAFret 7 marks end and start of the DAd octave.Since most builders these days only install 14 frets, you don't really need to mark the end of the second DAd octave.I don't know why you would mark the 5th fret. It's not the start/end of a Mode scale or a tuning mark that I can think of.
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/14/16 07:40:57PM
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Two more possibles just for fun DdAA and DdAd
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
If there is no 6+ fret, I would tune DAA and play melody-drone or noter & drone style.
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Robin - nice photo of the aqueduct! I've crossed on a few; but none so large as that! I'd bring my own canoe - as carry-on baggage. I have a 14 ft, 30# folding canoe that fits in carry-on sized nylon bag complete with paddle. Winters would get a bit chill camped on the tow-path though....
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
And we're certainly glad you bought that Session dulcimer, Robin! You've been a great contribution to the dulcimer scene.Now if you could just fins me a cheap narrowboat to retire to on the Llangollen canal, I could join some of your sessions!
A Mixolydian "Yankee Doodle"
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
If the purpose is to play an Ionian tune in Mixolydian tuning on a dulcimer without a 6+ fret, I think the experiment has shown that substituting a flatted note just doesn't work...
A Mixolydian "Yankee Doodle"
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Both versions are 'way too fast, IMHO, so the mood is "rushed". The Mixo version just sounds like someone keeps playing the wrong note making the tune sound flat. I get no real sense of a Celtic or primitive or backwoods feel from either version.
Among the traditional heart shapes, I like the Weeping Heart,which has a sort of tail out of the point, leading to a drop.If you're going to personalize, I would pick something that has meaning for you - say your favorite tree, or if you like a kind of bird or other animal. Leaf silhouettes make nice sound holes, as do many animals like dogs, cats, bears ad birds. I once made a dulcimer for a lady was a real space nut, and the sound hole was in the shape of the Space Shuttle!
I don't use straps. I've made a couple single dulcimer stands for folks. A few capos. Music Holders that clamp onto your dulcimer. And a ton of noters...
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/17/16 01:43:18AM
Hi Katie;David Schnaufer was a great dulcimer musician, but not a god. I've been playing for over 30 years; and when I saw his "learn to play" video, I was lost after the first ten minutes. IMHO David was not a particularly good teacher, and that is one of the poorest teaching videos I've ever seen. I will now don my flame-proof armor and stoically await the wrath of the Schnauferites.
More people play the dulcimer flat than tilted at an angle. Especially beginners. Forget the holding it at an angle nonsense until you learn to play flat.Second. You cannot sit lady-like with your knees primly together. Sit with your feet flat on the floor (or use a riser if you have short lower legs. Sit "hip-shot" with your left leg leading. Open your legs and place the first fret over your left kneecap. Pull the body of the dulcimer back towards your left hip. Don't try to place the dulcimer at right angles across your body.As far as which fingers (or thumbs) get used for what -- again, the mantra "there is no right way or wrong way to play the dulcimer. There is just your way" comes to mind. Whatever works for you is what you should do.Personally I'd like to see you learn to play a couple songs using one or more finger just on the melody string(s) - without trying to learn chords right from the outset.Frankly I really dislike seeing beginners who think "I have to learn to play exactly like Robert Force, or David Schnaufer, or Stephen Seifert.... or any other dulcimer player out there!
Welcome!Our own Lisa has some beginner technique vids on YouTube. There are other YouTube vids by Stephen Seifert that are very good as well.Where are you in the UK? We have several "across the Pond-ers" who hand out here
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/14/16 12:46:25PM
800!?!!
OFF TOPIC discussions
DT - My "faux Haggis" is pretty darn tasty. Haggis is basically a sausage or stuffing made from minced organ meats, oatmeal and onion that are cooked in a sheep's stomach. It's more or less illegal to buy/sell sheep stomach in American where the FDA rules.The faux version I make is basically a poached meatloaf. I combine say 2 lbs of ground lamb, or mix of lamb/veal with a large diced onion, and a cup of uncooked steel cut oatmeal. Season with white pepper and a pinch of nutmeg, and add an egg for binding. I form that into a log about 3-4" in diameter and 8 or 9" long, and roll it up in a piece of cheesecloth like a giant sausage. Put the log in a metal bread loaf pan on your stove top, and add a cup or more of chicken broth to come half way up the side. Bring to a boil and simmer about an hour until you get an internal temp of 150F. Turn off the heat and let it least at least 10 minutes before unwrapping and slicing.
800!?!!
OFF TOPIC discussions
Yeah Mennonite tamales would be like the rest of their food - filling but bland! Actually in Alabama/Mississippi, the tamale was introduced over 70 years ago by migrant works and adopted into the local comfort food canon. Not quite Mexican, but very good.DT - you've never had Santa Ynez Gopher & Goat Haggis???
800!?!!
OFF TOPIC discussions
The Latin Market here, on Saturdays only, serves shredded chicken enchiladas with mole poblano, topped with some shredded lettuce. $8 for a heaping plate full of home made goodness.