Forum Activity for @gail-webber

I like the 1 3/8 because I have small hands.  Might not matter for you - really not much difference.

My fretboards are 1 3/8.  They also make 1 1/2, so it depends on which you requested.  My Ron Ewing capo fits either one.  I know you are excited about getting yours.

Yes, Rick is great to work with.  I'll try to post some pictures of mine.  I have had trouble uploading photos here in the past. 

That's great!  I'm glad you had such a good experience.  Did you meet with Rick Gooden or Rick Huffman?  I'm sure you will love what they build for you.  The workmanship and sound are hard to beat in my opinion.. 

Barbara, I think you have made a good choice.  You will have to tell me about it once you decide!

As far as just 3 strings - I always remove one when I've had dulcimers with the double melody string.  I do a combination of strumming and cross picking and find it much easier without the double melody string.  I think people who play noter/drone style like the double strings more because of the sound.

Two of mine have the accutune feature - instead of just a movable bridge you have 3 different places to fine tune the strings on the bridge.  It's supposed to help fine tune the upper notes.  Honestly, I haven't really used the feature a lot.  Once I get the strings in tune they seem to be pretty accurate up the fretboard.  They do make custom instruments.  All 3 of mine are custom made with exactly what I wanted and they were very nice to work with.

I have been in a dulcimer orchestra since last fall.  Judy House, the music director of the Winston-Salem, NC club, has written a book of multiple part pieces, and we are also working on some pieces from Tull Glazener's 3 String choir.  We've played quite a variety of music and it's been a lot of fun.  Of course, with COVID-19 we can no longer meet in person, but we have Zoom practices instead. Hopefully we will be able to actually do some performances in the future!

Thank you for all of the recommendations!  

I know someone who may try to learn playing DAA noter style.  Does anyone have any recommendation on beginner books for this?  I may want to send her one as a gift.  Thanks.

Thank you Dan.

I found out that someone I know has an Edd Presnell dulcimer made back in 1969.  It's curly maple and looks like a walnut fret board.  I haven't seen it in person, but she sent some pics.  She has had it for years but never really played it - mostly used as decoration.  She may be willing to sell it to me.  My question is how much would be a reasonable price to offer for this dulcimer?  I know it's probably hard to say without seeing it, but it appears to be in good shape.  I just want to make a fair offer and would love to have this one if she agrees to sell it.  Thanks for any suggestions.

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I have a hard time posting pictures here.  The file size is too large and I have trouble changing it.  I'll try to record something soon and post it.

I received my newest dulcimer a week ago.  It was made by Rick Gooden at New Harmony Dulcimer Company in Indiana.  It has a beautiful walnut back and sides, swamp ash top, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and 26" VSL.  I'll have to say that if I had to run out of the house with just one, this would be it!  It sounds really great on fast fiddle tunes or slower pieces and the workmanship is wonderful.  

I use a pick that looks like the yellow one and really like it for playing some things.  It is a Herdim teardrop.  All I can find on line says it's the small size.  I am ordering some through Amazon to see if they are the same size as the ones I am using.  The Folkcraft dulcimer site also has them. 

Thank you so much everyone, and especially to Jan.  I was very surprised to find out I had won - wasn't even expecting to place in the top 5!  It was a nice weekend - even trying out camping again for the first time since I was around 14 years old.

I played at the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention last weekend.  I played my arrangement of Wayfaring Stranger and was very surprised to win 1st place!  I'm still in shock that I placed at all with so many good players.  I'm planning to play at the Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Va. in August.  I'm working on Clinch Mountain Backstep and may play that, or may work something out on my Galax dulcimer - haven't really decided.  This time of year is so much fun with a lot of local festivals!

I've had a McSpadden 28.5 and currently have 2 McSpadden 26s.  I have very small hands and find the 26 inch scale much easier to play.  I can't tell a lot of difference in the sound.  My 26" walnut with a redwood top has a very warm sound and the sustain seems to be fine.  I personally wouldn't have one over 27". 

I think the first thing is to have the tune in your head.  I usually do - because it's one I've heard and want to learn.  You can always go to YouTube and hear almost any tune you want.  Then, whether learning by tab or by ear, I start at the beginning learning bits at a time and building on them until I can play the whole thing through.  Once it's thoroughly implanted in this old brain, I normally don't need to look at the tab again.  That's just my method - hope it helps!

Wish I could be there, but can't be that far away from home this year due to husband's health problems.  Went last year and it was great!  Hope everyone has a good week there!

Thanks for sharing this nice article, Kevin.  I'm very happy with Prichard #18!

I never had the opportunity to meet Jerry, but one of my dulcimer playing friends met him and said he was a very nice guy.  I have their East Texas Jam CD and it sounds like they all had such a good time while making it.  I'm sure he will be missed by his family and those who knew him.

I'm not sure how many are familiar with the Wright family from Texas.  Jerry Wright passed away on March 12th.  He had been ill for a while.  He played music with his wife Margaret and sons Hollis and Lloyd.

This is sad news.  My sympathies to all his friends and family.

I play for a number of reasons.  I heard a dulcimer for the first time in the mountains of North Carolina years ago and I've loved the sound of them ever since.  I didn't really have much time to play until I retired 3 years ago.  My husband has some ongoing medical issues, so our retirement hasn't been what we expected.  I have found the dulcimer (plus playing some autoharp and fiddle) have kept my mind busy, brought me a lot of peace (well maybe not that darn fiddle), brought me together with others and allowed me to make some new friends.  I can't imagine my life without my music.

I have enjoyed all of the episodes.  I just watched the one with Holly Tannen.  As it turns out, she bought a McSpadden Ginger from me and that is the one she refers to and plays near the end.  I'm so glad it found such a nice home!

That is great news, Dana!  I am so happy for you.  I hope you have a great festival this weekend.  I would like to come, but am just not up to the trip after making the drive for KMW.  I know it will be great.

Jan, I'll have to check out Nina's Facebook page and look for the pictures.

I attended the Dulcimer Celebration week at John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC last week.  We had wonderful instructors for the week - Ann Lough, Nina Zanetti, Bonnie Carol and Rob Brereton.  It was great fun and I feel that I truly learned a lot.  We had instruction in the mornings and got together as a large group (both mountain and hammered dulcimers) in the afternoon and worked on some pieces with multiple parts.    We performed some of these on Friday morning.  We had jams in the evenings that were a lot of fun.  JCC is in such a beautiful mountain setting and the food is wonderful.  I hope I am able to attend this again next year!

Hmmm. Wonder if I should get some type of cart to haul my dulcimers, autoharp and fiddle around at KMW? Is that easier than checking them in and out, Jan?

Thanks Lexie. I was pondering buying the one that Cynthia bought - guess I pondered too long!

Robert, how much do you charge for one of these? I love the sound and it's a beautiful instrument.

Helen, does it fit various dulcimers?

Do you have a picture of one you have made?

Hey, that fan blade idea sounds good. I keep thinking about buying a McSpadden possum board, but look at the price ($70) and can't convince myself to pay that much for one.

Lexie, here's a link to the recording on Youtube of Ebeneezer - the first tune on the Russell CD. If this doesn't get you up and ready to dance, I don't know what will!

Lexie, one of my favorite dulcimer CDs is Galax Style Dulcimer done by Bonnie Russell and the Russell family. I don't know if you are familiar with this style, but I think it's a great CD - done many years ago when Bonnie was only 14 years old, I believe. There is no singing, but the music is great!

Dana, so glad to hear the good news and that you are feeling good! I hope you continue to improve and get to the point where the surgery can be done soon. Thinking of you.

Dana, I am so sorry for everything you are going through. Just know that we are all keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and wishing you the very best.

I have been using some of the shelf liner type material to hold my dulcimer in place. However, I just had strap buttons put on 2 of my dulcimers and use a strap under my legs instead of around the back. The strap I ordered was actually too big, so I took it to a shoe shop and they are adjusting it for me. I like this by far better than anything I've tried. My teacher suggested using the strap this way - if you have it tight enough under your legs, the dulcimer doesn't slide or wobble at all. Too bad it's taken me 2 years to figure this out!