Forum Activity for @ellen-rice

Y'all are super! Thanks for the words and actions of support. I did contact the email address given for Warren May to ask if there were any records for this instrument. A woman responded with a pretty brisk message about using a flashlight to read the insert on the inside of the instrument (which I had done already) -- so I don't think there's any special news that direction. 

I did take Strumelia's suggestion and played it this afternoon with the noter. It sounds fine -- but that's not my usual playing style and I can't see myself going there much (besides that wasn't the intent of the donor).  It was a good exercise. 

I think I'll take some more photos next. Inching forward . .. 

Thank you so very much for thinking on this! You are sharpening my thinking. My desire to "do right" should not extend into evaluating someone else's heart. And Ken is also insightful. I play "melody/chord" and I should give the instrument a try with a noter. 

It's a lovely instrument -- but it isn't served if it sits against my wall and isn't played. Will continue to think on how to move forward. 

I live on the west coast and do what I can to teach/share the mountain dulcimer. Recently I was contacted by someone clearing out an estate and they wanted to pass on a dulcimer "to a deserving student."  I said I would be glad to evaluate the instrument and felt I could get it into interested hands if it seemed playable. 

I was delighted to open the carrying case to find a very pristine Warren May mahogany dulcimer made in 1990. I struggled with tuning the instrument and finally replaced the middle and melody strings and applied some "peg" dope to the tuning pets. I tuned it to DAD and it was . . . okay. I wasn't thrilled with it. 

Some times insights do come in the night. I woke up about 3 a.m, thinking "This is a Kentucky dulcimer. It may need to be in DAA."

Today I re-tuned the dulcimer to DAA, and it's now a happy, lovely instrument. I'm amazed at the change. 

But now I'm kinda stuck. We play DAD in my area (some DAC) -- and, while the peg tuners are now much, much better, it's still taking some care to tune this dulcimer. I'm not thinking it is for a beginner in my "neck of the woods." 

I'm thinking the right way to honor the spirit of the donor is to sell this instrument and replace it with a good quality beginner's instrument (I like Ron Gibson's  -- and basic McSpaddens).  In this way I could get an instrument into the hands of someone in the area and help them launch into this musical world. 

But how do I price this Warren May dulcimer? Who might be the right sort of happy home for it? (peg tuners, no 6.5 fret). Words of advice would be appreciated. I'm out of my depth right now. 

 small warren may.jpeg - 126KB

Too funny. I started playing at the age of about 56 -- not knowing what a "fret" was -- and I quickly broke strings because I tried to tune the bass string to a "D" about 2 (or 3!) octaves above where it was supposed to be. I got a book from the library with dulcimer tunes. I didn't know what "Aeolian" or "Dorian" or "Ionian" tuning meant so I ignored those words. Wow did some of those songs sound weird. "Stupid book is full of errors" I said. Thank goodness for the great kindness and expertise of dulcimer players on line and in person because things did get better!

I think there's some confusion here. There is a big difference between an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar. But Ron Gibson isn't making an "electric" dulcimer. His are acoustic instruments (ie., there is a back, a top and a hollow middle). He offers the option of having a "pick up" added. This is simply a wire that is inside the box that goes to a funky metal piece in the butt end of the dulcimer so it is easy to plug into a sound system (which one wants to do when playing an open mic or at a church). He also sells a mini-speaker that is easy to use too for a very affordable price.  Mine has the "pick up" but about 95% of the time I am playing without a speaker. You can order a dulcimer from Ron without a pick up. Here's a youTube by Larry Conger on the topic that clarifies much more:

I adore my Ron Gibson dulcimer. I get compliments on it all the time (The blonde dulcimer on the right in the thumbnail photo). Mine is maple and walnut. It has a nice deep box and a lovely sound. 

Hi. I have been in your position -- wanting to diversify but being on a budget and not being in an area where there were lots of options. I would encourage you to find ways to "test drive" as many different makers as possible. There may be a conference or workshop that you can get to -- or check out the dulcimer club page and see if you can get to a club event (even if just once). What you will find is that there are many, many talented makers but some set ups will "fit" and others will be "lovely, but not for me".

Here's my path:  I bought my first dulcimer from a neighbor who made it in his wood shop. No 6.5 fret and big strings (he's a tough ole banjo player). I learned on it but it was not a delight to play. My next purchase was a Ron Gibson that I ordered based on a sound file that he posted. I was a nervous wreck spending that much money on something I hadn't handled. It was very, very stressful. The Angels were smiling on me and Ron's instrument is a splendid beauty that fits me well. Whew! (It arrived Christmas Eve! A grand holiday!). I can definitely recommend Ron Gibson.

I had opportunities to handle Blue Lion and think they are marvelous -- what a lovely make -- but then I saw an affordable McSpadden on the area Craigslist and grabbed it -- only to find it had ancient, slipping tuners. That is fixable but for more $$. And that's where poking around has led to a real blessing:  Ron Kunkle lives in Shelton, WA and makes dulcimers, Native flutes and other things. Although I don't own a "Kunkle" I think the workmanship is superb and Ron K helped me revive the slipping McSpadden. Through Ron Kunkle I've learned to "see" much more of what dulcimer construction is about. I think Ron Kunkle's instruments are just as fine as any I've handled -- but he's not well known outside our area.

Then there was the near disaster: I saw a dulcimer in the commission space of the local guitar store. Oh, what a beauty! I almost paid bucks on the spot. I asked to play the instrument. Ugh. A mess. The guitar store employees said they would throw in some new strings. Fortunately I chickened out and spoke to "our Ron " (Ron Kunkle) who speculated that perhaps a fret had risen (which can happen in our damp climate). I went back to the guitar store and sighted down the fret board. It was like the Himalayas with some things low, some high and some very high. I suspect that beautiful, beautiful instrument was stored in an unheated storage unit for a long time. 

In short, be cautious. When we can't spend money, let's spend time so that the few bucks we have aren't wasted on a pseudo bargain. If you are not part of a club, please consider finding a public space and starting one (ours is in the community room at the fire station). I say "public space" so that you don't have to clean house! (also there should be parking and accessible bathrooms). Libraries, churches, schools are all possibilities. Our local club has been an enormous blessing to me because it brings me into contact with more experienced players, new songs and gives us all a chance to oogle and handle various styles of dulcimers. 

There may be much more in your area that you know. An unknown (like our Ron Kunkle) who produces magic may be around the corner -- with the added blessing that you can handle to your heart's content. Who would have guessed there were such dulcimer riches in . . . western Washington? I've been so happily surprised by how many instruments and nice people pop up when one has an eye out -- I wish you your own happy ending!

Hi Dana,

Having been down some medical rabbit holes, I do believe that humor helps. Joke books, knock knock jokes, funny movies -- anything for a giggle. Great time to catch up on all the funny cat videos on Youtube. Sometimes the brain can't focus on a book but will rally for Groucho Marx or the Three Stooges. I do wish you every success in the days ahead.

Friends,

I'm part of a group that meets monthly to play (We're having a blast) -- but of course some times we have a sheet of music that needs some adjustment. Maybe we want to drop out a complicated measure or bring a published version more into line to how we know the song. And, for those of us in bifocals (me!), it can help to enlarge the music - and enlarging very much can mean we really need to shift things around and make more lines.

So is there a computer music/TAB making composing program that you recommend? I am looking for recent versions that can be currently purchased or downloaded (so if you are using the 2002 version of something that is no longer sold, that doesn't help).

We'll also be grateful for what to avoid. And if you're in western Washington on the second Friday of the month, come play! http://www.oldgrowthmountaindulcimerclub.com

Your friend is smart. When we have a specific task assigned to a specific day, it cuts through the mental clutter and is much more likely to happen. Many people change the battery in the smoke alarm in association with fall and spring clock changes -- a very healthy association.

- We have the right tools (hubby plays guitar) -- but I just need to get on the right rhythm for the year. It's great that the 12 month year is divisible by so many different units! Holiday String Changes? Jan 1, Apr1, July 4, Labor Day?

Yikes! I've been playing the same set of strings all year. I can't say I've noticed grime on the strings or on my fingers. What cues are there that it is "time"?

It really is like shoes. One wouldn't wear snow boots on the tennis court -- or sandals out in the February slush. I had a chance to visit new dulcimer friends and had to remind myself of that commandment "Thou shalt not covet" as I saw their dulcimer collection. I don't think I left drool marks on the carpet . . .

Rice is my hubby's name - somewhere there's ancestor paperwork about a grandpa that says "Pell Rice had 12 children" -- always makes me think, "Hmm, and MRS Rice had nothing to do with that?"

But I'm glad to see that dulcimer collecting is in a healthy state . . .

Dana R. McCall said:

Hey Ellen I'm a Rice too! My maiden name

Wayne,

Thanks for the laugh and the link. Wow, there are some serious instrument collectors among the mix!

Wayne Anderson said:

Laughing "Imelda Marcos of Dulcimers" have to break into song "Don't Cry for Me McSpadden" lol. There are a number of us who have the DAD - Dulcimer Acquisition Disease and to keep everyone happy should write it DAd. There are more than a few of us that have two or more - there is an on going discussion on FOTMD How Many Dulcimers you may want to take a look at that discussion, Ellen.

But as many have said, you cannot have just one...lol

I first laid eyes on a dulcimer in August 2013. I now own two. I now look at wall space in the house differently. Instead of visualizing a picture moving into a blank space, I wonder how a dulcimer would look hanging there.

Where is this leading me? I have seen a few pictures here of proud players who have a line up of dulcimers -- which leads me to ask, "Who is the Imelda Marcos of dulcimers?"

Please humor me by posting photos or links to your collections. We might as well see the what lies further down the path.

Oh, yeah! Thanks for the link. Some of us need all the help we can get . . .

I have to confess that I now own a capo -- but have been a bit terrified to open the bag and actually use it. I felt the same way when we switched from cassette tapes to CD's. Those silvery discs looked so . . . alien.

I'm posting to boost this up for Beth S.

Glad to share a giggle - Doesn't "Mixolydian" sound like an expert bartender?

Maybe there's a reason that Appalachia's other export is moonshine . . .

Good morning Ken and friends,

I did read Ken's article early on and it was a big help. Part of my early challenges boiled down to buying a sweet traditional instrument (tuned Cggg and no 6.5 fret) and buying a modern beginners book that instructed in Dadd and assumed a 6.5 fret. Anyone knowledgeable with even basic dulcimer life could have pointed out a path forward -- but there I was, middle of the afternoon in the middle of nowhere with an instrument on my lap and a book on the table, thinking (and hearing) "Something's weird here".

Thank goodness for Fisherman's/Cowboy Humor (and pride) -- that kept me from putting "the easiest instrument to play" into the closet. After that day, the giggles just keep coming. That's how I know a diode is a pair of long poems . . .

Ken Hulme said:

You really don't need a bunch of "middle C stuff" and music theory to tune and play the dulcimer. Especially these days with audio examples to tune your instrument to.

Lisa has an excellent audio "how to tune" at the top of the Beginner Group page --

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/beginnerplayers

If you want to start out simply and build your skills, you can play melodies on the melody string and let the other strings just drone along as was done traditionally.

You may want to check out the article I wrote called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What? It's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms plus answers to many beginner questions about tuning, playing, care and feeding of your dulcimer.

The article is here:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/profiles/blogs/i-just-got-a-dulcim...

Oh, I've done comedy and I've done tragedy (I was a Cub Scout Den Leader ). I am actually enjoying my instrument immensely -- but it is a new world, for sure.

Frank Ross said:

nice hopefully you meant it to be funny - have you ever though of going into comedy? I spent 42 years in the IT field working with engineers, scientists, accountants and office workers - they all seemed as confused at the nomenclature I used as I was of theirs. Amazing how many professions and hobbies have their own language that sounds foreign to the other person. I've only been messing with the dulcimer for 3 months and am waiting for the grandkids to come for Christmas to get a crash course in the middle C stuff and other music theory concepts. Go for the 72% dark chocolate from Trader Joe's - Super Yum -I stock up when I visit the big cities

Hi All,

Glad you're giggling -- I am actually deeply grateful for the online instruction available. There's an amazing amount and its shared with great generosity -- you can tell the hours of work that stand behind it. But I am still clueless on so many fronts.

Maybe chocolate will help. I understand it is full of healthy compounds. Must research throughly . ..

We begin in a fog

For starters, for someone who has no real music background, Middle C is as mysterious as Middle Earth. So one pings a string, reads the tuner and says guess it needs to go up to C and then to D. SPRONG. Oops. Wrong C.

And the way to fix this? No one says download a tuning app and Middle C = 261.6 Hertz. Nope, this is a hardcore McGyver crowd that does things the adventuresome way. Tuning is a scavenger hunt. First, its Find a piano, then See those 88 keys? . . .

Then theres an inversion

Any dulcimer book labels the strings from the bass string down. If something is labeled Dadd, youd think that big D would be a big deal. But turn the page to the first tune. See those numbers on the line for the noter? By gum, we start with the melody strings as the important ones.

And theres that French stuff

The chap on the instructional video says were going to be playing Gallic style, only he seems to spell it with an X. That dulcimer hes holding has lost her waistline! Well, after two kids and a Thanksgiving dinner, I can relate to the dilemma. But wait. OMG! Hes playing with a feather . Nobody told me thered be turkey farming as part of this music making. Oh, wait, he says I can strum with a pick.

That leads us to Flatpicking

Pretty quick a video or book says something like, Heres a tune for flatpicking. Sorry, honey. But all picks are flat. Ive got one that looks like a sharks tooth with bumpy edges and another thats curved on one side but they are both flat as can be. But thats not nearly as confusing as . . .

Frets

The dulcimer world is full of nice but very odd people. Ive lived with babies. The less fretting, the better, in my book. But Dulcimer World likes lots of fretting. And its something special if its colorful, because then its chromatic, just like Kodachrome film used to be.

And Tons of sugar

Dulcimer people do a lot of Jamming. And Fudging. Sometimes they Jam and Fudge at the same time. I sure hope folks are flossing, because thats a lot of sugar.

Dont Get Fresh with me

Then theres those on a special forum discussing their Vibrating String Lengths. I kid you not. Add in a bottle of Chianti and Ill bet thats how that French girl lost her waistline. I didnt fall off the turnip truck this morning you know. And Im smart enough to know about:

Capos

At first I thought this was those green salty things that get listed in magazine recipes. But thinking about it a moment, I realized it stands for Calcium. Ca+ or "Ca positive". Thats because you need lots of calcium to have strong finger bones for all that fretting. When it says Capo at 1, then that tells you take the calcium right after lunch.

But things do get mislabeled .

The video instructor says hes going to play the song slow, medium and then fast. These are not the correct names for what is shown. Heres the proper translation:

Slow = If you work really hard you might be able to keep up

Medium = NASCAR version

Fast = Intergalactic Warp 10. This is the version featuring space aliens with twice the fingers of humans.

Sooner or later Im going to figure out which river those bridges are for.

Until then, Happy Holidays!

Gosh, gang, I am suddenly immensely grateful that I kept my mouth shut. A couple years ago DH took up guitar. The nook in the house where he practices is awash in picks, music sheets, instrument stand, books, tuners -- you get the idea. He seems happy so I just putter on by. Now I am seeing that I may need my own hill of goodies -- this dulcimer world does become expansive, doesn't it?

Ah, yet another thought! I am using a Herdim pick but there are some guitar picks in the house and I can look at some homemade options too. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hi Robin

The dulcimer I am playing is the one that is in my thumbnail photo -- it is a teardrop shape -- it's really very charming -- I am hoping to sit down with the maker -- but holidays are a busy time and I need to wait until there's a hole in his busy schedule. Meanwhile, I toddle on. The truth is most of the odd sounds are likely due to me. Ellen

Robin Clark said:

Hi Ellen,

Do you have a photo of your dulcimer - I'd like to look at the set-up you are using.

It is interesting that the maker designed the instrument for Gdd tuning and a short scale. There were a lot of old dulcimers that were pitched up to the key of G, particularly those with a slightly shorter scale - and that can give an instrument a really bold voice. You don't need to drop to the key of D if you like the instrument's voice in G. There are ways around that issue. For example you could tune to GDg with the right string gauges on that 24" VSL and still follow all the DAd TAB and lessons (you just pretend you are in DAd and everything works out fine but you are in a higher key). If this is the dulcimer you bought from your local friend who build it you could get him to help you set it up to playperfectly inthe style you want - I'm sure he would help you get absolutely the best tone and playability from the instrument for your prefered playing style.

Thanks, Everyone, for helping out. I will try the single melody string. I am really learning to appreciate FOTMD -- I would have a hard time moving forward without the internet support. Ellen

OK. So is that still a Mixolydian tuning? Your comment made me smile because when I heard the audio clip, I thought the same thing. "That doesn't sound so bad" -- but in real space the drone is . . . really long. It's not sounding charming like it should. There's a big buzz from inside the box at some points.

OK, We followed the advice here. The dulcimer is now strung thusly : Bass string 22 Middle String 14 Melody Strings both 11 and tuned Dadd. I think there is too much echo. Oddly, when I tried an "Appalachian capo" (pencil held with rubber bands) across the first fret, it all sounded better. The dulcimer came to me tuned Cggg and the original strings were bass =26 and all others = 18.

I am going to upload an audio file and I would most deeply appreciate advice. I am a bit confused on one other thing. It sounds like many people switch back and forth between Daaa and Dadd tuning -- but Ken's string calculator suggests two different string sets. So does one just go with the strings most often used in one of the tunings?

Ah, even more helpful insights! We're about to put the new strings on and will try Ken's suggested 22, 14 and double 11's. Hopefully that will get us to the place that we just have Operator Error to explain why the dog heads out the dog door after the first strum . . .

Wow. That is VERY helpful. We will brave the Black Friday crowds to see if we can come up with 22, 14 and two 11's.

Onward!

I just measured from the nut to the bridge and came up with 24.5 inches. I'll need DH's help to get an audio file uploaded - might be a couple of days.

I did wonder if I was in the right octave. Going from memory, I thought "I start with middle C" - so I started heading for middle C on the bass string. Well, that was wrong. I broke the string! Then replaced it with a different product that seems to make the sound worse still. What a muddle. Will try to dodge the shopping crowds tomorrow to get a duplicate of the bass string I broke. Then will begin again, tuning the MELODY strings to D just above middle C. Once we're at that point, we'll try for the audio file upload.

Meanwhile, Turkey Day was filled with dear friends and good food. I am blessed (no matter what my levels of dulcimer ineptitude).

Many thanks for the quick responses -- makes me feel like I'm not alone with this particular knot.

Hi All,

My lovely local dulcimer came to me tuned CGG. The strings were pretty heavy wire (Bass string = 26 and the others = 18). I visited a knowledgeable shop in Big City where I was advised not to try to tune to DAD with that set up, so I switched as follows: Bass = 26, Middle = 16, Melody = 12

Now I am getting more than a drone -- I am getting an unhappy echo. And the melody strings seem sort of flabby.

What would you do in this situation? I am happily in Dulcimerschool (learning tons) and I think it does help to be in DAD so that what I am attempting sorta sounds like the instructional video (well, in my dreams we are at the NR -- "nearly recognizable" stage).

Meanwhile, don't forget that this is the night to set your scale back ten pounds. It's an important thing to do every fall.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Ellen R

I think the Alabama one was listed in August. I don't know how long the Olympia one has been in the store.

Oh, the store is Music 6000 in Olympia, WA . They are asking $280 I think. There's also one for sale on craigslist in Alabama for $400. That seller isjas34929 <jas34929@aol.com>

The Alabama seller says : Good evening from Alabama,

Good morning! -- Y'all will laugh at this one: This week is packed with family responsibilities -- no special burdens, but just a lot going on. The dulcimer is laid out on the sideboard, waiting for me to have time to get started -- it's like its 11:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving and I'm starving to get started, but the last car of family is pulling up in the driveway, and I can't launch into what I want to do just yet.

Who knew dulcimers were that alluring? This forum clan, I know. I make a strum on the instrument as I go past - a sad carrot stick to hold me over

Success!

I called a friend, Burt, who I know as a local musician, fluent with guitar and banjo. My thought was to ask him to evaluate the pricey dulcimer at the local music store. But when I stopped by to show him some of the details, he said, "Ah, Ellen, did you know I make these? He had five dulcimers out on the table to show me and we spent an hour discussing them. I came home with a very affordable and lovely choice. It has a bright, clear sound and is made of walnut. No yucky strings either!

I feel confident that I have a suitable beginners instrument from a source that is welcoming of my questions. I'll post a picture eventually. Thank you, everyone for your encouragements and cautions. I am relieved that I didn't spend big bucks on an instrument that might have had issues.

Y'all are treasures! I am learning every day. People have been very generous with their insights -- and somehow it makes me smile that "wormy chestnut" is supposed to be a good thing to find. Onward!

What did we do without the internet? I have learned tons today (hadn't thought of a cruise in a long time - no worries, Carrie, it made me smile!).

I am going to ask a friend to stop by the shop and evaluate the consignment instrument -- then hold off until we get to Seattle next week and will try a McSpadden, a Black Mountain and a student model. At that point I should . . . be really confused.