Forum Activity for @foggers

Foggers
@foggers
07/24/18 07:47:51AM
62 posts

Choose just ONE song for all eternity...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

What a great question. Specifically for dulcimer, I would have to say Pretty Saro. I play it on my little ginger scale McSpadden, in reverse Ionian G. Someday I should post a video!

Foggers
@foggers
07/05/16 08:17:26PM
62 posts

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Aw I just don't get to go dancing anymore! We were taught country dancing at the very old fashioned girls grammar school I attended in the 70s. The music certainly wasn't as funky as that!! I learned a mix of English and Scottish dances and they were useful for going to ceilidhs when I was a bit older. 

I also had a stint of doing circle dance in the 90s: a generic term for a collection of European folk dances that don't require partnering up and are done in circles, lines or chains. The sessions with live musicians were great; Turkish, Breton, Bulgarian, Jewish, all kinds of tunes.

 

Foggers
@foggers
05/12/13 04:49:16PM
62 posts



I play it in Am on my AEa tuned baritone, using a slide.

Foggers
@foggers
11/15/12 03:14:26PM
62 posts



I would second the suggestion about getting a 2nd hand one that is a reputable make; McSpadden and Folkcraft are indeed good makes to look out for, and I would also add Yocky to the list of recommended makes.
Foggers
@foggers
02/11/13 02:15:52PM
62 posts

Tips on shipping dulcimers


FOR SALE:instruments/music items/CDs/Wanted to Buy...

I have had the trauma of having an banjo beheaded by ParcelForce in the UK; there was a big dent in the box suggesting an external impact of some force.

I have also safely received dulcimers overseas from the States. My bowed dulcimer from Ken Bloom was in a wooden carry case and then packaged with a good 6" of foam chips all around it. And I received a vintage Ledford dulcimer double boxed ( with bubble wrap around the instrument, inside a small box, then foam chips and a bigger box).

I do admire Robin's cunning psychological approach of providing a handle!

Foggers
@foggers
08/13/12 06:29:58PM
62 posts



Hi Gayle and welcome aboard!

I agree that every website has its own "tone" and a lot of that is influenced by the approach taken by the moderator(s). Here on FOTMD there is a culture of welcoming everyone, regardless of identity or ability, and focusing on the thing we have in common, i.e. our love of and interest in the mountain dulcimer. So I really do find it to be the most friendly site I use on the whole World Wide Web!

Foggers
@foggers
01/14/12 07:52:31AM
62 posts



Hi All what an excellent discussion!

I learned to read SMN in my teens in the school choir and local youth orchestra (double bass player)> I also was a self taught finger style guitarinst, and never used TAB for that, working mainly from books with SMN plus guitar chords, and learning by ear at church. I first encountered TAB about 5 years ago when I got an entry-level banjo with an instruction book (TAB and CD). I found it great for basics (in the absence of finding a teacher) but I can really identify with Mandy's point that she thinks that TAB maybe held back her development of the full knowledge and skills set for musicianship. My playing of ALL my instruments has leapt forward in the last 3 years since I got meself out to sessions and open mikes, got playing with others and set myself a regime for learning. In a way, I see TAB as being like using SatNav; if you rely on it alone a dependency builds and it can prevent the development of your own navigational skills which allow for more interesting and varied journeys. I can see its value in large group jams, and for beginners who may benefit from learning in that way (and Robin makes a very good point that we all learn in different ways so we must not enforce our own way as the only one!)

TAB still has some uses in my musical journey:I use TAB for a memory jogger, and I sometimes TAB out songs and tunes I have learned by ear or have in SMN, so that I can work out the smoothest "finger choreography" for the MD fretboard. As a mainly chord/ melody player this has proved to be really useful.

Foggers
@foggers
08/21/11 01:57:10PM
62 posts

How to welcome a new jammer


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi - good topic choice Lisa!

Thanna - I would add my support to that offered by others. If there are no other specific dulcimer sessions in your area then look for an old timey, folk or acoustic session. You may have to try a few places until you land on one that is flexible and welcoming. I have certainly had my share of trials since I decided to get back into some public music via sessions about 3 years ago. It is worth persevering to find sympathetic others to play with as it will speed your learning immensely; I know that jamming and playing in public (alone and with others) has been a real shot in the arm for me. But first, a cautionary tale....

When we moved house a couple of years ago we were thrilled to find that a pub just half a mile away had a regular folk music session every week. However, having tried it a few times, it is not one we attend regularly, and I will tell you why.... The core members of the group have known each other a long time and know all each others' material, so they all launch in to everything without really listening. This can be a REAL problem. For example, once I was up to speed on a few american folk songs, we did "Shady Grove". Within 30 seconds of playing and singing, one of the regulars shouted "Oo its just like 'Matty Groves!' " and they all waded in on guitars, mandolin and melodeon. Well actually, the melody we use is NOT exactly the same as 'Matty Groves' and the harmonies we use ( we sing together with banjo ) are not the same as the famous version of Matty Groves these chaps all knew. The result was that we could not hear each other, and the discordant clash between what we were playing and what they were wading in with was HORRID!!

So to add to Strumelia's list of guidelines for welcoming newbies to a jam :

  • Ask your new comer(s) if they would like to play
  • LISTEN to what your newcomer starts up with and ONLY play along if youare sure you know the version more or less exactly, or you are such an accomplished musician that you can pick it up quickly
  • Allow the newcomer to lead on their piece, including the tempo - follow politely
  • Do not drown out the newcomer when they are playing; it is too off-putting

Happily, we know other great places to go now for playing and singing; so I guess the moral of my tale is that you may have to kiss a few frogs before you find the perfect match.....

Foggers
@foggers
01/04/11 04:01:44PM
62 posts



Well I guess my oldest instrument is my voice! I started singing as a toddler n never shut up. I got recorders first then a guitar when I was 9, which is my main instrument. We have 6 acoustic guitars, 5 electric ones plus bass, 3 5 string banjos, 1 piano, 2 ukes, 1 banjulele,2 overtone flutes, 1 keyless flute, 2 fiddles, 3 keyboards, 1 PC purely for music making and recording, tabla, harmonica and jaws harp. Plus my 4 dulcimers of course.
Foggers
@foggers
10/17/10 11:49:00AM
62 posts

***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***


OFF TOPIC discussions

Hi allRobin was the first person to meet n greet me on ED, and her generosity of friendship is like a warm cosy fire. Thanks Robin for being a friend is cyberspace; you make the dulcimer world a brighter place. xxx
Foggers
@foggers
06/07/10 07:04:26PM
62 posts



Hi KatieI am one of the UK folks on here (I live in N Derbyshire, just south of Sheffield).The dulcimer you have got is probably factory made in E Europe, (often Romania) - I have looked at the ones on the Hobgoblin website and they look just like the first one I got in October 2008 from the Music Room (they had a stall at a music festival in Whitby). It is a perfectly playable instrument - it can be a source of envy for us on this side of the Big Pond when our US based chums start comparing notes on the vast array of makes and models of dulcimers they can access.It was DVD that got me started on dulcimer - by Dave Kaufman. He was a superb and highly esteemed player and the DVD also shows that he has skills as a teacher. I got it from this online seller (very reliable trader!) here Like you I already played other stringed instruments so you will already have some skills to transfer over to the mountain dulcimer. For me the biggest adjustment has been getting used to the diatonic fretting after always playing chromatic ones.Joining here (and the other site Everything Dulcimer) is the best way to access advice for this fairly rare but very lovely instrument. So welcome aboard.Soon we will have enough folks for a UK MD festival!
Foggers
@foggers
12/15/09 02:25:44PM
62 posts

Bobby McFerrin: The power of the pentatonic scale


OFF TOPIC discussions

We saw him in London a couple of years ago when he toured the UK. If you ever get the chance DO go.He has a phenomenal vocal talent and a joyous love of singing that is absolutely enchanting and infectious. He gets the audience to do all kinds of things with him, he had a community choir on stage for part of the show, with whom he had done a day's workshop. He was also joined by his son who did stunning beatboxing as a duet with his talented dad. It was a lifetime experience for us.This clip is great - it is interesting that he claims that this works ANYWHERE in the world.
Foggers
@foggers
11/02/09 09:43:19PM
62 posts



I forgot to give my personal top 10! I already named some fave ballads and there are others too:Barbara AllenTwo SistersThe Outlandish KnightSweet William and Lady MargaretArise AriseLittle SadieBut for me the other side of OT music is the tunes that were for dancing rather than singing and tend to have nonsense or repetitive verse/chorus structures, or no words at all:Sourwood MtnClinch Mtn BackstepGive the Fiddler a dram ( it is a favourite family hobby to make up more silly verses for this!)Swing and Turn JubileeIn fact it is difficult to limit it to 10 - my list will change a lot as I learn new songs and tunes as I am still a beginner with only a limited knowledge of repertoire!
Foggers
@foggers
11/02/09 09:36:26PM
62 posts



Hi - am interested in the debate AND the music! That website is really interesting and I like the article that explores the term "old time" - I guess it means that rural people did not realise their music was "old time" until Okeh records (and later the radio stations) labelled it as such!Discussion about defining musical genres can be full of pitfalls and different interpretations (take a look at the endless theads on the Mudcat cafe about "What is Folk music?" to see what I mean - it usually descends into a slanging match there!). However, I feel confident that FOTMD is a much more polite and friendly place and that we can discuss and explore without falling out!Folkfan - I am interested in the distinction you pick up about doing old songs and tunes but not necessarily in an "old time " style. This is tricky for me - I would sound darned stoopid as an english woman trying to sing appalachian songs in a suitable accent, though you are quite right that some pronunciations need to be preserved for the rhymes to work.I am playing MD and banjo in OT styles though, and keep the song arrangements simple. My voice is not a trained voice, so I sing in a simple and not overly developed timbre . Like you a love the old ballads (barbara Allen, Two Sisters,The Outlandish Knight, Sweet William and Lady Margaret) and I think the focus should be on telling the tale - afte all these songs lasted because people love a good yarn!I think that this way I can be true to the original spirit of OT music whilst also being realistic about acknowledging that I am 100 years and a whole ocean away from its US sources!
Foggers
@foggers
10/07/09 06:47:26PM
62 posts

I just made a twelve string guitar


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Dick - what a super instrument, and just in time for his 40th! I know I treasure the dulcimers made for me by my partner Richard and I am sure your son will feel that way too. There is nothing to match the knowledge that someone has cared enough to spend so many hours (of trouble!) to create a unique and priceless gift.
Foggers
@foggers
10/07/09 06:48:54PM
62 posts

Epinette des Vosges


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thanks for the info Michael - now can you obtain a recording of her playing it???!!!???
Foggers
@foggers
10/01/09 10:40:13AM
62 posts

Epinette des Vosges


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Strumelia said:
I find this interesting- the way it has the effect of two soundboxes. It's almost like an epinette on top, mating with a mountain dulcimer! =8-o I've never seen pix of an epinette des V. with an hourglass shape before. I'm guessing it's an innovation/experiment by the luthier, but i might be wrong about that.
In any case, it's pretty amazing!
Yes that is what I thought - other pics I have seen of old epinettes look just like the upper part of this instrument - like on these links posted by Patrmigan in the "Ancestor of the Dulcimer" group http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/dulcimerancestors/forum/topics/epinette-des-vosges-france Maybe the luthier was curious about inter-breeding?? It is beautiful and that double sound box arrangement must give it a very special voice.
Foggers
@foggers
09/28/09 09:07:09AM
62 posts

Epinette des Vosges


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Wow what a beauty - would love to hear sound clip!Can you talk her into posting something somewhere so we can listen in?
Foggers
@foggers
09/25/09 07:18:45AM
62 posts



Thanks for asking the question Shas as I had wondered too. And thanks Lisa for an illuminating answer!
Foggers
@foggers
09/14/09 11:29:24PM
62 posts



Hi Shas - It is the size of the strings that put limits on what you can tune them to.Its a general rule that the thickness (gauge) of a string will dictate what note is produced over a certain string length, at a particular level of tension. If a string is quite slack it will buzz and give a muddy kind of sound; there needs to be enough tension to give volume, clarity and sustain. Obviously if the tension goes too tight then the string will break, (and there is also the risk of damaging the instrument if it is not braced for such high levels of tension.) So to keep a good balanced tension, thicker strings are used for the lower notes and thinner ones for the higher ones. The gauge of the string will put limits on how highly it can be tensioned. So for the usual kinds of gauges used on a dulcimer, the possible range is probably C-G.Which key you may wish to play in could be dictated by a number of factors such as your own vocal range if you are playing to accompany your own singing, or needing a common key such as D, C or G if you want to be able to jam with players of other instruments using a repertoire of popular folk/old time/bluegrass/country etc.
Foggers
@foggers
09/09/09 08:56:52AM
62 posts

Our thanks to "Deputy Mo".


OFF TOPIC discussions

Good deputising there Rod.... however as a pacifist I am uncomfortable with the use of weaponry - couldn't we just have a couple of slavering Rottweilers to see off Spammers please!!??!!
Foggers
@foggers
09/03/09 06:42:15PM
62 posts



Randy Adams said:
Fretless dulcimer works for me b/c I seldom play above the 4th or 5th fret....& almost never above the 7th....& play across the strings..with a noter....tuned DAd most of the time but also DAde, DAdf#, DF#Ad or DGBd.
It is difficult to play the melody up & down the melody string...starts sounding like one of them slide whistle things.....I need to bounce off open strings. I have ordered another fretless box dulcimer from Gary Sager that will have frets 4 thru 8 under the melody strings only and think it will open up new ways to play for me.
I actually prefer the sound & playability of a fretless dulcimer & with a little practice ...& a pencil mark or two.. : )...where the notes are comes automatically.
Aha! SO pencil marks are a clue to your genius then Randy!!
Foggers
@foggers
09/02/09 08:19:40PM
62 posts



Roger L. Huffmaster said:
Frets are not necessary, but I do believe it makes an instrument easier to play, plus the fretboard lives much longer if the strings are not constantly wearing it from contact.

Roger
Yep that is it in a nutshell. A string with no frets is capable of producing any note within its range from one end (nut) to the other (bridge). In western music our ears are trained to hear whole notes (called tones in formal music theory) and half notes (semitones). (Other music traditions have quarter and eigth notes and maybe more- in Persian classical music they have 12 different steps between our half notes -i.e. 12 different versions of A ranging between A and A flat!!)Western music relies on these more limited steps in the infinity of musical possibility because it is easier to harmonise, and so it is important to play those half notes and whole notes accurately, especially when playing with others. So frets or position markers are an easy way to show the player where the notes are. The dulcimer does this the most simple way by having the frets positioned to give a "Do Re Mi" scale as you go up the frets, made up of whole notes and half notes. Most other more modern string instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin etc) have their frets laid out in semitones rather than a pattern of tones and semitones.I used to play double bass, which is fretless,and the hardest thing was learning all the left hand positions, and the precise distances between my fingers in order to get the semitones accurately.Of course they get closer together the further up the neck towards the bridge you go, so I had to learn how to make the necessary adjustments to my hand position as I moved to higher positions. Frankly, it was much harder work than the guitar and I never progressed very far. Besides, it aint the most portable of instruments to just casually take along to a party or jam session!
Foggers
@foggers
09/19/09 12:22:36PM
62 posts

Zoom H2 Review


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Haha - yes my H2 arrived yesterday - beautifully simple to operate within minutes...... will be in touch for some tips Mo!
Foggers
@foggers
09/02/09 02:34:38PM
62 posts

Zoom H2 Review


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have used one of these at work for recording research focus groups, and I love it, so easy! I think it may have to go on my letter to Santa this year!I have a Boss Micro BR but that is more like a mini-studio with multi-tracking and editing and effects, and is far more complex than I really need.
Foggers
@foggers
08/17/09 09:34:47AM
62 posts



That is excellent. The "slide" sound of the noter on a fretless board is really cool. Thanks for posting this link.
Foggers
@foggers
12/09/09 10:52:17AM
62 posts

STINKAROO advice...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have only just realised in this year that the worst piece of musical misinformation EVER given to me in my teens was from the school music teacher. When I auditioned to join the school choir she told me I had a low pitched voice and that I should always since alto parts. (It was an all girls school and the choir usually sang 3 part arrangements for soprano, mezzo soprano and alto). She also told girls who appeared to naturally have a wide vocal range that they would damage their voices if they continued to do so and that they should choose the range they sang best and stick to that.So I always considered myself to have a lower vocal range and never ventured further up the scales. Then when my OH started to have singing lessons a couple of years ago, we also bought a voice training package on line (Brett Manning - a bit cheesy but good sound exercises and info). Doing the exercises made me realise that I do have a clear upper register too. I will never sing with a crystal clear soprano, but now have a 3 octave range and can cover a much more versatile collection of styles too, whilst still sounding like ME rather than some "X Factor wannabe". I think that is a result!I have several friends who were told as children that they "could not sing" and it has taken years to take the risk and overcome that big psychological hurdle to sing in public. My OH is one of them. Now when we sing in public he is overwhelmed by the warmth of response he receives (and flattered to be told he does Johnny Cash numbers really well because of his fine baritone voice!)So if you think you can't sing, think again about where you got that message.
Foggers
@foggers
08/08/12 12:43:05PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Sue - I was really pleased when I got the hang of clawhammer, it is a really versatile technique.

Lisa - I totally agree that it is impossible to play banjo or MD and not notice an immediate lifting of the spirits!

Foggers
@foggers
06/30/12 02:27:39PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

well it has been a year since any banjo related news was shared.

I got me a very be-au-ti-ful new banjo a couple of months ago; a Wildwood Troubadour. It was just sitting there on Ebay with no one paying any attention, so I got it for about half what I would have paid for a new one, and got to see and try it too before sealing the deal. I have wanted one with a tubaphone tone ring so I was really pleased. It needed a little attention as the head was really loose, and I found the action a little low so I swapped the bridge for a 5/8th. And now I can hardly bear to put it down! Hve not got any recordings yet but will be working on that during the summer.

Foggers
@foggers
07/09/11 06:11:55PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi allHad a wonderful weekend at the N Wales Bluegrass festival, which also has old time artists. The two great old time acts were Sara Grey who tours a lot on both sides of the Pond, and also Dana and Susan Robinson. Sara did a wonderful talk on appalachian songs and I was delighted that she allowed recording. So now I am home from our holiday (of which the festival was a part) I shall work on a couple of the songs and post something on here.
Foggers
@foggers
01/15/11 03:06:58PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hi Randy and Lisa. Thanks for asking.All instrument playing is on a go- slow for me cos I have had wrist problems for3 months now. However, I am still working on clawhammer and 3 finger picking. In theband we are adding some further OT numbers, Little Maggie, Johnson Boys n Weavily Wheat.Having started with dwight Diller DVD I am now mainly working on Ken Perlman's melodic CH, asthat seems to build the skills for the sounds I wanna make. When we have achieved a recordable standardI shall post it somewhere for all to see!I gain a lot from seeing and hearing your own banjo playing, so thanks for all you post on here guys!
Foggers
@foggers
11/24/10 08:23:28AM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hey Flint - that banjo is in much better condition than a mandolin banjo we got off UK Ebay some years ago.It was only a few quid so it was not the end of the world when it arrived and we discovered that the neck was sheared through halfway down and had a screw holding the 2 halves together! We got our money back and we have kept this monstrosity in order to remind us of the risks of buying instruments in Ebay!I shall look forward to hearing it when you have brought it back to life.
Foggers
@foggers
11/16/10 11:39:59AM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Oooo that is good Lisa - and it was very helpful to see your CH technique in action.I am getting on quite well with CH playing now, I just need a little help to nail double drop thumbing.There is an excellent CH player about 20 miles away, who I think I am going to approach for some tuition; I am at a stage where I think having someone watch me play and give me some feedback and further direction will help me to move up a level in my playing.Thanks so much for posting this
Foggers
@foggers
04/15/10 01:35:07PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Oooo please post a recording of it - I am really curious about Nylgut strings and their effects on sound.
Foggers
@foggers
04/15/10 08:34:08AM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Paul C - LOL it is indeed a fascinating habit that people but a much desired banjo and then change every last iota on it! and having your partner as your jamming chum is indeed a treat. My OH Richard is learning guitar and we are working up to him playing for the trio we sing with. Sitting in the evening playing music together is so much more enriching than being slumped in front of the telly!Paul R - afraid that does sound like some of the symptoms of a moderate does of BAS....
Foggers
@foggers
04/14/10 05:02:13PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Strumelia said:
Gold Tones have a good reputation as a real solid good sounding affordable banjo. Good choice!
Yep I think that sums it up Lisa. I use Banjo Hangout sometimes for banjo hints & tips, and Deering is the make everyone seems to worship, but the GoldTone Whyte Ladie gave me most bang for ma buck.(Lawks I seem to picking up the lingo from associating with all you fine American chums in cyberspace....)
Foggers
@foggers
04/13/10 04:47:22PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Well it has been a while since I started this thread, and I was originally debating if I needed to upgrade my learner/entry level Countryman banjo, a resonator backed far East make with no tone ring. True enough it has served me well for learning both picking and clawhammer, but I nonetheless got to the point where I wanted an instrument with more punch.So my New Year gift to me was a Gold Tone Whyte Ladie 250 - I had tried one out at a banjo gathering in January and loved the mellow sound. So when I saw a pristine second hand one on Ebay which originated from Andy Perkins (best banjos in UK!) it was a sign from the gods of old time music that it was meant for me.And the sound is beautifully balanced between attack and a lovely mellow rounded sound. The action and the presence of a frailing scoop has (as I hoped) turned out to be real advantages for developing my playing, and it works really well in the trio I now play in. At last I have a banjo that can hold its own against my friend Kathy and her mighty Taylor guitar!
Foggers
@foggers
01/26/10 05:40:35PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hey Paul - it is never too late to chip yer penny's worth into a thread on this forum!
Foggers
@foggers
01/12/10 02:07:20PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Liz (Elizabeth) Thacker said:
Aha Jane I can see why I (hardly) never got to play my new banjo at our Christmas get toether - You were sizing it up for "secret santa" - good job I sat between you and the door - my new banjo AND the dulcimer book......
See ya soon friend.
Liz

Liz (Elizabeth) Thacker said:
Foggers said:
THanks for the replies Lisa and Randy; here is the news...

Well my laptop kind of hiccupped on the DVDs, but after threatening it with a hammer, things settled down and the disks play okay.

I like Dwight's approach to the right hand rhythm. I had already made a start on the bump-ditty pattern through a book i got a couple of months ago, but when I listen to practice recordings it just sounds too "busy" somehow. Having had a weekend with Dwight's "Just Rhythm" DVD I can see that I need to stop worrying so much about the "ditty" and I am already sounding more like I want to! So that is fun indeed.

Of course I can now see that my "Countryman " banjo just aint right at all for clawhammer playing...maybe I need a new banjo from Santa??
LOL Liz - yes, sorry if I kind of hogged your new baby a bit - it was of course sheer envy on my part especially given that the Saga banjo I had got earlier in December was decapitated by Parcelforce *sniff*See you when the snow thaws!
Foggers
@foggers
12/07/09 06:23:31PM
62 posts

Any banjo players out there?


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Mary your banjo playing is a delight. I especially like The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Is there anywhere I can get the TAB for that tune?
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