Forum Activity for @monica

Thank you for the Suggestion Nicholas. The problem is that the music store doesn't carry all the gauges I want such as .023 phosphor bronze.

But today I put in an order at Juststrings,com

Nicholas Carey said:

IF you need loop-end strongs, it's pretty easy to remove the ball from a ball-end string to make it loop end string. Some strong, you can just pop the ball out:

Other strings might need an assist from a pair of dykes (side cutters) or needle-nose pliers:

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Strings/Loops/loops.html

You just want to ensure that you don't kink the wire as that makes a weak point at which the string will fail at significantly lower tension.

Excellent !!

Thank you

Dan

Dan Goad said:

Monica, you miht like this website.

http://www.juststrings.com/

Hi Linda,

At the moment .010 and .014, but its time to change the strings . All I could get here was .011, .015 and .026 loop ends. I spoke with the builder and yes the .026 will be too heavy. wondering about the other 2 now.

Linda W. Collins said:

Monica, For the top and middle strings, are you using .010 and .012? For your fret scale, those may be better than the .012 and .014; however, the instrument maker will advise you on which strings are best. What to watch for, if you use a thicker string, is that the tension not be too much, compared to the other strings. They should all have about the same amount of tension.

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

yes i am familiar with those as well

Thanks

robert schuler said:

Those are common size guitar strings, they should have had them. Ask for guitar string's, if you ask for dulcimer they probably don't know what your talking about. I always use D'Adario j64. They are .012 .014 .022. They are loop end... Bob.

Thanks Ron..

My local music store doesn't carry dulcimers and they don't carry .022 or .023 strings. They only have .026 for the bass string. Is that to heavy for a 28vsl?

I have never played a teardrop. Aesthetically I find the hourglass more appealing . I imagine it sits more comfortably on the lap as well.

I am curious to know the difference in tone of a walnut with redwood top and a walnut with spalted sycamore top.

Thanks James, I am playing chords and finger picking and I find those stretches are quite challenging and uncomfortable.Playing the ginger is so much easier.

James Phillips said:

The other thing as well Monica to consider is the style you are playing. If you are doing noter/drone, it really does not matter how long the vsl. However, for chording, 27 vsl or so in DAd seems to be the norm for what I have scene.

Thanks for your thoughts Rob and Robert.

I wasn't playing the full size much, however since I got the ginger I am really enjoying playing. ..unfortunately in Canada there are no local luthier shops where I can try them out. So its all a guessing game.

I bought a full sized cherry mcspadden about a month ago and though I love the sound i find it very uncomfortable to play. 1 week ago I bought a ginger cherry from a friend. I am really enjoying it, in fact every chance I have.. I play it. I am 5 3"..though I have long fingers my hands are small I suppose.. I know that I want a walnut next ..maybe with a redwood top. I am debating another ginger or 26 vsl..though I wonder if that too won't be comfortable to play ..any thoughts

I don't mind the sound but it is awkward for finger picking.

Pamela Rossetti said:

I always play 3 strings or 4 equidistant...do not like double melody..the sound or the feel on my fingers.

Thank you for your suggestion Mandy.

Mandy said:

I'd remove the one closest to the soundboard (the outermost string). I find myself using 3strings a lot now and I like it.

Thank you for the suggestion Geekling.

Geekling said:

I find removing the inner melody string is best for noter playing, and makes the strings equidistant for fingerpicking. :-)

Thats a good idea Skip !!

Thanks for the tip Robert :)

I am focusing more on finger picking, using both pick and bare fingers as i am learning celtic songs and finding that the 2 melody strings don't sound great. Which melody string would you recommend that I remove , the one on the outside or inside?

thanks

Thanks for your response. Everything everyone suggests helps inform my choice

Thanks for your reply Bob, Jim from Mcspadden strongly suggested I do, so I am wondering what to go with.

You're right about the 'A' string, I am constantly having to tune it

I really enjoy reading through this forum and learning more about this sweet instrument.

I am considering purchasing a small dulcimer. I wish I could hear a sample of a Clemmer tennessee sweetie Church style. In the mean time there many people playing Mcspadden Gingers. So I might just go with that. As a Novice I do play mostly in Dadd, but as I try out new pieces I am continually tuning it back forth and I haven't quite mastered the capo yet.

I am not sure what tuning I should go with as my repertoire is still quite small but I hope to be able to play more complicated songs over time i.e..traditional, celtic and medieval music. Any suggestions for which bridge compensation is the most ideal would be gladly welcome

Thanks Strumelia, I stumbled upon it last night.
Strumelia said:

At the moment I don't even no where to begin with finger picking. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Monica, do join the Finger Picking Group on this site, and get all kinds of awesome help in beginning finger picking!

Thank you Cynthia , I will check it out

Cynthia Wigington said:

Hi Monica. I'm fairly new too. What I did was find an easy one for finger-picking, settled on Be Thou My Vision. I think the free tab is on Jerry Rockwell's site, and my video of it after I'd been playing about a month is on here too. Have fun now.

Hi Pamela

Pamela Rossetti said:

welcome Monica

First off I just want to say thank you for the "Warm welcomes".

I have been playing for only a few days. I have mastered strumming Bile them cabbage at a nice even pace. Ode to joy is coming along . Amazing grace is putting my fingers to the test with stretching and acrobatics, but I couldn't even attempt it the first two days so I know things are improving.

At the moment I don't even no where to begin with finger picking. Any suggestions are appreciated.