Robin,
I'll have to watch. I'm figuring it's from sliding. I love to use my thumb on a slide. :)
Also, I think my fingers and/or thumb are shorter and I have to do some odd hand/finger configurations to reach chords. My thumb has been invaluable for this! :)
Haha, well, thank goodness for editing tools! :)
So where have y'all developed your callouses?
My most seasoned callous (much to my surprise) is the side of my thumb. Next in line is the slight side of my middle finger then the side of my ring finger and barely..well, not really on my pointing finger. I have no idea why the callous is to the side. Now I'm going to have to watch my fingers and see what's going on, ha!
So here's a weird thing... I was with some folks who play guitar and one guy had set down a really odd pick. I picked it up and noticed it was thick, only slightly bendy...and....it was made out of felt. It was a full 1/4 inch thick. The guy told me it was used for classical guitar? Anyway, I tried it on my McSpadden, which is only slightly bright and whoa...the sound completely changed! It became slightly muffled and quiet and almost baritone sounding. Really, really cool and different! I guess it could be useful if one was practicing while one's spouse was trying to sleep. :)
I really do appreciate all of your answers. Life has been ridiculously busy lately, and since I am utterly new to playing an instrument and getting obsessed, I am finding I have many, many questions. when I read reviews of pics or mics or other things, often times, the reviewer is not a dulcimer player. I highly value the opinion of the experienced. Thank you again.
My husband thinks I ask too many questions. I have no doubt I drove my Mama half crazy.
What is the best way to record a song on a mac? I have heard the app garage band is good but don't I need a mic? And where should this mic be placed....how close? And...is there a particular inexpensive one you would suggest?
I just want to record a song or two and share with my daughter who lives abroad. The recording app on my iphone barely picks up the sound at all. Thank you!
Got it!! This is Bear. He's an English Shepherd. Slightly neurotic, always 'ON ALERT'
I just read Dusty Turtle's posting on this exact topic on that 'other' ducimer site and it's some good advice. I'm still curious how yall hold your pick. 
...if I hold my pick different than you...LOL! Actually...I want to know what is the most preferred way to hold a pick to lessen pick noise. I've been holding mine, that the best way I can describe would be....my right pointing finger and my thumb are both leaving partial fingerprints on the pick.
So how do YOU hold your pick and which style is mostly seen as best? I want to practice various holding methods today. Thank you!
oh my GOSH Sheryl, you make an excellent point! That tail is like a billy club! She has indeed hit the dulcimer and played a bit of a song and the other animals are forever squinting their eyes when they see it coming in. I hadn't thought of that!
I sure would love to have a way to stand up my dulcimer in the den but I'm not seeing what kind to get. There's a wooden one that looks nice but the reviews aren't too keen. Several guitar style stands, well, I'm just not too sure which to get. What do yall use and what would you recommend? Thank you!
Haha, Jan...my mind's eye read that title as "CATS for hauling your stuff around at Workshop"
! I thought to myself, "HOW did she train her cats to do that?!" Hahaha....I was picturing a WHOLE lotta cats wearing these little backpacks, LOL!! (I know, I know...trust me....silly...)
Hi! Actually, I'm not suggesting it...haha, just mentioning that one who sees an unglued bridge, may think it was in error. Now I have a glued in bridge when it was intended to be a floating bridge.
I have a 35 year old handmade tear drop that I undusted and took to a guitar center for strings, when I first became interested in learning to play. The guitar center guy didn't have dulimer strings and just measured mine and replaced them with similar size strings. As he was working with it, he said, "Well looky here, the bridge isn't glued in place! I can fix that!" and he glued it down. Ah, to have known.
We have a lab and a very sensitive, slightly neurotic English Shepherd (picture a black and white border collie). He is extremely sensitive to any change in the atmosphere, whether it's a slight tone shift in a conversation, or maybe a cat is tip-toeing up the street in the middle of the night. He hears it all and is aware of everything.
Depending on which song I play, he might just lie still on his bed and quietly cry the whole time. Other times, say with something like Black Mountain Rag, he might huff and run purpose circles around the downstairs. The other animals ignore me.
That's a bit like asking a woman how many shoes is enough or asking a man how many guns is enough. 
I have a teardrop that was made for me when I was about 26. It has been a dust-collector for 28 years but has a nice sound. I also own a cherry McSpadden that is my go-to and I have a hankering for a beauty that I saw on youtube while looking for a play along westphalia waltz tune.
There are certain songs that are just good. Always good, everyone seems to love them and you never get tired of hearing their pretty melodies.
For me, one of those would be Lee's Waltz. If I was demonstrating the beauty of the dulcimer for a new listener, I'm pretty certain that'd be what I'd play.
What are some songs you play that never seem to grow old and make you smile when you hear them?
(I'm definitely going to check out any and all songs listed!) :)
