Forum Activity for @sheryl-st-clare

Found out the nice lady who runs our weekly Dulcimer class is learning to play the bones too. She had a set of bones, and a pair of wood shims, with her last week(Just plain wood shims you can find a your local home improvement store). She had sanded the edges smooth. They were a little wide for my small hands, but they could easily be cut to be narrower. They are a creative, cheap, alternative to buying bones if you want to try them, but don't want to shell out the dough. 

Bringing my bones next time, and my Tim Twiss CD for a little extra-curricular activity. Should be fun!

What Tom said! Very impressive Lisa. Loved the improvised final click. You got the last "word" in. 

Kandee, I'm in the same boat as you are. I attend every workshop, jam, and friendly get together I can possibly attend. I am getting better at keeping up, but sometimes I just play the melody string when I can't keep up with the chords. Eventually we won't be beginners anymore. You can learn so much here on FOTMD!   

Btw Jan, Excellent question! Very thought provoking. 

I think I am thankful, but it may take me a while to figure it out. Nice work, Lisa.

Lisa, can I borrow your husband? Me thinks you have an unfair advantage.

Discovering that when I can't sleep at night, visualizing fingerings of songs I am memorizing works better than counting sheep. It's a win-win because I am not planning my day, or thinking of my regrets, and I am playing better having rehearsed the most efficient fingering for the song I am memorizing. 

Jan, Thanks for the pick tip. I “acquired” a twenty dollar bill one time… I think will buy one of those picks. It’s unlikely I will be as fortunate as you were in finding yours.  

Shawn, Sounds like some good time spent with the family. And that's pretty good stuff in my book.  

Ken, Gotcha! I heard about this journal on the Dulcimer Geek podcast, but I did not make the connection. Thanks!

I have a few felt picks I occasionally use on my Uke. The Uke has nylon strings, like a classical guitar. If you want to use felt picks on your steel and metal wound dulcimer strings, be prepared to buy more felt picks. They will wear out quickly. But hey, what's the cost of a few picks if they don't disturb our hubby's sleep? In other words, whatever works. 

Ken, excuse my ignorance, but what is DPN? 

Jan, I love that they sell them by the dozen, because they are like Pokemon cards, trade them with friends! I got my Wegen in a trade. (it's so thick that I haven't grown into it yet) Good tip on your choice of pick for fast strumming. I'm a beginner, but it seems like nobody touts the thin picks, for use on the dulcimer. And hmm, I have a few spiral notebooks around somewhere. 

Patricia, I'll leave a positive review on iTunes the 1st chance I get. 

Ken, will you be sharing your photos on FOTMD? Sounds like a very interesting process. 

Ken, I ordered a Herdim 'happy pack' this week when I was ordering some new strings. And then I bought a 12 pack of Dunlop .73 mm guitar picks while I was in my local music supply store, and they are now my current favorite picks. When I get the Herdim pack, it will be interesting to see if I have a new favorite. The only Herdim I have used so far, is the yellow one. It's too soft for me. I wonder how many picks the average dulcimer player owns…

Ken, I enjoyed your interview on the Hearts of the Dulcimer podcast. Having been born, and raised, in Upstate NY, I made many trips to PA. My most memorable was a camping trip just outside the fence of a working Amish farm. The Scheitholt has been added to my list of instruments that I eventually want to play. 

Patricia, I love the NPR quality of the Hearts of the Dulcimer podcast, and can’t wait for more episodes.

Tom, that's exciting! Let me know how you like them. My left hand set is minstrel style, from bone dry, made from teak wood. I like them a lot, although they are very different from my right hand set, made of unfinished walnut. But they both have a mellow sound, and do compliment each other. 

 This may sound weird, but try mixing them up; splitting up the pairs, and see how you likethe sound.

I see what you mean, Wout. Interesting observation.

Very pretty dulcimer Robert. I can see why you were inspired...

It's beautiful Robert, thanks for sharing. 

Interesting, thanks for explaining, Ken.

Good ideas. He already knows I'll Follow You...he sings it too. I play Chords, flatpicking and fingerpicking. Thanks for the great suggestions. What is a "fake book"? Thanks

My son plays folk guitar, I play MD. He is 19, and he has agreed to learn songs we can play together. I like 17th century, and early American tunes, he likes Indie Rock (Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, Benjamin Gibbard, and the like. I am willing to learn modern pieces so that he will actually play his guitar with me, and we can spend some time together playing. I am looking for suggestions for some modern pieces we can learn. Doesn’t have to be Indie Rock, maybe some 70’s tunes. He likes American Pie, and some other songs from the 70’s. Any suggestions?

I met one of my NC neighbors, Gail Webber, at the Carolina Mountain Dulcimer Players workshops in Chapel Hill, NC yesterday. We were in 3 workshops together. I almost bought her McSpadden dulcimer, but one of my fellow Triangle Mountain Dulcimer Association members beat me to it! 

Lisa, I just might do that! Of course it won't be long until I want to learn to play, the I'll want to buy a banjo!

Lisa, that looks like a great site for music and education. I think I recognize one of the members.   <--- YOU!

I bought the album on iTunes because I can play it and practice on the go. But This is a great site for when I'm stuck in the house. Thanks for pointing it out!

Lisa, I don't play minstrel banjo yet...  I was looking around on iTunes for some minstrel banjo tunes, because well, bones go with minstrel banjo, and I came across this album and really liked it. (Also came accross Odetta singing Careless Love, and that video should not be missed!)

Lisa, "an old country song" was a joke.  I like to practice outdoors, and since I've mostly been practicing the rudiments, I am serenaded by the cicada bugs and I see a lot of fireflies.

I have Timothy Twiss' album The Grape Vine Twist (available on iTunes) and I try to play to Narraganset Jig, and Union Jig.   It's a really nice album. Union Jig has bones playing in it, so it's a nice way to hear how they should be played to that song. 

I've been practicing to an old country tune called "Song of the Cicada” out on the back porch, while the fireflies put on lightshows. But seriously, I’m still working on the rudiments of playing. And watching a lot of instructional videos.  

I bought both of my pairs of bones at Bone Dry Music. They do have a lot out of stock, but they had what I wanted, good prices, and a lot of good information. I emailed them a question, Scott sent me a long, very informative email back. 

Yes, I see what you mean. 

Probably the most useful photo! 

Pretty self-explanatory, Wout. I think we can skip the text. Those are kind of cool, and would be real simple to make. Thanks for sharing.  

Wout, Now you've gone and done it. Got us thinking about a Bones comic book hero!

Kandee, thanks for the beeswax tip! I'll be watching for Dom. 

Wout, sounds interesting. And there is no shortage of bamboo in my state. If you find the text, let me know. One questions: Is it in English? My Dutch is a bit rusty. 

Ken, I'll keep looking for the beeswax candle. I'm not in any big hurry, as I am not swinging my arms around in Dom Flemons fashion quite yet. I could order the snot (sorry, couldn't resist) but I do love the smell of beezwax candles. 

How very exciting Lisa! You must really be coming along with your bones playing. I can’t wait to see your skills in that video you promised Bob. (With a few stipulations)

Maybe while I’m at it, I can order some Anti-Monkey Butt Powder to go with my Gorilla Snot. TMI? Do they make anything with a disgusting name that includes bonobos? 

Good to know. Snot it is! Unless I can find a beeswas candle... The honey stand at the farmers market didn't have any. Guess they don't stock candles in an outdoor market in August in the SE. Go figure!