The use of hammer-on, pull-off and slide.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have been known to use slides to cover up mistakes!
Forum Activity for @karen-b
New editor looking for dulcimer stories
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hey there Steve! Congratulations on your new gig! Sandie set a high bar, but they’ve selected a talented guy to follow in her footsteps. Happy to help if you want to pitch an idea. Hope to see you at Halsway.
Wanted: The “next” dulcimer
FOR SALE:instruments/music items/CDs/Wanted to Buy...
My student is looking for a short scale (25-26”) standard dulcimer. Good sustain, mellow tone, no 1.5 fret. Anyone culling their herd and wanting to sell a well loved instrument? Thanks.
updated by @karen-b: 09/19/25 02:07:10AM
David Lynch Baritone
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thank you all. I think the bottom line from your comments is that it will likely make a difference in intonation but I can compensate with changes to the nut and bridge. I guess I don’t want to start down that road. I’ll just have to play more baritone. Thanks for all your help.
David Lynch Baritone
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I have a beautiful David Lynch baritone dulcimer that doesn’t get much use. Can I restring as a standard without affecting intonation? Thanks!
updated by @karen-b: 10/17/25 11:53:36AM
Embellishments
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi all. I’m looking for your favorite novice and intermediate-level tunes that lend themselves to incorporating hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides.
Cicada symphony.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ken Kolodner wrote a great piece in honor of the cicadas during the last invasion that he plays here on the hammered dulcimer.
After spending an afternoon at office supply stores and the Post Office looking for a box --to no avail, I wandered into Golf Galaxy and asked by chance if they had any discarded boxes from a set of clubs or a club carrier. Voila! A sturdy, corrugated box with room enough for peanuts (the biodegradable kind!) around my bubble wrapped dulcimer. Guitar Center also said they would give me a box, but I would have to wait until their next shipment.
Ken Hulme:
When I ship dulcimers, I use the ultra heavy (1/2" thick) cardboard tubes used as concrete molds for piers and posts, which you can find at Home Depot or Lowe's. It costs a couple bucks, but that's not a problem. I cut the tube a few inches over length and make end caps from corregated cardboard and tape one in place with balled up newspaper or whatever for end padding. Inside, I roll the dulcimer up in bubble wrap until it's a snug fit, side it into place, then tape on the other end cap. Because of the shape, any weight place on it or shoved into it tends to be deflected. Either that or the carrier stands it on end.
When I ship dulcimers, I use the ultra heavy (1/2" thick) cardboard tubes used as concrete molds for piers and posts, which you can find at Home Depot or Lowe's. It costs a couple bucks, but that's not a problem. I cut the tube a few inches over length and make end caps from corregated cardboard and tape one in place with balled up newspaper or whatever for end padding. Inside, I roll the dulcimer up in bubble wrap until it's a snug fit, side it into place, then tape on the other end cap. Because of the shape, any weight place on it or shoved into it tends to be deflected. Either that or the carrier stands it on end.
KEN: Thanks for this idea. I see these tubes come in different widths. I'll take my dulcimer to Lowe's to check it out, but what do you usually use?