Like Robert, I make my picks from various plastic lids and containers. (I cut them into a big kidney bean shape.) They are big enough I have lots of points of contact so can have a very loose hand to hold one. Unless I'm strumming the daylights out of something and I hold tighter. :)
Good golly, is Sally (Anne) sweet or what! <3 And I love the tune of the same name-- one of my favorites.
Maybe it's just me yet I would not try to take a .014 string up to D from an A.
jp, if you are able to post photos, it may help folks offer the most helpful advice.
Before Heidi & Bob moved west, I was fortunate to get to hear them in Lancaster OH!
Thanks a million, Greg! I've traveled through Logan hundreds of times and Hide-A-Way Hills is in the Hocking Hills region, a rural area. I hope I'll be able to find time to do some investigation into Amburgeys in the area!
Wow, in the Logan Daily? Was there a connection between the Amburgeys and Logan OH?
I think chorded zither (autoharp) makers will use an old piano to get wood for the pin block.
Sam, if the old piano has real ebony keys, those are of value.
I look forward to hearing you make it sing, Stewart!
Volha, you have been given excellent advice!
I have a cherry dulcimer made by Rodney Hensley that looks just like yours and it, too, sounds wonderful.
I hear you, Strumelia! :)
Strumelia, go for the erhu! :)
I have one of their cd's and want to get the other one. The music is captivating.
Dusty, I, too, like Jeff's percussive sounds.
Rob, I wish I could've gone to Jerry's fest in '16 and heard 2/3 of the group.
I listened to Appalasia's music on my car's cd player this evening. Listening reminded me how much I like their unique blend of instruments and evocative compositions.
Hey, I'd love to get to meet you and play some tunes someday, Stewart! I'm a full-time caregiver for my folks but am, I hope, in the waning months of this. (Make no mistake-- I love my parents. But my life has revolved around theirs for some years. . . ) When you have an OH trip planned sometime, drop me a PM!
Wow, Stewart, my home is in WayneNF-- in the southern Perry County section! And my husband taught in Morgan County, right next door to Washington County. Small world.
Stewart, I was just in Marietta yesterday, taking my folks on a day trip. About 1.5 hour drive from their house. (My home is closer to Marietta than is theirs.)
You boys can rest easy tonight.
Stewart, I think you can send him a private message regardless of "Following" status.
Sure, you need it for noter play! ;)
PS- Randy Adams is the dulcimer player I listen to most! I've got a playlist. :)
Hey, I like it, Stewart! Have fun working on it!
I can offer no information, William, but the dulcimer is a treasure!
I've had the pleasure of visiting Mr May's shop on a couple different visits to Berea.
Thanks for the posting, Stewart!
I am so sorry to see this! And hope some folks may still get together.
It is sad to me that an area which has figured prominently in the development of the modern lap dulcimer will not have a fest to celebrate the people and its history in the development and popularizing of the mountain dulcimer.
Yes, a group photo!
Maybe next year I can make it to Hindman.
@mathom You've got a treasure!
I hope it doesn't get so cold you're forced to burn a mountain dulcimer! If you have a hammered dulcimer, it will burn longer. ;)
Thanks, Ken! When I got to the Hindman fest in '15, I loved it!
Ken L's got it, John K. There's something in the works for getting word out here in near future, though.
Don, have fun! Playing in different keys takes practice and it's a great skill to acquire.
If a miracle of some kind takes place-- some unforeseen postive happening-- I may be able to make it.
I'd had hopes of getting to attend. Then the attempts at getting my parents moved into Senior house failed. So, likely, I'll still be living with my folks in March.
