Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

http://ebonyhillbillies.com

For those who have never heard of The Ebony Hillbillies, a band with a mountain dulcimer, have a look.  Enjoy! 

Strumelia has special glasses to look through when inspecting instrument photos.  And I suspect they give her x-ray vision, too! 

When I had younger, healthier hands I enjoyed my wooden-pegged beauties. 

Kimberly, that's outstanding!  How neat you've got a mix of instruments to get a stringband sound.  :)

Brian, that instrument sounds fantastic!  (Everything you play sounds fantastic, truth be told.)

Thank you, dear Strumelia!  I hope those same wishes are met for you throughout the coming year. 

JJNiles is an acquired taste, I think. ;) 

The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles only contains a single mention of both dulcimers and the Ritchie family, according to a quick check of the index.  

Wow, Brian, I've never before seen a harp dulcimer-- way cool!  Your Gallier's a beauty, too! 

Thank you, Skip, George, and John P for responding!  I have not yet had opportunity to go further in exploring the problem with the tuner-- I now have guidance to help.  Thanks again, friends! 

Skip, the tuner didn't seem to be slipping in the wood.  It's late so I'll not fiddle with the thing tonight. . . Thanks for your advice!  

I've tightened the end screw-- the screw on the outside end of the wooden button-- and the tuner still slips/turns free.  If you have experience working with Grover Star planetary tuners, please advise. 

There are a few tunes I'd thought I'd never play. . . Black Mountain Rag was one of them.  Surprisingly, when Mark and I were just jamming over the weekend, BMR just started to fall into place.  

St. Ann's Reel is a tune I've never gotten worked out to my satisfaction.  Maybe someday! 

Lexie, I hope you'll be able to travel southeast someday and visit, play some tunes and share in fellowship at a mountain dulcimer gathering! 

Happy birthday, Susie! 

Rob, great run- down of the weekend!  I felt like I'd made it to Appalachian Dulcimer Promised Land in Hindmam!  I hope to go back! 

PS- Kathy V and I had been, unknowingly, assigned to the apartment Jean Ritchie, George Pikow, and Edna Ritchie used when they visited Hindman.  It seemed the history of the school and the village was present.

Walt, though I have no idea who built the dulcimer, it's great that you've got it singing!  Good luck with your search! 

Dana, I imagine the vacation you, Jan, and Gail have had has been good for each of you girls!  Hugs from me! 

I have one of the late-Walt Martin's Sunhearth dulcimers-- a Lorraine Lee model-- and it's wonderful instrument.  The tone is lovely, it's easy to play, and the craftsmanship is impeccable.  

Also, I have a cool little instrument-- a small Kentucky hourglass with a diatonic fretboard-- built by Jerry Rockwell.  The noter sounds so fine on this small-waisted instrument.  

Hey, Kimberly!  Laura Elder has been part of a regular group in Lancaster OH for some years.  If she doesn't see this post, you could contact her privately.  

PS- I want to meet you when/if I ever get back to Roanoke! :)

I got my first dulcimer ten years ago this month (I think).  It was made by Tom Yocky.  Though I no longer own it, it got me on my dulcimer journey.  And I can't helpbut wonder whether it still has a home in the UK (with the fellow who bought it from me). . . 

John, I'm thinking our own Ken Bloom did studio work on Monkees' music back in the day. . . 

D, I used to have calluses from playing bowed dulcimer and look forward to developing them again when life allows.  :)

Sam, I can well imagine that's difficult, frustrating.  With a family history of dementia, I've felt concern over some of my own lapses.  If I'm on the road to dementia, I'm hoping I'll always love music, appreciate it some way. 

D Chitwood, have you determined what about your play is giving you the callus on the side of your thumb?  

PS- i didn't even notice anything about a misspelling!  Even if I had I wouldn't have cared.  ;)

The cross is really lovely, Charles.  It's neat you know what the various elements symbolize.  

Don't forget the alternate lyrics--  my favorite lyrics at one time.  I assume these were never copyright protected.   :) 

Happy birthday to you

You live in the zoo

You look like a monkey

And you act like one, too!   

A positive game-changer for me was when I realized Strumelia and a few other experienced players were right when they emphasized the importance of being solid with rhythm.  A wrong note isn't going to throw a jam off the rails but being off with rhythm can throw things all out of whack.  Once this sunk in, it caused me to try to pay particular attention to rhythm. . . I always need to work at it.  It's fun work, though! 

You've had another successful fest in Winchester, Dana!  Way to go! 

Dance a jig at the Ledford fest, Dana!  

I'm glad you got that private bones lesson from Dom, Lisa!  I'd like to get to play in a duo of Appalachian dulcimer with a bones player someday.  (Hint, hint) And also with fotmd member Abby Spoon Lady who is a master of the spoons.  :)

Hey, Ken, you met some of my FOTMD/in-person friends!  And I can attest to Bev's skill in the kitchen. 

I like to keep things as simple as possible.  :)

You could record with the microphone on your computer, save the file to convert to mp3, then attach the file to an email to your daughter. 

John, you covered the topic nicely!  I'd like to add a brief mention about how using a false nut (small piece of wood or other hard material) under the drone strings makes re-tuning a lap dulcimer with zither pins fairly easy. 

So glad to have Bob, Jan, and Sam be a part of the Mod Squad! 

PS- A bit of trivia: FOTMD's own Ken Bloom was one of the musicians who performed the music for the pilot of The Mod Squad television series. 

It sounds like a great time was had by y'all had there in NC!  Friends, food, and good music are all tops in my book. :)

I have 7 Appalachian dulcimers here at home and two out on loan.  A few are diatonic instruments and a few have the 6.5 and 13.5 frets also.  I use a variety of tunings; my box dulcimer is always strung with light gauge strings and tuned to ddd.  Each instrument has a unique voice-- and I like that! 

I just pick up quills (that look to be of the sizes I like) when out walking.  though most of them have, likely, been attached to a turkey, I think not all I collect are turkey feathers.  And I'm not too particular. :)

Cool, Sheryl!  A quill makes a really nice sound on strings. 

There's just something about an old friend that's extra nice.  Lovely work!