Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/23/12 02:14:26PM
1,485 posts

Wormy Chestnut for dulcimers - Clifford Glenn


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Wow, Geoff, you've got a beauty and a treasure! That headstock is exquisite. And, yes, American Chestnut got hit with a terrible blight. Builders here are happy to get the wood from old barns and buildings that have been torn down.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/23/12 03:26:20PM
1,485 posts

Jam Etiquette - Rules To Pick By...


OFF TOPIC discussions



phil said:

Thanks Robin. Don't worry I wont give up on finding something funny to post. It makes my day to know that I put a smile on someone for a while,

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/23/12 11:02:38AM
1,485 posts

Jam Etiquette - Rules To Pick By...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Aw, gee, Phil, no harm done! As a matter of fact, I enjoyed 'em!

phil said:

AHHHh Nuts I hate to repost something

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/21/12 10:05:32PM
1,485 posts

Makeing Bread


OFF TOPIC discussions

Phil, I make our bread though don't do anything fancy or unusual. Just jumping in to wish you luck in finding a recipe!PS-Do you have any German-speaking friends who may offer guidance?
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/16/12 10:10:33PM
1,485 posts

You might be a dulcimer redneck if . . .


OFF TOPIC discussions

I'm on hold with mountain dulcimers for now. (Got another bowed dulcimer on order.) Feel free to catch-up to me!

phil said:

uh,, oh .... Ok you win you have more than me....... for now

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/16/12 09:57:29PM
1,485 posts

You might be a dulcimer redneck if . . .


OFF TOPIC discussions

Uh, Phil, I'd have to count 'em to give you an exact number.

phil said:

Sounds like you need more Dulcimer Robin. ya just can't have one.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/16/12 09:38:05PM
1,485 posts

You might be a dulcimer redneck if . . .


OFF TOPIC discussions

Yikes, I don't! Maybe my diatonics got broken!

Dan Goad said:

I didn't know that you had a chromatic dulci, Robin.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/16/12 08:04:29PM
1,485 posts

You might be a dulcimer redneck if . . .


OFF TOPIC discussions

Nope. Hb.

Dan Goad said:

Oh, ya found G# did ya, Robin?

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/16/12 07:24:47PM
1,485 posts

You might be a dulcimer redneck if . . .


OFF TOPIC discussions

Well, I know the alphabet further than G. Guess that disqualifies me.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/09/12 09:10:38PM
1,485 posts

Playing with Guitars


Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Beth,

Knowing I, IV, V chords in the keys of D, G, C will take you far. Listen for the chord changes and key off whoever looks to be the most solid rhythm player.

Have fun!

PS-My guitar-playing husband helped me with this. :)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/04/12 10:40:44AM
1,485 posts



Kyle,

Hope you're able to put together more pieces of the Prichard; you've got the makings of a thesis.

Gotta tell you what a thrill it was for me to hear you in a jam outside Halliehurst one night. Just not enough noter & drone players jamming in old-time! I'll not be at Spring Week at Augusta--will be making a couple trips to North Carolina for music doings in April & May.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/02/12 05:45:27PM
1,485 posts



Hey, Kyle, great to see you back here! As you know, I enjoyed reading your paper at Augusta last summer (and hearing you play!) and I look forward to learning more about further research. (It must have taken a fair amount of digging to uncover information about when CN Prichard first came into contact with the dulcimer!)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/25/12 09:14:40PM
1,485 posts

Sheet music collection


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Wow, folkfan, looks like you could be in for several years' worth of fun exploring that site! :)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/22/12 07:30:10PM
1,485 posts



Since I don't like to tune my strings more than one step north or south of home base, I keep instruments set-up for specific home base tunings. For example, from the home base DAA (1-5-5), I'll re-tune to EAA (1-4-4) for the key of A or DGG (1-4-4) for the key of G.

-Prussia Valley Music Box is tuned ddd. You'll often hear this unison tuning referred to as Galax tuning. With the 6.5 fret on this instrument, in this tuning one can play out of D and G without re-tuning. And to get a more haunting sound, I'll use a false nut under the drone strings at the first fret to raise the drones to E.

-Rod Hensley hourglass is tuned Ddd. You'll often hear this 1-8-8 tuning referred to as Bagpipe tuning. This instrument also has a 6.5 fret so one can play out of D and G without re-tuning. As with the PVMB, I'll use a false nut under the drone strings at the first fret to raise the drones to Ee.

-And the other 5 dulcimers, 4 of which are purely diatonic (no "extra frets"), are set-up for some 1-5-5 home base tuning.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/11/12 08:04:01PM
1,485 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Me, too, Dave. Those "imperfections" can give an instrument real character.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/11/12 07:05:58PM
1,485 posts

My two Keith Young Dulcimers


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for sharing the photos of the treasures Keith made for you, Dave! That wormy chestnut is so cool. . .

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/09/12 10:36:23AM
1,485 posts



Well, I'm jumping in again to post another. (Glad folks liked the first one and thanks, Randy, for letting us know that tune was Johnson Boys !)

Here's link to a conversation here about the following video

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/oldstyledronenoterplayers/forum/topics/tim-eriksen-riley-baugus-on?xg_source=activity

and here's the video:

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/03/12 04:10:50PM
1,485 posts



Margie, though I believe this is not Turkey in the Straw , this one would have to be one of my favorites:


updated by @robin-thompson: 02/16/16 10:10:50PM
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/01/12 10:40:41AM
1,485 posts



Wow, Kevin, that's a beauty! I've seen others have replied on your other thread about repair. To me, looks like you've got a gem.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/27/12 09:11:37AM
1,485 posts



Got my fingers crossed for you, Kevin!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/26/12 11:33:59PM
1,485 posts



Do you have any photos to post, Kevin? Someone may have knowledge of the maker yet need a photo to jog their memory. ;)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/11/12 10:30:30AM
1,485 posts

What's up with the headless vids?????


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi, Mandy! I show my head just to torture viewers! Oh, I think the first video I ever made-- a felt pick demonstration-- has me mostly headless. I was home alone when I made that video.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/29/11 03:13:48PM
1,485 posts



Bryan,

For comfort, I prefer a flat noter to a round one and use a thumb-on-top hold. And I have to watch myself that I don't have a "death grip" on my noter.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/25/11 10:11:31PM
1,485 posts

A very wonderful Christmas gift...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Bobby, John Henry has special powers-- he would've known if Strumelia had opened that package!

Strumelia, I don't have to tell you you've got a treasure. And John Henry is a jewel.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/25/11 11:40:25AM
1,485 posts

Requesting input on Nic Hambus dulcimers.


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Vivian, I own dulcimers by different builders. The builders, in no particular order: Jerry Rockwell, Paul Conrad (Timbre Hill), Gary Sager, the Bakers (Blue Lion), Keith Young, and Rodney Hensley. As for my instruments-- I love 'em all. And there are several more builders who make fine instruments. (In the mountain dulcimer world we're most fortunate because there are many good builders; one not need spend $$$$ to get a good, playable instrument. To me, my dulcimers are worth more than they cost.) Though each of my instruments has a different sound, they share one very important quality: they're set-up to play easily. What one is looking for in the sound of an instrument is highly subjective, though.

Happy looking!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/25/13 09:49:24PM
1,485 posts

Sleep In Heavenly Peace Rod


OFF TOPIC discussions

I've thought of Rod today.And the other day, I thought about Bobby's little granddaughter who didn't survive birth and felt happy on the occasion of the birthday of the sweet little girl who did.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/25/12 11:16:19AM
1,485 posts

Sleep In Heavenly Peace Rod


OFF TOPIC discussions

I hope Rod's family feels comfort today.

Rest in peace, Rod. We miss you, friend.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/24/11 11:11:45AM
1,485 posts

Sleep In Heavenly Peace Rod


OFF TOPIC discussions

Dave,

Thanks for your lovely musical tribute to Rod. I'm also glad you posted the YouTube link to his daughter's tribute-- it's so touching. It surely was a shock last Christmas Day to learn of Rod's death. I remember Rod with great fondness. And he was our own dear Deputy Mo.

Blessings to you & yours!

Robin

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/05/11 05:02:19PM
1,485 posts

Playing in a Jam....


Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Benjamin,

If you happen to have a dulcimer with a 6-1/2 fret, you can tune the strings all to D-- either Ddd or go with all light strings and tune ddd-- and you're set for the key of D (tonic open) and the key of G (tonic at 3) without re-tuning.

Some tuners that clip on work well in a noisy setting.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/05/11 10:18:29AM
1,485 posts

Playing in a Jam....


Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Benjamin,

My main dulcimer has no 6-1/2 fret. I use DAA as my home base tuning. For A tunes, I put a false nut under the bass string at the first fret-- a quick way to change tuning to EAA. For G tunes, I go to DGG. Some tunes won't lay-out right in these tunings, so I can either sit them out or just play some basic back-up rhythms.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/01/11 08:11:26PM
1,485 posts

Playing in a Jam....


Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Benjamin,

You can play rhythm when playing back-up. I love to do this in a jam! And it's fun to get creative with rhythms. Since the dulcimer isn't loud, you can experiment. . .

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
11/24/11 10:54:53AM
1,485 posts



I only 'knew' Jack online-- nice fellow!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
10/12/14 09:53:19PM
1,485 posts

What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Flint, I'm so happy to see a you again! Thank you, thank you for the great posting!

Flint Hill said:

Hey, I"m still here too! I'll follow this thread as long as I can draw breath. :)

How about Dock Boggs's "Calvary" ? It's about the grimmest Easter song I know. Lyrics are here , The Carter Family and lots of others, Ralph Stanley among the, recorded it as "On a Hill Lone and Gray" with a different and far less spooky tune.

It's also out there in an earlier and greatly lengthened version as "There's a Hill Lone and Grey". Beverly Francis Carradine published it in 1896 with a tune that resembles the one that the Carters used later.

Dock's version reads like a classical murder ballad. In the first few bars, Dock's tune resembles the one he used for "Reuben's Train". I'd love to find out more about the tune if anyone knows.

Dock's tuning is supposed to bef#CGAD (according to Don Zepp).

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/25/11 09:36:42AM
1,485 posts

Names For Dulcimer Groups


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, just yesterday I told Mark that we could use "Don't Shoot!" as a name for our guitar/dulcimer duo. More appropriately, I should've said, "Please, Don't Shoot!"
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/07/11 03:28:28PM
1,485 posts

YEAH!!!! I finnally got one.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

John,

John Henry said:

Ouch! (but maybe true Robin)

John

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/07/11 11:06:32AM
1,485 posts

YEAH!!!! I finnally got one.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dana, if you ship that Ledford to John H for any adjustments or minor repairs, you might as well it !
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/05/11 11:03:11AM
1,485 posts

YEAH!!!! I finnally got one.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I sure am glad to know Dana, John! And I want to hear her play that Ledford!
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/05/11 09:38:27AM
1,485 posts

YEAH!!!! I finnally got one.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dana, if you need help dealing with John Henry, just let me know. If he takes down Dirge for Dana, we just might have to head across the ocean-- we can either fly or swim --and persuade him to put it back up.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/04/11 09:06:49PM
1,485 posts

YEAH!!!! I finnally got one.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dana, I'm really happy for you! A Winchester gal's gotta have a Ledford.
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