Forum Activity for @jimmy-lamar

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

Yes. It was signed on the inside. It says “Mountain Dulcimer # 90, Made By Keith Johnson, Sporting Hill, PA 1/88. I have been in contact with his daughter and recently his granddaughter. His daughter told me he was, by trade, an engineer, and that he is deceased.

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

Is your Mom Karen F.? I have been in contact with her.

I started out taking clarinet lessons at age 10, I was the only boy in the elementary/junior high orchestra. They combined the kids back then, I guess for a lack of players. In the late ‘70s early ‘80s, I started fooling around on the Hohner Marine Band harps (diatonic).
Fast forward to about 1997, I started taking tenor sax lessons for about almost 2 years.

I also mess around with a recorder, pennywhistle, and ocarina.

I still have all these instruments, and I occasionally indulge myself, especially on the clarinet. I love to play the blues on the clarinet, which is a genre that is typically not associated with the instrument.

Music must be in my blood

OFF TOPIC discussions

Thank you Robin! Yes, I love that photo, because I know it’s him. My grandmother verified it 30 years ago, and I have another photo of him to verify that it’s the same man. And, his name is on the photo caption, which I cut out of the shot I posted here.

Also, I forgot to add that, the small town I live in here in PA (1300 pop.), still has their own band. The practice hall is half a block from my house, and in the warmer weather, one can here the music because they open the doors. Ah, tonight is their practice night! Maybe I will hear them. I might consider auditioning for them (on clarinet) when I retire.

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 04/08/19 06:20:34PM

Music must be in my blood

OFF TOPIC discussions

I know music is in my blood, although it skipped a couple generations. This pic shows my paternal  great grandfather who was the band leader. He is on the far left in the back row (kind of in the shadows). I don’t know if he played an instrument for sure, but he probably did. If he did, it was probably a cornet. I just noticed something this morning. If you look closely around his belt line, it appears that there might be a bell of some horn there. I never looked at it closely until today. I always thought it was a pocket watch chain. This was a small town band, which, as many of you know, were quite popular during this time period. I am not certain of the date of the photo. If I had to guess, it was around the late 1890s-1910. My great grandfather was a home builder and carpenter by trade.

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 04/08/19 09:30:03AM

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music

OFF TOPIC discussions

“It is the lark that sings so out of tune. Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.”

from Romeo And Juliet

In What Key is The CC-A-D Tuning?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks DT & KH. That helps tremendously!!

In What Key is The CC-A-D Tuning?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I know it’s Aeolian mode, but what key is it?

How Do I Attach Photos To A Post?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I don't see an option like a paperclip icon or anything that allows me to attach photos to a post. Sorry to bug anyone. I figured it out. I didn't scroll down far enough.

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 03/22/21 10:37:39AM

My First String Change....Whew!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


👍

My First String Change....Whew!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Yup, that’s what I meant. I suppose a guitar capo would work okay on a scalloped fretboard, but you probably couldn’t nail every fret, and it would have to be a strap-style capo.

My First String Change....Whew!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Ha! Funny you say that, because I too have an autoharp that I bought used about 3 years ago, and I have not yet done a string change. That seems like such a daunting task, that I’m okay with the old strings for now.

Thanks for that huge tip about the capo. My fingerboard doesn’t allow me to use a standard capo, but I’ve been wanting to buy a dulcimer capo anyway.

My First String Change....Whew!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have been playing dulcimer for about a month and a half, and I thought that a string change was in order. The strings looked slightly oxidized, and who knows where this dulcimer was stored, or how long it’s been since the strings were changed.

It takes me about 15-20 minutes to change my guitars’ 6 strings, but I’ve done it so many times.

I was surprised that it took me 45 minutes to change 4 dulcimer strings! At first I thought, “Now why won’t these loop ends stay on the pins?” Then it came to me: I must hold the loop on with a finger, then tighten the tuning head simultaneously with the other hand.

Sounds great with new strings though, and I’m sure that it won’t take as long the next time.

“Shinga Shing Shinga Shing Ching Chang”

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That’s how my wife described my dulcimer playing earlier this week. I am a beginner, and I only began playing about a month ago. That was the first time she had heard me play the dulcimer. I have been waiting until she goes to bed to play, so as not to bother her.

Later that evening, I asked her what she meant by that. She said she didn’t mean it in a bad way, but that “it was really different than your guitar”.

How did your spouse/significant other react when they first heard you playing?

What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

"This Land Is My Land"

"Oh, Shenandoah"

"Old McDonald"

"She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain"

"On Top Of Old Smokey"

"The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomand"

I know there were more, but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

My favorite one, of which I can't remember the title, went something like this: " There was a little princess a long time ago".  If anyone can remember this song, that would be great.

 

what was your first song on the dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just got my first mountain dulcimer a couple of months ago, so I’m still wet behind the ears. But, being a songwriter, my first song was an original entitled “What’s It Look Like?”. I didn’t write the words yet though, because I’m still trying to get the chords worked out. I thought It sounded pretty darn good until I recorded it. Holy cow is it slow! There are long breaks between chords, because I don’t have that muscle memory yet. Whew! Hey, but that’s why we record right, so we can hear our mistakes?

Marc Bolan Dulcimer?

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

@grahame-hood

That was a bit disappointing that there was no Bolan connection to the dulcimer. It was making sense to me because he was an innovator, IMO. I guess we have to settle for Mr. Brian Jones as the top rock ‘n roll dulcimer guy for now, but thank you for bird dogging that possible lead.

Marc Bolan Dulcimer?

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

@grahame-wood

I did a quick search, and I couldn’t come up with anything that associates Mr. Bolan with a dulcimer.

How Do I Ditch This Chat Pop-Up?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Thanks Duster and Strummy.

How Do I Ditch This Chat Pop-Up?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I clicked on the chat button out of curiousity, and now I can't get rid of it,  and it comes up every time I sign on.

I'm not a new guy, but in a way I am.  I joined several years ago, but took a long hiatus.

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I might try copy and paste with my phone, because 90% of the time I use my phone for the internet.

Thanks Ken!

Thanks Strummy!

Thanks. Got it. It wasn't working because I was using my phone, and I guess phones don't have that ability. 

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I quoted someone a couple weeks ago, but now I forget how I did it.

In other words, how do I copy someone’s post, so that I can comment about it?

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 11/08/22 12:53:29PM

Probably the one I’m building now, because it’s being built the way I want: Spruce top, black walnut bottom and sides, 2”-2 1/4” deep, with a VSL between 26”-27”, and geared tuners.

I like the one I bought a couple of months ago. It was built by a local guy, and it’s the one I’m teaching myself on. Hey, it’s nice to have at least two, right?

New Traditions Dulcimers

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

Do you have a pic of the one you’re interested in?

Need Chords For D-A-C Tuning!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks so far for everyone’s response!

JL

Need Chords For D-A-C Tuning!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It seems that there are not very good resources for Mountain dulcimer chords on the internet. Even the ones I find are just basic cowboy chords.

Does anyone have a good dulcimer chord resource? Can anyone give me some chords for the DAC tuning that utilize more of the neck?

Any help would be appreciated!

JL

 

Phrygian Tunings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Howdy,

I’m new to dulcimer playing, and I am beginning to experiment with different tunings. I was curious as to how some of you tune to the Phrygian mode.

Also, does anyone have a good open Am tuning, that is if such an animal exists?

JL

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 11/12/18 11:22:42AM

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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


Was your’s signed on the inside, and was there any other information given, or do you know anything else about Mr. Johnson?

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

@robin-thompson No. That’s why I posted this thread.

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

Thanks much Alan!

How do you search for other members?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Thanks Dusty!

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

@alan-thompson
Are you viewing from a computer?

How do you search for other members?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I type their name in the search box and hit “done”, but nothing happens.

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

I tried to view the pics and I couldn’t. Let me know if you can view them. I’m using an iPhone.

I had trouble yesterday when I tried to download a pdf file that Ken Hulme posted. I was not able to get it in a viewable format.

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

More pics of Keith Johnson dulcimer.

Keith Johnson Dulcimer

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

I recently purchased this dulcimer on an online auction. It is signed in pencil as “Mountain Dulcimer by Keith Johnson, Sporting Hill, PA-1988”.

i just wondered if anyone ever heard of him, or if he might be a member here.

There was a sales receipt in the case that shows it was purchased by a former owner at a music shop In Campbelltown, PA for 174.00. I picked it up for 85.00.

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Dulcimer Strings

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

Thanks everyone thus far for your input. My dulcimer was signed by a Kevin Johnson. Anyone ever hear of him?

Dulcimer Strings

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


The volume. But I am coming from an acoustic guitar background.

To answer your question, the sound is whimpy. But I understand that it’s a more mellow instrument.