Thanks for the pointers, Dusty. I'm getting together with a couple group leaders and getting their input as well. Then I'll contact a couple possible location sites and take it from there. You are always so helpful. Thanks again, Dulcinina
Yes, you will love that porch. Ours was put on in the spring and it's the best investment we ever made in our home. Morning coffee, meals anytime it suits us and, of course, playing the dulcimer outside. Dulcinina
I'm in Somerset, KY, 75 miles south of Lexington.
I've been asked to head up and form a dulcimer group in my community. I was part of one a couple years ago that someone else started and it folded after several months.
What suggestions do you who lead groups have? How did you advertise? How often to meet? What seems to kill a group once it's formed? Thanks for any suggestions. Dulcinina
Marge, what kind of glue are you using on the leather? Post a picture of your leather thumb slide if you can. I tried a thumb pick for a slide but wasn't satisfied. So far, my old finger works the best. dulcinina
Of all the activities mentioned, you're the ones who had the picture in the paper. Always good to be recognized and appreciated.
Thanks, Dusty. The search is on for a thin board. Can't wait to take the limberjack to my next dulcimer meeting.
I was thinking about limberjacks just a few days ago. In the back of my mind I of sort of remembered having one. Went down into the basement and sure enough there he was in a box. The "board" I have for him is the blade of a ceiling fan. I don't think it works particularly well. Any suggestions for a suitable board? Dulcinina
The Berea group will begin playing at the Visitor Center (depot) on June 20th from 2-4 and will play each Tuesday during the summer. There is no set play list. We usually take turns choosing a song and hopefully we all have the music.
Hey Dulcimerjones, I go to the Nicholasville group when I can. I think we were partners in the finding "Do" exercise. Yes, come to Berea sometime.
Today my dulcimer group from Berea KY got together with the Hindman KY group who came to Berea for a day trip. After they ran around town they came to our Multignerational facility to play with us. There were about 20 folks from Hindman and about 17 of us. Warren May came to listen as did Jean Ritchie's niece.
We had a great time together and a potluck afterward. We had so much fun that we are planning a trip to Hindman soon to play with them. Hindman is about 100 miles from Berea. I drive 90 miles round trip to play with the Berea/Richmond KY group each week. I am so fortunate to live close enough to take advantage of such opportunities.
I'm a fledgling intermediate player and my advice is to seize any opportunity to play with different groups. It's so rewarding. Dulcinina
It's only too late if you don't start now.
We had a screened in porch built on the back of our house in February. Our back yard is long and narrow and completely private. I have 2 wicker rockers, a bistro set and a small table-desk out there. I have old timey perennials that bloom at different times, bird feeders and a bird bath. I play my dulcimer out there a lot. It's a dream come true. Dulcinina
Just watched your you tube demo of the capo. What a great educational video for novices like me. And I loved the sound of the dulcimer you are playing. What is the wood and is it by any chance a Blue Lion? Dulcinina
Thanks everyone. The exercises will be very helpful, Ken.
Marg, what kind of strap do you wear for your thumb?
I know I have arthritis in my thumb so I'll have to be careful about how long I play. I have Herdim picks and will switch off. Thanks again for your input everyone.
I'm a strummer and practice/play at least an hour each day. I also play with 2 groups a week which amounts to 2 hrs each of playing with them.
So I think I stressed my hands a couple weeks ago. The 10 min I referred to was just to start playing again, I never heard of the Herco thumb flat pick but will definitely look into it.
Thank you for responding. If the pain persists, I definitely will consult a doctor.
A week ago my rt hand thumb hurt so bad I couldn't play. It's mostly in the joint and meaty part of the thumb. I could not hold a pick. No, I do not have a death grip on the pick. So I did not play for about 5 days, did alternative heat and ice. It's only so-so. I play for maybe 10 minutes a day. But the thumb is still sore and I don't want to stress it anymore.
Anyone else have these issues and what suggestions do you have. Dulcinina
This is a timely discussion for me because I was just thinking about my frets yesterday. I have a beautiful FolkRoots dulcimer with a rich sound that I love. I've had it less than a year. But when I slide across the strings it feels like I'm going over speed bumps. I am a beginner/intermediate player and working hard to play smoother. So maybe I need to think about having the frets replaced/lowered.
I live close to Warren May but don't know if he'd work on a dulcimer he didn't make. Any comments from you experienced players?
OK. Thanks for the advice. We'll just have to give it a try. It's for our own amusement.
A friend who plays piano wants to accompany me as I play the dulcimer. Any of you have suggestions for suitable music? I'm an intermediate/beginner so it needs to be simple. I was leaning toward hymns but am open to any suggestions. Dulcinina
What an inspiring article. I copied it to share with my dulcimer group. Thank you, Dulcinina
Thank you. I saw those videos a while back and forgot about them. Watching the 2nd video made me aware of the elbow up thing that I do. I'll have my husband take a video of me so I can see what I'm doing. Not sure I'll actually post it. I have learned that wine and playing don't mix for me. I make more mistakes than usual. So I practice before happy hour. Thanks again.
I think I'm developing some bad habits while practicing. I mostly have neck pain and am very stiff. I loosen up before and after playing but still have lots of stiffness. I take breaks and have played in front of a mirror to see what I'm doing. I know I cock my head to the right and am trying to correct that. What advice and suggestions do you have for good form and ergonomics. Nina
Hi Everyone, I changed my bass string using the bass string from my old dulcimer. We have one music store and the guy was as helpful as he could be but had never even seen a dulcimer before. And I live in south central KY! He pulled out some strings and we eyeballed it. They don't carry individual strings anymore, and I had to buy a pack. I put on the string and promptly broke it. So I took off the bass string from my other dulcimer and I have no idea the gauge. But it plays much better. Now I have a couple sets of melody and middle strings. They'll eventually get used.
I also trim the string before winding. I couldn't get as close to the end as I wanted for the final trim and there's a sharp end sticking out. Wished I had read the hint about leaving enough string to make a little kink at the end. This dulcimer has different tuning pegs than I'm used to. The middle and melody strings have nothing sharp sticking out and I can't imagine how they trimmed the strings so close. I was glad to read all the responses.
Nina
Thanks, guys. I got on Strothers string gauge site and it recommended a 19. So I'm going to try and 20 and 22 and see how I like them.
Is there a way to determine the string gauge on strings on my dulcimer. I bought a Folkart at KMI and the bass string seems kind of heavy. The dulcimer is a 27.5 VSL and the body depth deeper than traditional dulcimers. I know that a heavier gauge gives a louder sound but I'm having a little trouble pressing the bass string and some buzzing. It's a wound metal gold string. We have a local music store and the people know a lot about guitars but nothing about dulcimers. Any suggestions? Nina
Yep, Dusty, it was the spider exercise. And I just looked on my cell and there is a voice recorder. Who knew? You all have been so helpful. Thanks again.
Thanks for all your suggestions. What do people record on a device? I actu8llay took a workshop from Aaron at Pine Mountain where you gave us a funky finger exercise. Still trying to do that. I am going to get out of my comfort zone. Thanks for the encouragement to do that. Nina
I need advice from veterans of instructional festivals. This is my first time at a long music week and I wonder what I should bring with me besides my dulcimer, music stand and picks. Are there things you always take or wish you had brought? I'm already feeling overwhelmed by the classes. I've been playing a year and my dulcimer group leader said I need to start taking intermediate classes. Dulcinina
Thank you Dusty and Annie for your input. Sorry I piggy-backed on the string discussion. I realized my error after I posted. Warren May's studio is in Berea and I plan to visit soon. I thought he might be out of my price range but since I have such a great resource so close I'm definitely going to check it out.
Dusty, you gave me lots to consider and I appreciate the details. After reading your response I've decided my "scrunching" problem is due to instrument position. I do use my thumb a lot and some pinky. I've tried angling the dulcimer as in your video with little success in the past. As I said, the action on my dulcimer is high and I really have to press hard to get the note/sound. I am able to play my instructor's dulcimer with much more ease.
The search is on. What fun. Nina
The advice to Jane was just what I needed to read because I'm champing at the bit to get a new dulcimer and was ready to call a builder in my area to set up an appointment to try out his instruments. My dulcimer was made in '87 by someone who built as a hobby. The action is high and probably is meant to be played with a noter, which is how I started. I belong to a group in Berea, KY and the leader has brought 3 of her dulcimers for me to play--Folkcraft, Blue Lion and McSpadden. I, too, want a warmer, mellower sound and so far found it in the McSpadden. But I want to buy an instrument I can try out before I buy.
The length on my dulcimer from nut to bridge is 27" and I feel like I'm scrunching to reach the 9th and 10th frets. I am an average size woman with small hands. I know what I want in sound but am confused by some of the language when I've done research. What is considered a starter or beginner dulcimer? McSpadden's website refers to "bridge compensation option" if you want to play in DAD. What's that?
I was planning to wait until the Ohio Valley Gathering in Feb. in hopes of trying out several instruments. What other things should I look for? Dulcinina from the Beginner Group.
