Idle time. What to do.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@dusty-turtle. Guess it's time for us all to work on our "High Lonesome" sound.
Forum Activity for @rain-dog
The "I have small hands" idea
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Just put me down as one of the Outlaw Dulcimer Players. I sometimes tune the closest melody string to match the middle string and second melody string to match the base. Somebody call the cops!
Idle time. What to do.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
He's such a great lyricist. I've tried to learn Downtown Train on the guitar. Really need to revisit his catalog with the dulcimer in mind. Those are both good songs. Come on up to the house sounds like a gospel song to me, although some might question Tom's spirituality.
Idle time. What to do.
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@terry-wilson "I have decided I like Tom Waits." Tom Waits is great! Actually where I took my user name from.
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I actually use my thumb to pick (pluck) as well. Either middle on base forefinger on middle string and thumb on melody or ring on base middle on middle and forefinger on melody. I've been experimenting with tuning the double melody strings in fifths, so I'm currently tuned base C mid G and melody g and c. So I play cgc with my fingers and cgg if I use my thumb.
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
But as to pulling up on the strings? I would be afraid there might be a chance of the string 'slapping' the frets if string was pulled hard enough.
From Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer Book: "Brace the thumb of the right hand against the side of the fingerboard near the right hand end. Play, with a slight lifting or plucking motion, the melody string and second string with the forefinger, and the third string with the middle finger." Also The Best Dulcimer Method - Yet, (the only Dulcimer book I've seen in the past 40 years) repeats "Play with a slight lift in plucking motion." As far as string buzzing it hasn't been a problem, but my action is a little high. Not nickel and dime, more like a buck and a half.
Didn't know how to post that original quote.
Also sorry it took two weeks to respond, but, life..
updated by @rain-dog: 02/17/20 08:51:12AM
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Although I don't have much experience, compared to others. I kind of pull up on the strings with my fingertips (no nails). It gives the strings a little snap.
Everything Dulcimer - Closing Down.
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
I never was on the original everything dulcimer site, but it looks like someone has started it up again. https://everythingdulcimer.com/
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@irene I'm using a piece of one of those credit cards as the nut on my dulcimer. Where would we be, if our credit wasn't so good?
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Also, pressing on your finger pads with your nails helps build callouses when you're not playing.
Modern Sheet Music/Tab?
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
@geezer I suggest going ahead and learning one song while you're working on fundamentals. That will give you some accomplishment and something to show off. Plus it's more fun than just playing scales.
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@ferrator I think I'll pass on iron skillet trick. I did have a neighbor tell me, when I young to rub my fingertips on a frosty window.
You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
@lisavb. Thanks for putting that in my mind. Now I've sliced my fretting forefinger peeling potatoes. Of course I didn't have any "new skin" and couldn't stay away from my dulcimer so I've ended up ripping off the loose skin. Okay, good time to start building up my thumb.
Sears and Roebuck dulcimers
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
@susie I think it actually sounds pretty good, now that I've got it staying in tune, even strung with some old guitar strings I had laying around. Once I can play "Freight Train" all the way through I'll post an audio. Might get new strings on first.
Sears and Roebuck dulcimers
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
@gstringer Someone has a global Instrument Facebook page, but I don't remember seeing any dulcimers, just guitars.
Sears and Roebuck dulcimers
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
@robin-thompson. Yeah, we where pretty anal as kids. Actually I knew it was the safest way to store it.
updated by @rain-dog: 01/14/20 05:03:39PM
Sears and Roebuck dulcimers
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Here's a picture of the dulcimer from Sears I received for Christmas in 1979. I've kept it in the original shipping box, so I'm including a shot of the label. The label inside the dulcimer says Global Instrument Company LTD.
updated by @rain-dog: 01/14/20 04:44:36PM
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hello to my new friends (otMD). I'm Peter from Indiana, but "I am a rain dog too". I'll try to keep my dulcimer story short. I got my dulcimer for Christmas when I was 15. Had no idea what it was. It came with a folded sheet of paper as instructions. I was into hard rock at the time and really wasn't interested in strumming "Go Tell Aunt Rodie". I did get the book " The Easiest Way To Play Dulcimer Yet". While on vacation in Tennessee probably the following year or so and began trying to learn a little, but it went out of tune constantly. Very frustrating for a teen. Flash forward 30 or so years and I decided to learn guitar ( thanks to Guitar Hero). Still working on that. I had mentioned to my wife, some time ago, I was thinking of making a cigar box guitar. She has been encouraging me to build one, and I started contemplating making a chromatic one. So I thought, I should pull my dulcimer out of the closet. I've kept it in its original shipping box for, now 40 years and messed with it off and on. Now after a little wood putty and some plastic washers it stays in tune. I've been enjoying Blue Grass on my guitar journey. The stars aligned and I found this site. Gonna hit "post" now before I read this and decide I didn't keep it short.