Forum Activity for @rob-n-lackey

At that time Buck White had a honky tonk band (Buck White and the Countrymen) in Ft Smith, Ark. which played at a nightclub.  He was also the star of Little Joe's Country Caravan, a 30 minute country music show sponsored by Norcross Dodge, on KFSA (now KSFM) TV in Ft Smith.  I remember that for 2 reasons: I sang on that show a few times and I got a crush on one of his girls who sang on one of the same shows I did.

I also remember that old man dancing at the folk center for over half the show.  I wondered how in the world he had the energy to do that.  Even tho' my Grandfather was from Timbo, we didn't go to Stone County much.  Wish I could go back to that time and learn from some of those folks.

Sheryl mentioned this tune in a recent post.  I had never heard it, so I went looking.  Here's what I found tabbed out 3 ways.  Please check it out and see if it's playable, etc.

Cherokee Waltz.pdf - 78KB

If I had a week to devote to a festival, I believe it would be Kentucky Music Week.  The variety of workshops and instructors is my reason, although I don't know if I'd take more than 3.  I used to think if I wasn't involved every hour in some sort of workshop I wasn't doing it right.  Now I'm more selective and think I learn more or at least retain more. 

Classical mandolin, eh?  I'm arranging some baroque tunes for dulcimer.  Maybe I should write a mandolin part?  Have you heard David Schnaufer & Butch Baldassari's album "Appalachian Dulcimer & Mandolin?"  Just the 2 instruments in the hands of 2 modern masters.

Pick tunes that most people know to start, even if they have to use the tab.  Keep a steady rhythm.  Don't go too fast, at least the 1st couple of time through.  Sometimes up here in the club jams they play a song through twice at a slower tempo for the beginners then play it up to speed the last 2 times.  Encourage the more advanced players to play a harmony part or chords if they can.  Let everyone have a turn picking out a tune to play.  For me, 4 times through each is enough, although if it's short or you're trying to learn it more times would be fine.  Lastly, just because everyone doesn't "know" the tune that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it.  If 4 or 5 folks do know then the others can watch the hands of those that do and try to pick it up.

Hope this helps

Sheryl, we do our Wartz'n'All gatherings here in different places every time.  We've gotten some interest from folks who see us playing and wondering "what in the heck are those things."  It also helps make travel time easier for some, i.e. you don't have to drive the same distance all the time.  We find a park, cheap building, etc and try to advertise it here, on ED, sometimes in the newspapers, flyers in the local music stores and announcements at dulcimer club meetings.  You need a core of 3 or 4 folks is all to start.  If you do it, they will come.

I'd have the beginner's part 1st in the meeting.  30 minutes is a good amount of time for them.  That way the others can come in "late" and not miss anything.  New music, techniques, Q & A sessions are all good things for the meetings.  I'd see about newspaper ads or an article: "New Dulcimer Group Forming" as the headline.  A comfortable place to meet is another consideration.   Hopefully, you can get enough interest that you can have eventually have guest instructors hold workshops and concerts.  Wish you all the success in the world.

My first (and only for many years) was a Fred Martin of Swannanoa, NC. 

I had visited a friend in KY in the early 80's who has a Homer Ledford dulcimer.  I brought my guitar and we played some; he let me fool with the Ledford and I thought it interesting.  I decided I wouldn't mind adding one of those to my instrument collection as I was kind of getting back into folk music.  Living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland at the time I would go back to Oklahoma through the middle of North Carolina on I-81 and I-40.  I had no idea I was passing by some of the great makers in Banner Elk, Boone, Black Mountain, Swannanoa, etc. 

But one day while returning from OK to MD I saw a sign.  No it wasn't a dulcimer in the sky it was by the interstate and said something to the effect, "largest collection of hand made dulcimers in one place."  The sign was between 2 exits so i got off at the next one and couldn't for the life of me find the place.  I forgot about it until I was going to OK and saw the sign again.  I got off at the other exit the sign was between and still couldn't find the place.  Again for a while the place lay buried in my memory, but sometimes it would resurface and I'd think, "I gotta find that place and get me one of those dulcimers."

In Dec. 1987 when returning home to MD I saw the sign again and immediately pulled my Delta 88 over on the shoulder.  You could see a little house to the south of the highway so I took a piece of paper and drew a crude map of the roads I could see.  I got off at the next exit, and sure enough I found the place.  I pulled into the little parking area and got out; I'm sure I looked a sight.  I had on an old flannel shirt, bib overalls, boots; my hair was not quite as long as it is now, and my beard scragglier (but not yet white.)    I walked in.  The room was kind of dim, but I could see an older man sitting there.  He looked me up and down and kind of nodded.  I was overwhelmed by the number of dulcimers hanging on the walls.  All were teardrops, all were 4 independent strings (I think.) I started looking at them noticing each one had a tag which told the wood and the price.

"There's one tuned up over there if you want to try it," the man said.  "Thank you, sir," I replied.  It was on a table; tuned DAdd though I didn't really know that at the time.  I picked up the pick laying beside it and began to strum quietly, fingering the frets on the melody string to see where the notes were.  Suddenly it hit me; it was "Little Rosewood Casket" I was picking out.  I started to strum more rhythmically  and let the notes ring out.   The old man came and stood by me, watching, as I went through it the 3rd time.  After I lay down the pick he asked, "What kind of dulcimer do you have?"  I told him I had none.  He then asked, "Well, how'd you learn to play like that?"  I told him about fooling with my friend's Ledford for that weekend a few years before.  I then played the O'Kane tune (which is sung sometimes to "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand.")  When I finished he said, "Son, that's the best one in the shop.  It's all mahogany.  If you want if it's yours for $95."  "I have one question," I replied.  "What's that," he said.  "Will you take a check?"  Mr Martin laughed, "Yes, I believe I will."  So I brought back to MD Fred Martin, all mahogany, #600 dulcimer; made January 1987.  It's still a beautiful instrument both in sound and looks.  I think I'm going to tune her up and pick out a tune.

Dusty, The one on the cover of David's "Learning the Mt Dulcimer" DVD was made by the deceased TN luthier.  I believe it was Koa as well.   About 2 years ago it's "twin" was up on Ebay.  Way out of my price range, but I sure did have lust in my heart for it. 

On David's album "Appalachian Dulcimer & Mandolin" he plays a Jerry Rockwell large hourglass set up as a baritone on one cut.

From the Winter 1989 DPN interview with David Schnaufer:

"What Kinds of dulcimers do you play?

   My main one that I've played since 1978 is a Bonnie Carol; it's all koa wood and four-stringed.  I also use a Blue Lion.... The other one I use is a Capritaurus dulcimer also from California made by Micheal Rugg.

How did they come to play in the recording of the album?

   I used the Bonnie Carol on everything but 'Mr Snow;' 'Steel Guitar Rag' and 'Blue Moon of Kentucky."

This would be the "Dulcimer Deluxe" album which was the only one he'd recorded at the time except for his parts on both Alan Freeman's albums "Out of the Cold" (which is Jew's harp only) and "Hogfiddler's Fancy" which they do dulcimer duets.  Not sure about what he would have used, but based on the DPN interview one has to assume it's the Bonnie Carol he used on it as well.

Dusty, If you've heard David Schnauffer's Dulcimer Player Deluxe cd, I believe he plays a Bonnie Carol on some of that.  I'll see if I can find out which cuts.

I've posted a few with my Jerry Rockwell large hourglass.  It's my absolute favorite dulcimer though I do play others.

I don't think those are machine heads; I think they're just pegs stuck in the top of the headstock.  There are a couple pics in one of Ralph Lee Smith's books of that style peg.  I'll try to find them and see if any of them are similar.  It's a wide body, like a Galax.  So it may be (at least) a 1st cousin to one.  LOL.  I notice the Fender bag/cover behind it.  Is there a lot of musical stuff there?

How many strings does that thing have?  I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that.  Without looking at it and playing it, I'd be hard pressed to give a figure on what I'd give for it.  Sure does look interesting though.

Ken, for some reason I figured you'd get the reference.     I still think beater is the best name for it, although I have heard it called a hammer.

Oh my!  I can hear me doing a workshop on this technique and saying, "Ok, now, knockers up."

Anyone get the reference       Think 60s.

I use a beater I got from Jean & Lee Schilling's shop about 30 years ago.  I thought it was a noter when I bought it.  I later got a noter from them as well as many books and records.  Anyway...  here's a little thing I did with a beater a few years ago.  They can be quite fun.

http://fotmd.com/rob-n-lackey/uploaded_video/260/green-grow-the-laurel-lilacs

Yep, I'd do the same were I there.

I use an unwound bass on a couple of mine: a Keith Young hourglass and a John D Tignor large hourglass. Keith Young and the Schillings (Jean & Lee) sold and McSpadden at least sell "squeakless" strings with an unwound phosphor bronze bass string. True, you lose a little sustain, but it is an interesting sound.

Here's a link to a video you may know about already; I reckon it's  the only one of Richard and Mimi playing it.  The video and the sound aren't in synch, but you can get the idea from it.  I think he's playing in DAd based on his tuning at the beginning and the position of the chopstick he's using as a noter.  That being said, I think it sounds good in DAA and John P's notes should be able to get you started.

Neal Hellman's made his "Richard Farina Dulcimer Book" available as a free pdf, but that song's not in it, perhaps because Mimi and Joan's sister Pauline is credited with authorship.  Some say she just gave him the title, but he wanted her to have something material from the idea.

http://gourdmusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/liberating-richard.html

That is so good to hear Dana.  Wish I could be there this weekend, but I can't make it.  Hope to see you sometime, and I'm glad you got such a great report!

John P...  I'm interested if no one else is!

As far as playing a tab in a different tuning than the tab, there are 2 easy options:  If the melody of  your DAd tab is solely on the melody string, you can tune EAA and play the melody string with drones.  Same for DAA tab, you can tune to DGd and play the melody string with drones.  

Jan, I've seen that head, too, but it was on Edsel, not Fred.  Seems that Edsel based some of his carvings of hillbillies on folks he knew.  Now that they're all gone, we probably won't know who they are.  I will say on the dulcimer in question the Eagle looks good enough to be Edsel's (not sure about the glass eyes, tho') and the pegs look "right."

Jan....  I thought it said Gertrude Martin on the back of the head and that might have been the owner.  My assumption, incorrect it seems, was that it had an Edsel label in it.

No, Jan, Fred told me they're Egyptian heads since the Bible speaks of dulcimers in Eqypt.  As far as I know, and remember from seeing all the instruments in his shop, the heads were identical on Fred's.

No, Fred, died several years ago.  After I bought my 1st dulcimer from him, I'd stop at the shop when I was in the area and talk to him for a little while.  Nope, never seen nor heard of a "Genuine Martin."  I'd think they were the kind of folks who wanted their full name on them.

Jan, there were 3 Martin brothers, Fred, Edsel & Wade.  Fred made a lot of dulcimers all with a carved "Egyptian" head on the scroll.  Edsel carved all sorts of things on his.  Wade... well, not sure how many he made.  Fred told me, "not many."  

Nice, Cynthia.... so you're in Bb?  it fits your voice well.  Got out my dobro.... played along.

Sheryl, Dom has left the Drops and has his own group now.  I saw one of the last performances up here in Morgantown of the Chocolate Drops with Dom.  It was great!  His new group is probably not to the taste of a lot of old time music lovers, but I like it too.  I'd love to add a dulcimer to either group sometime, if they'd have a pitiful player like me.

Met David Pedersen on my trip hope to Oklahoma.  Played for 2 or 3 hours together.  Then, as has been said several times, Ken Backer and his wife, Lin, at Jim Fawcett's last night.  Great time on Jim and Bev's porch.

Debbie, a lot of festivals are fairly DAd preferred.  I generally take 2 or have one I can tune in either tuning.  Some festivals work with either and have workshops in both.  So you see, it just depends.

BTW, which festival?

Jimmy, I was there in either 73 or 74.  We saw a show; Jimmie Driftwood was one I remember, and Aunt Ollie Gilbert and some old man who did the buck and wing all through the 2nd half.  At the center the next what sticks out is the old men there working, volunteers, or hanging out, and getting them talking about my Grandfather.  

Ken, we stopped at McSpadden, too.  Didn't get a dulcimer but do remember the records I bought there: Old Time Mt Guitar and Leake County Revellers.  Hope to be back up there really soon.

Well, I'm probably not the best person to answer this, but I have between 25 - 30.  They range from knock about loaners for beginners to collectables.  Yes, I have some of the ones I play regularly tuned differently.  How many do I need?  Just one more, that's all.  Actually, I am looking for "just one more" to share stage duties with my Rockwell as I've been taking around one that developed a couple of small cracks.  On the table beside me is a small one tuned DAd and a larger one tuned DAA in case I need to try out a tune.  Space, budget and desire are all considerations.

Tell 'em you'll take it for $20 less than their asking price.  Those tuners shouldn't be hard to come by!

Looks like a Hondo, made in Korea maybe from the late 70's, 80's.  Some of them sounded really good; some didn't.  I won't say 100% (it's early and I haven't done enough research to be positive) but I believe the "clover" soundholes were made for Sears and heart soundholes for everyone else. 

You're welcome.  I have been looking at the score of "Cavatina" by Myers and I'm thinking it may be doable.  However, it may require 4 independent strings to make it work.  Right now, I'm working on a couple of Baroque projects but when I'm finished with them.  I'll look into it in more detail.

John Molineux!  It has a 1 1/2 only under the middle string; a 4 1/2 under the bass and middle strings, and a 5 1/2 under only the bass.  Note there is no 6 1/2.  Here's a link to to a solo video of John where you can see the frets plainly.

OK, here's "Erin's Green Shore," at least I think that's what this is. LOL.  There are 2 pages: a low register version and a high register version.  I didn't include a chord version since it moves around a lot on the fingerboard.  However, if anyone is interested I may be able to do a 2nd harmony part for it. 

Erin's Green Shore.pdf - 61KB

I haven't even tried that one yet.  lol..... I may have the classsical guitar music for it.  I think it won't be doable for a diatonic instrument

Ok, I've found some versions.  If you don't mind giving a liseten, Shelia, maybe you can tell us which one is the one you'd like.

This  is one I think you mean.

Thanks to the wonderful help of John P, the tab is now attached to this thread!  Thank you, Sir.

Dave, I hope to be in Sallisaw before the end of the month.  Maybe we can get together and do a little picking?

Shelia, I sent you a private message just to show you how it works.  You can "pick it up" by hovering the mouse over your name in the upper right part of the screen.  Should say, "private message (1)" (something like that.) Click on it and it takes you to the "email" area.