Forum Activity for @rod-westerfield

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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ok Grandma is watching Owen.. I'll help clean up.. then think Travis it's leftover time... :) :)

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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I thought we used paper.... :) :) sorry I have to babysit my Grandson...

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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wow somebody got a picture...

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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wow what a party... I know I'm full.... and ready for a nap... :) :) nobody play any quiet or slows songs... more DEW.... :)

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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man this food is great.... got to get some more mountain dew....

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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IT'S PARTY TIME 500...... YEAH YEAH .. lets eat..

The Party Begins With One More Rod And Lisa

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alright we are ready.... I know Ken H has done his work to get it all ready.. can we eat yet.... :) :)

Lets have some fun and laughs..

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ok so this week on FB is like way back.. retro week or something like that... any way you are to post an old picture of you.. so I thought we are all family here.. so lets share a picture of you from the past... I'll start I dug out my old High School Sr Picture...

ok you can stop laughing, that's from 1975...
updated by @rod-westerfield: 07/31/23 08:32:05PM

What if they can help DAD...

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I know many of us have a bad case of DAD.. I found this wonder if they might have a cure... http://www.dulcimermedicalcenter.org/index.php sorry couldn't resist.. :) :)
updated by @rod-westerfield: 01/13/19 05:09:18PM

wow...it's party time again... REVISITED :)

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casual dress.. and yep partners are welcome we area family after all... I'll share a little of my dew with ya.. Liz (Elizabeth) Thacker said:

This will be my first party and it all sounds rather delish - is there a dress code - are partners allowed - looking forward to a taste of that mountain dew!

wow...it's party time again... REVISITED :)

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SPECIAL NOTICE...I just received an email this evening... seems word is spreading about FOTMD and how it is growing.. I got an email from the SBBMDPS... (Spider Bite the Baby Mountain Dulcimer Preservation Society) their board has approved to fund the main food for our 500 Member Party, here is the menu..they approved a BBQ meal for us..Pulled Beef and Pork with BunsCole SlawBBQ Beansand for appetizersCrab Cakes and Stuffed Shrimp, plus chips etc.. for those that don't like seafood..So all we have to bring are deserts.. and of course what ever else you want to bring.. you know this group.. they eat anything..especially Jim, Randy(sorry no bones), Andy, and many others.. of course I'll do my part.. :)oh yeah we need drinks as well... I have ordered a 55 gallon drum of Mountain Dew.. just thought I'd share this great news...

wow...it's party time again... REVISITED :)

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yep this is awesome.. did some looking back..July 29, 2009 - site started 2 membersJuly 30, 2009 - 7 more membersJuly 31, 2009 - 8 more membersFOTMD off and growing with 17 members by end of JulyAug 17, 2009 - 100 membersSept 25, 2009 - 200 membersNov 6, 2009 - 300 membersDec 28, 2009 - 400 membersJan 11, 2010 - 480 membersI think a shout of Hurray is in order for Strumelia thanks for starting this gathering point that a family (ever growing) of dulcimer players can gather to share our ups and downs with our dulcimer playing.. a place to help new players and old a like to share and gain from.. thanks again Strumelia... now of to think about what I'll bring to the party.. hmmm wonder when 1000 will happen.. :) :)

wow...it's party time again... REVISITED :)

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Wow 20 short of 500 members...I'm getting to like these parties... have to see what I can bring to this party.. I know no wheat picks.. :) :) seems like just yesterday we had the 400 member party..

updated by @rod-westerfield: 08/01/23 02:56:09AM

Deputy Mo ejects Evil Spammer while Strumelia snoozes on the job!

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nope I'm happy with my one bullet... :) :) ain't gettin' full of myself... :) :)just glad ta be here when needed... besides I still have my sling shot and rocks..

Deputy Mo ejects Evil Spammer while Strumelia snoozes on the job!

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just doing my job.. but funny read this and my wive says we're just have to much fun.. lol :) :)

I am also left handed when writing, throwing the ball, and I need those special scissors..lol but I have always played my instruments right handed.. I say do what is comfortable to you.. I know several dulcimer players that are left handed and do fine.. I tried it once but had been playing to long the other way..lol just a quick story.. I had a student who started lessons with a loaner instrument of mine which was set up right handed... she was doing ok but struggling a little with strumming.. after several years of lessons she saw a left handed player and he let her try his and she felt more comfortable.. so next class I switch her set up to left handed.. and she been do better with her playing.. any way like I said do what you want...but that's just my opinion.. :) :)

Dulcimer Damsel said:

Hi, Miss Rosemary, and Happy New Year !

I have been playing at church for several types of services. Our music director has been very supportive of trying 'new' things so I am fortunate with that. BUT it does not stop folks regarding me with this funny mix of curiousity and fear when I come down the aisle, dulcimer akimbo. ( : I just take heart and know that I do a kind service when the elders who grew up with dulcimers thank me for playing an "instrument I have not heard in YEARS!"

The thing I try to remember when playing in church is that we are not playing for them.. we are playing for Him and he loves our music...:) :)

400 members coming up..

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did some one say chili... yum yum.. :) :)

400 members coming up..

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"Plop plop fizz fizz.. oh what a relief it is!"

400 members coming up..

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can some pass the taters down here....and some of Andy's stuffed mushrooms...

400 members coming up..

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Wow as Razyn pointed out our next member will be number 400.. we just keep growing.. Razyn said he was bringing Blackeyed Peas..so what is every one else bringing... I have some Chocolate Fudge and Ginger Cookies... :) :)
updated by @rod-westerfield: 01/13/19 05:09:18PM

A Very Merry Christmas to all my New Friends

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Merry CHRISTmas to all my family here on FOTMD..... yes I know I welcome every one to the family... bust that just how I feel about every one here, we area big family that shares the joy, fun, and our experiences of the dulcimer. I wish you all a blessed Christmas season. May our family only grow closer in the years to come.. ok now let's go eat.. lol

looks good CD... your getting a connection in KC worked out ok...look forward to hearing and seeing it sometime.. I was also going to say that it looked like walnut... enjoy... a very traditional dulcimer...

ok... hmmm picked one up accidentally... what it jump on your bus.... :) :) :) or maybe was laying in the road.. tell us the story CD..

John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry

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Thanks for posting this Razyn.. when I hear of John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry... I always think of the interesting fact of who the 2 main union officers involved in capturing John Brown were. A Colonel Lee and a Sergent Stuart.... later to be both major Generals in the Confederacy... General Robert E. Lee and General Jeb Stuart...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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thanks for the candy Razyn...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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no problem.. here's your cider... pass the cookies please...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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no orange juice... fresh cold apple cider... yum yum..

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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wow only 2 new members to gain and it's 300 member party time.. everybody get ready...way to go Strumelia who would thought....what a site...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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I've been enjoy Apple cider here lately so I'll have a couple gallons chilled and ready...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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Only 2 left ta go.... so here are my cookies ready for the party... sorry didn't have the the stuff for no bakes... so we have banana nut cookies...

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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Ok I'll bring no bake cookies this time... a few on here know about the cookies...maybe then you'll only be in Cookieonian for awhile.... lol

Only 10 to go till 200 members

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Wow the family just keeps growing... only 10 more and 200 members... so what are we going to do to celebrate? .... thanks Strumelia for starting this gathering of friends now family....3 cheers for our leader...
updated by @rod-westerfield: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Ken it is set up... the first 3 strings are a normal dulcimer arrangement, if you play the last 3 strings you have a bass dulcimer, if you use the 3 middle string it is a baritone... yes the strings are equidistant.... how do I play..hmm still experimenting with that...I have used a noter and let the other strings drone, have chorded which was fun figuring out chords to use all the strings... have just played sets of 3 strings... this is Gary - Prussia Valley's Extended range dulcimer...the melody can get lost if your not careful... I have even tried fretting the melody and 3rd string at the same time... the choices are wide...

Yeah and some of us even have wackier set up... I have a 5 I guess to describe would beB' M' B M m it is tuned D' A' D A d.... came be played many ways but yes it might be i little wacky to some....lol

Thanks Greg I had c# then retyped and oops... Greg Gunner said:

Rod's answer explains things pretty well with one exception. In the Key of "D" the 7th note of the scale is a "C#", not a "C".

D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-d

His explanation of the relationship of the numbers in the tuning designation to the letter names for the notes is right on.

Greg

yes and no... if you have 4 strings with the melody strings close together then...yes you look at as being 3 strings... but some people play with 4 strings equidistant.. so that would be the 4 string...in regards to 1-5-5 and 1 -5-8those are the notes in the scale you tune to for example..Key of DD E F# G A B c dso in 1-5-5 you get 1=D 5=Ain 1-5-8 you get 1=D 5=A 8=dKey of CC D E F G A B c1-5-5 1=C 5=G1-5-8 1=C 5=G 8=chope this makes sense, if not I can try to explain more...
updated by @rod-westerfield: 01/26/16 11:31:12PM

the other big thing with being slightly flat or sharp... is that slight variation in your finger placement can change of your reading by several cents... so don't be to worried about minor shifts as you go up and down the fret board...

What you don't want the Music Theory 101 evening class...LOL but she is right I can't even remember all the key that I have played... just start simple and keep adding... oh no there's math again..LOL....

Strings

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

Bill you want plain steel in the small sizes .010, .012., etc..... the .022 that's where you have several choices... you can have nickel or bronze wound... I prefer the sound of bronze wound... also you can get string that are coated to help make them not squeak so bad.. (Elixir is on brand) that is what I personally use... hope this helps..