Forum Activity for @lilley-pad

Hi Ken sorry it took so long to get back to you I got caught up in my ukulele experiment. thanks  for the tip on the Xvive U2 Digital Wireless Guitar System. I just picked up one great invention the one thing I really like about it is that you can turn it on and off right there from the instrument so you don't get that big pop when you unplug the cord also I just discovered not too long ago that there's a difference between an electric guitar amp and an acoustic amp. Sometimes it's learning experience stuff can be expensive. The original AMP I got was an electric guitar amp I didn't know any better, luckily the guy that I got the amp from let me trade it in for an acoustic amp. I don't know if there's really any difference but I just go by what I hear and keep my fingers crossed that I'm going in the right direction. Speaking of the ukulele experience there is a guy there that plays an electric Bass and he brought in a little teeny mini amp he said it cost about $30 it's only about 5 Watts but it's adequate for just raising the volume for practicing  

Hey Dusty thanks for the good advice I didn't even think about approaching it from a strumming point of view in the sense of altering the pic and maybe if I strumming inward instead of out, if I strum inward I would think I would get a little more of a Basie tone. Why I was thinking of changing the melody string with to get a little bit more of a Bassy tone thicker string more bass but I knew that was a slippery slope changing the size would change the action and affecting the groove in the nut and Bridge that's not a good idea, but I was just playing around I don't think I'll do that. I'll leave it the way it is and just try out some of your suggestions. All in all this has been a good experiment for practicing chords I must say. 

I do try my best to strum as soft as I can. It's just that I'm picking up a twang sound that just doesn't quite fit in. Maybe if they were playing Melody Tunes and I was just trying to play chords and strum as backup?  I wonder  what that would sound like? But they don't play Melody they only strum and play chords 

You know what they say: one thing leads to another. Oh I stumbled across a site that has Beatles songs tab(s) in D.A.D. and arranged for the dulcimer. I'm going to see if I can find that site again, and print it out to take to DJ's play a longs. and I'll also try to post it here in case somebody is interested in playing those Tunes.  Thanks Dusty

Well, just an update on my experiment with the ukulele group. What I have noticed it sounds like to me is that my melody string is what I would call, “twang” For lack of a better word. And doesn't quite blend  with the ukulele groups plastic strings they use. I tried strumming at the top of the fretboard top bottom that always gets them mixed up closer towards the nut a little past the 7th fret so down the fretboard to get a deeper sound that didn't quite work. but a little better though. Obviously I'm much more comfortable tuned to Dad so I don't really want to return to a different key and I don't know if that would really make any difference,  what I was thinking is what would happen if I increase the string size of the melody string from 11 to 15 gauge? Somewhere I heard that you can only go up one or two gauges. I'm not sure exactly why. Does it have to do with the sound? or would that have to do with the structure of the instrument, and it would put too much tension on the wood? 

I will say it's definitely an experience playing with the ukulele group. They play those tunes that I would never dream of  trying to play. Like the Monster Mash, Beatles songs, and some song called lazy bones that was another big hit.  They're definitely not big on playing things like Bile them cabbage down, Shady Grove, Old Joe Clark, SMILE. Any ideas how to reduce the “twang" out of the melody string? I think it just may be the nature of the Beast, and it is what it is. I mean they are playing with plastic strings and we use metal strings so? 

If Dusty happens to read this I did get a email from DJ about the baritone Info “Baritone Dulcimer Day”

Hi kids, my experiment trying to play the Mountain Dulcimer with a ukulele group didn't work out at all. They play fan strumming way too loud and can't hear the dulcimer, of course with my playing that may be a good thing. But good cord practice all in all.

  Anyhow I'm thinking of tackling a baritone dulcimer but can't find any real good resources or information on YouTube. Any ideas out there on resource information, books Etc. I think preferably something with videos. I'm  more visual minded. I was thinking of tuning to  G,D,G. Any suggestions on where to start looking would  be appreciated thanks again.  Didn't find to much on the baritone Forum here on FOTMD 

Like always thanks much all the information is truly appreciated  on with the journey 

If I do not have a cable connected to the amplifier at all then the amplifier doesn't hum but if I plug in the cable to the amplifier and the other end is not plugged into the instrument I get that home I don't believe I get the hum if it's plugged into the amplifier and the instrument. Oh Ken what is a RF interference

Also

Does anyone know anything about a device that you can plug into your instrument and then the other end goes to the amplifier? I think it's called some kind of transmitter(s)  . It looks like you plug in the transmitter into the instrument and then a receiver into the amplifier. That way You don't need a cord, however there's something about frequencies not sure what that has to do with anything but apparently you need to take that into consideration when purchasing these units anybody out there have an idea on  a good brand is to buy and can explain this thing about frequencies thanks again 

Oh I forgot it's a relatively modern amplifier it's not a tube type it's digital 

Well I just bought a new toy. And I have a question. I I bought a used amp, I've never had an amp before so the question is.  I have the amp turned on low volume and when I plug in a cord it hums like crazy even though the other end of the court is not connected to an instrument is that normal ? If the court is not plugged into the amp at all there's no hump it's only when I plug in the cord  ( Thanks Kids)

Okay, looks like I need some help with my chords. I'm not getting this one. I'm not finding it in any of my chord books or on any of my chord information sheets. It looks like it's a (one and a half, one and a half, and a four makes a F- Chord  ????? see attached photo its from  one of Bing Futch episode 555.  All my cheat sheets say use 2,2,4 = F# 

So is 1-½, 1-½ and 4 = to a F No Sharp  Just when I thought I was figuring all this out okay HELP-Help Smile

 F-Chord.jpg - 454KB

Just a little follow-up on my experiment with the ukulele / my dulcimer experiment.

The ukulele group said they didn't mind me sitting in, in fact they were giving me a hard time since our instruments standard three string setup. They said, what's the matter? can't afford the extra string. That made me chuckle. I'm not really sure at this point how to approach some of the chords they use like the  G7, chords Time to go on line That all

I have a dulcimer I bought about a year ago and it's just been sitting in my closet. My guess is that it may be a baritone. I'm making that  guess because it's a little bit bigger than my standard instrument.  Here's why I'm posting this question the strings were loose when I bought it so I have no idea what it was originally tuned to and the base wound string look thicker then my standard base string also this one has a second brass string next to the bass string , Oh yes it has four strings equally spaced forgot to say that. My question 

Is there any way of figuring out what gauge strings are on it? Would a music shop have a string gauge to determine the gauge? In other words is there any way to know what gauge strings are on this thing 

I'm hoping if I can figure out the string gauge then maybe that would tell me if it's a baritone

THANKS

First thanks everybody for all the good information This is starting to sound a lot more easier and simpler. Number one: find somebody who knows what key they're in or what key they like to play in. That person who said they just have open tuning when I asked them what key they play in, really just threw me off for a big loop. Don't worry about how they have their strings tuned to. just play along using our cords. And of course the most important part and going without saying is to find out if they mind someone with a different instrument to just  play along. okay once again thanks everybody I'll let you know how it goes. It'll be interesting to see If they let me play along and how the steel strings blend with the plastic nylon strings they use. I would think that strumming with a pick would be out of the question. I think it would be too overpowering at my end . well won't know until it happens thanks again everybody 

Just wanted to say good video Dusty  “Have Capo Will Travel” That you posted years ago I thought your fingers looked a little younger smile  I'm a visual person and that really helps thanks much  Going by the internet they tune their instrument The ukulele to G-C-E-A  So what key would that be ? Okay I guess that's it until I have the opportunity to sit in on one more of their meetings and pick their brains and definitely find out if they are opposed to other instruments sitting in or what 

I just read your post Wally that makes sense sounds easier I've only just sat in once to their meeting looks like they don't use any sheet music at all they just project a tune song up on the screen and it looks to me like it's just a cord followed by a bunch of dots presumably that means how many strums they play on that particular cord and at the same time they have music of that song going on in the background. totally different experience from when I go to my dulcimer Jam where people pass out  sheet music and mainly play the melody, whole different ball of Wax not really sure what that idiom means but it sounds cool 

Howdy Strumelia. Oh yes very good point I definitely will ask them if I can join them with a different instrument. I did notice someone playing an electric bass guitar but that is a good point, also I did ask someone about what key they play in and  that person said that it's an open tuning I don't know what that means over my head  no idea I can only go by with that person said. I'll try asking someone else about what key they mainly play in and see what answer I get. This is all new to me trying to blend in playing with another group especially when they're playing totally different instruments.  Will be a interesting experience to say the least also good practice in general 

Hey Dusty. I know I said that I had a baritone dulcimer I should have said I think I have a baritone dulcimer it's been sitting in the closet ever since I bought it last year I made my guess based on the shape of the instrument it is larger than my standard ”traditional”  instrument. And it's set up for four strings equally spaced which I haven't even begun to explore. also the strings are really loose so I have no idea what it was originally tuned to.  Also the bass string on this instrument looks like it's a bit fatter than the one on my standard instrument and the one next to it is also brass. Which brings up the question: how can you tell what gauge a string is?  Does a music shop have some sort of tool to tell what gauge they are or is it one of those things that you just put whatever you want on? It would be interesting to know what this was originally strong as.

 I did find a chord chart for the ukulele Am-Em-G-C-D-A-F-E  at this point looks like there are Eight basic chords they use and I think I can get those on my standard dulcimer tune to D-A-D well I'll let you guys know how it goes 

Hey Dusty thanks for the info. I think where I'm getting all messed up with this trying to blend in with the ukuleles is that they're chromatic and we're diatonic. Someone said they have open tuning whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. And they don't play in a key per say.  I was kind of hoping that the ukuleles had maybe three or four basic chords that they use all the time like for example we use D-G-A. When I went to my local library they have a ukulele that you can check out. I tried that but they're so small my fingers just don't work with the small frets and the strings are too close. Just is not going to work with my big fingers. I think I need to take your advice and Google and see if there are any Ukulele chords that I could improvise with once I find that out. Maybe I can just use a baritone dulcimer and use those cords or standard dulcimer. Hopefully that would match them. I don't know I'm way over my head and I'm still trying to figure this out.  just experimenting.   Thanks Oh yes thanks for warning me on just replacing the strings on my standard instrument. I wouldn't want to miss that up. I'd be kicking myself in the well you know.   luckily I do have a baritone dulcimer if I go in that direction. I believe I did notice someone playing an electric Bass guitar when I was at the ukulele get together. well they meet once a week I'll just have to go around and pick everybody's brain but trying to blend in with a ukulele I was more curious what it would sound like using the dulcimer with a different group and trying to play along. it's a learning experience thanks again Dusty 

Well still playing around with this idea one more question: if I return the instrument to G-D-G what would some good strings size and I guess type to go with?  if that makes any sense?

Base G mid D and G from Melody string 

 I just had a senior moment ,Oh thanks Wally also.

Hey Dusty thanks for all the good information I knew I was diving into deep water here 

The ukulele kids get together every Wednesday at the senior center and I thought maybe it could be interesting to see if I could blend in with the dulcimer. Even though my library loans out ukuleles I am not quite sure I'm ready to take up a new instrument.But who knows maybe I'll check out a ukulele and not try to blend in with the Mountain Dulcimer and see how that goes  But any practice with the dulcimer is good practice and there's nothing like a new challenge I guess smile 

You're the best Dusty hope everything is going well with you 

Hi kids I think I may be diving into Deep-water here but anyhow here goes.  I'll try my best not to just ramble on. I just noticed there is a big ukulele group that meets every week in my area. My question is,

Is it possible to play along with ukuleles with a dulcimer?  I have noticed that it appears that the ukulele group mainly play with just their chords, so is it possible to play along with the Mountain Dulcimer just using our cords? They're tuning is G-C-E-A So if my instrument is tuned to D-A-D And the Ukulele group is playing a song with their  A chord and then if I play using our A chord On the dulcimer Would that work? Would it sound okay? Is an A chord just an A chord. I just picked A chord for an example  hopefully this makes sense 

Thanks from Jon Lilley

After hearing all your horror stories about the weather back east makes me rethink moving. Every so often I get the urge to pack up and move back East. I have relatives in Pennsylvania and in South Carolina, the expense of living in California gets to you after a while. Everything is so expensive here and I mean really expensive compared to back east.  And then I think about the weather here in the San Francisco Bay area, It never really gets too hot nor does it ever get really too cold and when it does get hot oh let's say in the 90s it's a dry heat no  humidity to speak of. You just open up the windows turn on a couple of fans no need for AC and in the winter you may have to turn the heater on for about a month late December through January some people say well back East we have four seasons we're out here in California we only have two I wish everybody back East all the luck I don't know if I could handle the weather back there sounds like you're having a terrible summer well soon winter will be here and you'll be able to shovel snow off of your cars smile. well as my nephew who lives back there told me oh you get used to it. They say you get used to a  toothache too.  All teasing aside I wish everybody luck back there with the all the Heat and smoke coming down from Canada 

 luckily we don't have to worry about it here in the San Francisco Bay Area I was just curious how they deal with it  Back East. The humidity back there sounds brutal

Hello out there, another dumb question.  Just curious how do you people back east  deal with the high humidity and your instruments? I have noticed on the internet there are a lot of products that you put in your instrument case, for regulating humidity to add humidity, so what do you do in order to deal with dehumidification?

Thanks Dusty I did not see it in your book Song of Old Albion & Grin song from 16th to 18th centuries, is it in that book? 

did I have a brain fart or something. Anyhow thanks for the PDF Dusty 

I'll try to take copies with me the next time I go to DJ's play along 

I think I need help trying to locate a tab for a song from the 1651 I believe the name of the tune is  Goddesses?   Someone said that it's also called  Quodlings Delight. Don't know if that's necessarily true or not. Any idea where to track down the tab here for this song?  I tried the internet but not having much luck, I did find a couple tutorials and lessons but no tablatures. It looks like an easy song to play.   okay that's it thanks for all the help you guys hope everybody's doing okay and staying out of trouble. SMILE

Hi kids it's just me Jon Lilley did you guys miss me smile. anyhow I have a question I was thinking of trying to practice tremolo has anyone out there ever tried doing it with the dulcimer? I was wondering if it would be easier if I reverse the strings so the bass string is on the inside and the trouble string is on the outside I've never tried it and never really heard anyone use it on a Mountain Dulcimer I think it's more popular with mandolins.  Anyhow, what do you guys think? How do I approach this technique and does it even work with a Dulcimer????

Going by Bing's post, it looks like Gary Gallier just passed away. I loved his music and also the arrangements he and his brothers came up with.  I just thought I'd pass this information on to those who weren't aware.   take care of everybody from Jon Lilley

Hello everybody, just Jon Lilley here again.  With another dumb question this question is to those who are Luthier out there builders. What is your personal opinion? What do you think is the best finish for instruments? varnish, lacquer,  or French polishing. And why? 

Don't let the fact that here in California. Our wonderful politicians have decided to make French polishing indirectly illegal.  We no longer can get denatured alcohol here it's illegal

Thanks again for your opinions and feedback 

Well that video is way over my head but if I understand what the guy is talking about is when the instrument maker is setting up the location of the frets on the fret-board,The distance from one to the other in the relationship To each other the distance ???

Equal temperamant. vs just intonation.

When I was surfing the web looking for different tunings I stumbled across this thought I would pass it on kind of interesting anyhow take care of everybody 

Thanks again everybody you're the best 

 Can anyone suggest a good book for chords? hopefully with more than just Dad, A book that has a good combination of different tuning and with more than just three or four Combinations of a particular court .

Hope this makes sense 

Never ever spray or drip any cleaner, liquid, or polish directly onto the fret board. Thanks Ms. Strumelia

That's exactly what I was going to do , Good to know.   I can just see me repeating that over and over again till the Frets start to get loose and then I'd be scratching the top of my head trying to figure out what the heck's going on 

It can be a little overwhelming trying to weed through all the information that's on the internet. Clean the front board with lighter fluid and a  toothbrush, don't use lighter fluid use alcohol wipes don't use alcohol wipes use a toothbrush and household cleaners don't use household cleaners use this product no use that product and so on can drive one nuts 

“WoW, A fret eraser”  I'll Google that I've never heard of such a thing. Cool thanks I'll give it a try sounds better than using steel wool that someone said to use. I don't want to screw things up by doing it the wrong way thanks again for the info 

Thats running parallel to the top of the capo not cable

Has anyone out there used MusicNomad F-ONE Oil Fretboard Cleaner & Conditioner? 

Someone said that I should use gorgomyte fretboard conditioning cloth,

But it looks like this product is no longer available And that I should stay away from anything that has lemon oil in it. I don't know why but.   any recommendations out there 

Oh by the way if anybody out there that has a Dudley Quick-Release capo that doesn't seem to be holding on correctly and having a tendency to pop off the fret-board do not Bend the arm. the cam has one or two little adjustment screws that you can loosen and rotate the cam to the correct orientation the screws on the cam should be running parallel to the top of the cable just thought I'd throw that out there 

Well after Ken's and Dusty's explanation I went over to Terry McCafferty web site and Under support And found some interesting information on going Electric. all I can say is wow going  Electric is really complicated. All the equipment and filters and pedals it's all bid overwhelming. I don't think I'll make it in my lifetime. I'm getting way ahead of myself. But I guess that's part of the fun about learning things. 

Well kids thanks for getting back to me with all the good information a little bit over my head.

 I must say it sounds like it could be fun I guess. a little abstract to say the least.Also one might start to think why bother practicing to make a good clean note. Thanks Ken thanks Dusty 

Well I'm scratching the top of my cranium trying to figure out what the Is this thing? Garage Band Clean AMP?

I came across this when I was surfing YouTube and never could find anything that gave any really detailed information. I'm getting the impression that it is not a real amp, meaning a physical object. 

I understand how a real amp works and for example a Looper pedal you plug the instrument into it and the looper records what you're playing as far as a Looper pedal goes. So if this thing Garage Band Clean AMP? is just a piece of software not a real amp then I don't get how it works I mean you can't plug your instrument into your laptop and you can't really plug it into your iPhone or Etc. Anyone out there know anything about this thing and how does the thing work 

I guess I need to clarify the blue lion instrument price. the price of the instrument by itself is $850 I would think shipping would range anywhere from $100 to maybe $200 depending on insurance and how far away from California if you didn't need to ship it then $850 hopefully that makes more sense thanks all 

Thanks for all the good feedback and yes on my 25” V.S.L  it's a bit of a stretch for the 1-2-4 chord for me on my 25” diatonic. I can do it but it's definitely uncomfortable. I need to practice stretching more.Okay that answers my question thanks. Don't know if I'm ready for a chromatic. I’m just playing with the idea at this point maybe I'll stick with what I have