Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/14/25 08:02:21AM
1,513 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

@strumelia We were happy she learned the little tune and made it a little cello tune.  violin (a very little cello emoji haha)  

Peter Harklau
@peter-harklau
07/12/25 09:37:10PM
1 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Thanks for this.  




Dusty Turtle"]

Kurt Vonnegut in a letter to high school students:

Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow.

You can hear James Earl Jones read the entire letter here.   

Strumelia
@strumelia
07/12/25 06:34:38PM
2,358 posts

Mr Dusty T


OFF TOPIC discussions

Too funny!!  bigsmile

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
07/11/25 08:28:22PM
1,819 posts

Mr Dusty T


OFF TOPIC discussions

Pretty funny there, John!  Laugh  It begs the question, though, if I have a shell, why do I need a hat? confusey

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/10/25 05:07:56PM
19 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Very interesting contributions, thanks so much.

For the most part, we declare ourselves right or left handed depending on how we write.  The only other such declarations that come to mind as being in common parlance are how we play string instruments and baseball (or, I suppose, cricket).  Notably, Ringo Starr was forced to write right handed but calls himself left handed and says that it informs his playing.

I read an interesting article some years ago that refers to "mixed handedness" when folk do different tasks different ways.  Besides playing right handed, I (used to) bat right handed.  Another article I read on the subject reported that there's no relationship between the hand we use to write and how we hold a shovel, rake, or similar implements.

On guitar, many players who fret mostly with their left hand also fret or "tap" with the right.  I occasionally do this on dulcimer 1) for certain harmonics 2) for effect, if I do it really hard, or 3) to play a pitch while I'm holding down another string with my left.

Have a great day!

DavisJames
@davisjames
07/10/25 09:09:15AM
25 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

An interesting side effect of changing the roles of right and left hands is renewed facility on the original configuration...when I started playing button accordion,my fiddling changed for the better.On accordion the bellows is the driver(left hand),on the fiddle it's the bow(right hand)..perhaps it has something to with the sides of the brain!.Likewise,learning dulcimer(on the lap,the high strings opposite to the guitar,the droniness) changed my guitar playing.

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
07/09/25 09:06:41PM
1,819 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

As a rightie who does everything rightie, I'm not sure what I can add here. In general, lefties are better with their right hands than righties are with their lefts.

I can imagine fretting strings with my right hand and yet I would not be able to strum or pick with any fluidity with my left hand.

The general consensus is that strumming and picking is more important for the making of music than is fretting strings, which is why most of us strum and pick with our strong hand.  Let's all remember that when people ask for tab to learn songs as though all that matters is the fretting hand.

I would give my left arm to be ambidextrous. ROTFL

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/09/25 04:44:04PM
19 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, Nate.  I couldn't agree more.  It's one of the things I love about the dulcimer world is a sense of choice that differs so much from the classical music world where I've made my living all these years (while mostly playing folk instruments).  Even guitar feels to me like there are more fixed ideas about technique.

Things I do that I think might be easier for a lefty include bends (especially before I play a note, getting a chromatic pitch just right), harmonics (ones I've never heard anyone else play), and making big jumps all over the fingerboard.  OTOH (pun intended), I'm often blown away by right hand stuff other folk do that's way beyond me.

Have a great day.

Nate
@nate
07/09/25 12:31:34PM
409 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Alex, i think it definitely depends on what kind of music is being played. Personally, i dont play very complex rhythms or strum patterns, and to me it feels like my fretting hand is dong a lot more precise movement compared to the strumming hand. It makes sense to me, though, that plucking would be more strenuous than fretting at a high level.


updated by @nate: 07/09/25 12:32:06PM
Strumelia
@strumelia
07/09/25 07:41:46AM
2,358 posts

Apologies


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

No apologies needed, Alex!  sun

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/08/25 09:30:14PM
19 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

According to published research I've read, when the right hand plucks and/or bows, it's doing the more difficult task.  That may well seem counter-intuitive, but it also explains why it's the norm on every instrument everywhere.  That seems particularly remarkable on instruments without frets, although manipulating a bow with finesse is tricky.

That being said, as a very lefty lefty, I've struggled all my playing life with developing a facile right hand on quite a few instruments (this despite having earned my living in music all my life).  But I also agree that that are really interesting things one can do playing right handed while having a particularly deft left hand.  I'm pretty sure this is what led me to composing my own music (or my own parts) that allows me to use my left hand to its best advantage.  It's also why I wouldn't think of teaching any of my instruments, since my technique is pretty idiosyncratic.  (I've taught classical composition and related courses for almost fifty years.)

I've shared a few pieces, but you can hear a bunch on nearly all the major streaming services, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.  New album dropping any day now.

Thanks!

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/08/25 09:17:59PM
19 posts

Apologies


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Everyone,

I think I now understand how to post to the General Forum.  My apologies for the confusion.

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/08/25 08:59:39PM
19 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks.  Forgive me, but I'm fairly new to this group and confused about how to post on the General Forum.  Please advise, thanks.

Strumelia
@strumelia
07/08/25 05:52:22PM
2,358 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi, I'm a leftie who plays musical instruments as right-handed. I knit right handed as well. It just makes everything easier, and both hands are doing important things anyway.

BTW I moved this discussion from our 'For Sale' forum to this General forum. happys

Phil Myers
@phil-myers
07/08/25 05:13:17PM
29 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm also a leftie that plays right-handed and started on guitar as a teenager. I've always thought of it as an advantage since my most dexterous hand is the one forming the chords. Someone told me once that on a dulcimer your strumming hand is the meat and potatoes. Your fretting hand is just the gravy!

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
07/08/25 04:02:07PM
19 posts

Lefties


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi All,

I'm curious about folk who, like me, are lefties who play right handed.  Do you think it's affected your style?  Has it held you back in any way?

I started guitar about sixty years ago and at the time, at least for me, playing left handed was not an option, although I suspect I would have if I could have.  (My wife is also a lefty, but not as much as me, and she says it's never been an issue.  She plays drums, guitar, and flute.)

Have a great day.

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
07/07/25 05:56:16PM
1,254 posts

No grooves on bridge revisited


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

I'm glad that was helpful. Often it takes it a little experimenting to get right action for your playing style.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Wally Venable
@wally-venable
07/07/25 05:55:49PM
115 posts

No grooves on bridge revisited


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

If a bridge is simply too high, you can lower it by taking it out and sanding or filing the bottom a bit. Do it a little at a time and tune and play it after each reduction.

If you have measured the bridge height and know about how much too high it is, you first pass may be a larger one, then do it a bit by bit.

notsothoreau
@notsothoreau
07/07/25 03:53:45PM
45 posts

No grooves on bridge revisited


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

Okay.  I replaced the bridge and thanks for telling me where to find those. I've put new strings on it. I'll play it awhile and see if I like it. I'm going to try replacements on that Dulcimer Factory one that I started out with. The action is too high and it's worth a try. Thanks for all the help!

Dan
@dan
07/05/25 08:32:22AM
198 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

John Pettreemusic:

Thank you, Dan, for the bit of history and insight. "guarded secrets" reminds me of my old trapping days swapping recipes for beaver lure....

I know it's been discussed elsewhere...but I really do think that if little Johnny living in the mountains had access to baltic birch plywood, machine tuners and shellac....he'd a used 'em....

Have a Happy Independence Day!

john

 

But little Johnny used hide glue, broom wire and milk paint, why use modern materials to replicate it? No one worries if a sharp chisel, knife or maybe a hand plane was used, we will never know method, but we can pretty well figure out the materials!

Kevin R.
@kevin-r
07/04/25 06:55:00PM
17 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

Here is a link to another video of this instrument.

Lorilee
@lorilee
07/04/25 11:15:16AM
19 posts

Tuning down a half step


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

John, as I unerstand it, Yes! Another way to remember the half steps on the scale from E to F and B to C: E at F ish B efore C hicken. I learned that years ago years ago and it has stuck in my head forever!grin

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
07/02/25 07:50:28PM
1,513 posts

Pluck by Linda Paulus


OFF TOPIC discussions

Lots of modern mountain dulcimer history and David's connections to so many players and places-- loved it!  I think I've read it twice.  

notsothoreau
@notsothoreau
07/02/25 07:20:04PM
45 posts

Pluck by Linda Paulus


OFF TOPIC discussions

Just finished reading this, which is about the life of David Schnaufer but also about the dulcimer community. I found it interesting. Got a Kindle copy through Amazon. 

Wally Venable
@wally-venable
07/01/25 12:22:36PM
115 posts

Tuning down a half step


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

If you are a "DAA" player, you tune the Bass string down the half note, then use the same "4th fret" on the Bass to get the others. (Relative tuning works similarly for other tunings.)

If you go back to Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer Book, the basic tunings were a whole step lower - Cggg, CGcc and so on, so lower tunings are more traditional. 

Strumelia
@strumelia
07/01/25 09:34:42AM
2,358 posts

Tuning down a half step


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, that's correct.
To sound good, you'll need to tune your other strings down the same amount (a half step, or a whole step).

Keep in mind that some note intervals have only a half step between them to begin with:  E to F, and B to C. Thus for example a whole step lower than C is Bflat. I find it helps me to remember which are the half-step intervals by thinking " E at F ood, B e C ool". Also, in most music situations, people call "Dflat" Csharp... different name for basically the same note.

Unless you are playing with other people, or practicing along with a recording in a certain pitch, there's no reason you can't tune your whole dulcimer down a step, for various reasons.

What are you up to?  popcorngirl


updated by @strumelia: 07/01/25 09:39:54AM
Lilley Pad
@lilley-pad
07/01/25 08:47:02AM
54 posts

Tuning down a half step


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hello kids. I know I know not Jon again. I have a tuning question. For example, let's say You want to tune your Bass string down a half step. Do you tune it to D flat ? And tune it to C for a full step down?


updated by @lilley-pad: 07/04/25 11:19:14AM
John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/30/25 06:58:24PM
69 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

But....but.....then it wouldn't be a dulcimer.....[or would it?]  ..ahh, the circle continues....

no need for replies...just kill'n time between mowing in the heat...

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
06/30/25 06:53:36PM
435 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

Not to mention a table saw, bandsaw, jointer/planer, drill press, belt/disc sander, etc., etc... And electricity, of course.

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/30/25 06:09:39PM
69 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

Thank you, Dan, for the bit of history and insight. "guarded secrets" reminds me of my old trapping days swapping recipes for beaver lure....

I know it's been discussed elsewhere...but I really do think that if little Johnny living in the mountains had access to baltic birch plywood, machine tuners and shellac....he'd a used 'em....

Have a Happy Independence Day!

john

Alex_Lubet
@alex-lubet
06/30/25 04:33:55PM
19 posts

Reasons NOT To Get a Chromatic


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

I have looked at and joined groups, thanks, and I'll check out Joellen Lapidus.

I'm interested in the idea of "advantage" that Lapidus brings up.  Igor Stravinsky said that he could not create without having limitations.  I think limitations are one of the things that attracts many of us to the dulcimer and that having less strings and less frets than, for example, a guitar can be what inspires us.  And having more resources doesn't necessarily make music or anything else better.  I don't necessarily agree with those who very much preferred Bob Dylan with just his guitar and harmonica to Bob Dylan with an amplified band, but, as anyone who's seen "A Complete Unknown" knows, there were -= and remain -- plenty of folk whose musical preferences run that way.

I'm just one of those folk who are inspired by the limitations of my 6.5 fret dulcimers, but also the "advantages" of four equidistant strings.  To each one's own and all are welcome. 

Have a great week.

Dan
@dan
06/30/25 07:35:38AM
198 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

John Pettreemusic:

Very nice Dan! haven't heard the "dance" in quite a few years. Thanks for the trip.

A few questions if I may...

1. the fret spacing "seems" to wander back and forth. Is this a mater of the angle the photos were taken? if not, is there a reason or rule to be followed? Looks "older, doesn't matter as long a the fret is under what it needs to be , etc?

2.is there a "dulcimore" rule to dictate what direction a carved heart points? Or is it strictly artisan choice?

3. If it is not a guarded secret....what is the formula used for the finish?

...asking for a friend

....

 

Thank you for asking John,

1) the staples are set by hand so there will be a little variance, yes the proper VSL at that staple is what is important

2) the Thomas pieces had the hearts pointed that way as did most early pieces (Edd Presnell made reference to "hands and hearts to God" was the reason they pointed them that way)

3) there are a thousand YouTube videos about this...

  • skim milk to white vinegar 8/1 let set in warm place over night (makes quark)
  • rinse quark through cheese cloth three times to remove the acid
  • slake hydrated lime and mix with quark about 4/1 quark/lime
  • let this set in fridge over night
  • warm to room temperature and add color pigment (depends on the color pigment?)
  • I use an electric stirrer to keep the mix from settling

You don't have to let the mix set over night. Some folks mix it up and go with it right then but I like to give it time to wet out properly. Yes I have some guarded secrets in my mix and method beyond this recipe! 

Some folks take issue with the methods I use. I have electricity, they didn't. I take issue with folks who take liberty with modern materials and call it traditional. I have heat and air conditioning in the Dulcimore Den but the materials in my replications are authentic! I'm very proud of this...

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/30/25 12:16:31AM
69 posts

Black Thomas replication


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

Very nice Dan! haven't heard the "dance" in quite a few years. Thanks for the trip.

A few questions if I may...

1. the fret spacing "seems" to wander back and forth. Is this a mater of the angle the photos were taken? if not, is there a reason or rule to be followed? Looks "older, doesn't matter as long a the fret is under what it needs to be , etc?

2.is there a "dulcimore" rule to dictate what direction a carved heart points? Or is it strictly artisan choice?

3. If it is not a guarded secret....what is the formula used for the finish?

...asking for a friend

....

1