Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

Yes, thank you for the photos @slssld!  Enjoy your Black Rose!  

Hi Robin, 

I posted the pictures of my Black Rose at the beginning  of the thread.  Cool that you live so close!  

Thank you to all that commented!

I'd like to see a Black Rose mountain dulcimer-- I only live about 20 miles from Nelsonville OH.

Great info. interesting story of how the name came about

I have been trying out Dgd. I watched a couple YouTube videos on approaching it, which were helpful. I think that will really work for what I want to do.

Two obvious reasons why I can't just play a tune out of D, since that's what I'm tuned in. Number one is my fiddle player. If a tune is in G, then, well, it's in G. And some of those awkward tunes that obviously were written in a different key because they are either too high or too low for the middle voice of the instrument. 

This will be really quick to tune to G when needed (my brain won't be so quick, so the first after re-tuning is always a throwaway, easy tune). 

I will try to be content with this new challenge (on top of still being challenged with the standard tuning) for a little while before I start chasing the next tempting thing.

Good ideas. I'm less willing to capo because I remove a few inches of dulcimer from the potential. I know when I go to another tuning on my banjo, I really have to pay attention during the first tune because my "muscle memory" has to shift to a different one. I guess that is what will happen when I re-tune the middle string. 

I guess I'll try that, see what happens, and if I'm not ready, then I'll makeshift a capo and see how that feels.

Hey @carolynf,

The easiest way to play in G might be to tune the middle string to G so you would be in DGd.  Then the drones would be "right" but "reversed," meaning the root or key tone would be on the middle string and the 5th would be on the bass string. Your home base on the melody string would no longer be the open D, but the G on the third fret.

If you don't want to retune, you could put a capo at the third fret.  If you are tuned DAd and capo at 3, your notes would now be GDg, so you could play in G exactly the same way you were playing in D before.

You can play in G without using either of those methods, but as you have discovered, you can't rely on the open strings as much. You would also likely have to move up the fretboard to get the C natural that falls on the 6th fret of the bass and middle strings.  (In fact, I've been working on a series of intermediate-level arrangements of tunes played first in D and then in G, all out of the DAd tuning. The challenge for the G parts though, is that we move up the fretboard where we are often less comfortable and have to use more fingers to play chords.)

EDIT: Woops! I see @ken-longfield is a faster typist than I am and offered the same advice already.

Probably the simplest way to play in G is to drop the middle string from A to G. Another easy way, which you say you don't want to do, is to capo at the 3rd fret. In the first method you will be playing in what is called "reverse ionian." The scale begins on the 3rd fret, not on the open as in DAd. Any DAA tab will work for playing in DGD.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I have a dulcimer tuned DAD that I have been learning on. I like to do notes and strumming with a thin pick and using chords. I am especially interested right now in playing some tunes in G. What is the usual way to do that? I know I can pick out the tune, but the drones aren't right then. (don't want to finger chords all the way through!) 

Do people retune the drones for G? Do people just get a second dulcimer, like people have harmonicas in different keys? I know there are some keys one can capo up for, like A, but not ready to do that yet.

Thanks so much Trail Dad. Hope to have it soon. Robert Schuler instruments are unique & lovely. :) 

Gail..mentioned small hand issue to Rick so hope he did the 1 3/8 but, like you said, not a huge diff. Found video on tuners & how to use Accutune module on Joe Collins web link off NHD page. Learned so much! Had no idea what types of tuners were even available or what/how/why to use Accutune Module. Rick & Joe each discussed & now I understand. What a great enhancement & design. Hope NHD adds lots of info/materials about the design, etc. as they redo the webpage....great selling points most like me who aren't in the mainstream dulcimer community would never even know existed. 

I like the 1 3/8 because I have small hands.  Might not matter for you - really not much difference.

Congratulations on ordering your new dulcimer. I also think they have a wonderful sound. I came very close to getting one but it just didn’t work out. I ended up getting a large body dulcimer from Robert Schuler here on the site. Enjoy your new love. 

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 52 
Grant Olson Dulcimer Explorer

https://dulcimuse.com/podcast

We spoke with the talented young dulcimer player Grant Olson from Minnesota. In 2019 at the age of 17, Grant won the coveted first place in the Mountain Dulcimer National Championship at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas. In addition to playing the dulcimer, Grant also composes his own music.

You can listen to all the  Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast  episodes directly on our website:  https://dulcimuse.com/podcast  or in most podcast apps.

Every episode has its own resource page with photos, videos, and song lists.  Here's the resource page for this episode: https://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/052.html

Thanks for listening!

Fretboard width not brought up. Assumed Rick had a standard width. Honestly don't know why a player might prefer one over another. Maybe I'll send an email to ask...good to know about Ewing capo. Tks.   Barb

Cue Ray Charles and the singers....  

"I can't stop loving you...!" 

My fretboards are 1 3/8.  They also make 1 1/2, so it depends on which you requested.  My Ron Ewing capo fits either one.  I know you are excited about getting yours.

@dusty-turtle I have a feeling she never stopped (loving you).

these are SUPER neat!

Gail...can you tell me the width of your New Harmony fretboard so I know what size capo to buy....thanks ahead of time. Don't have the dulcimer yet but should be any day now. 

 Barb

I put new strings on my dulcimer today, and she loves me again.

Lori, I can help you. I have dozens of wonderful illustrations. I emailed you some last night. Here are a few. email me at laury@dancinghelix.com Laury

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Hello, I have built dulcimers from 21" to 30" VSL and in my experience playing a shorter VSL dulcimer isnt much different at all than just playing further up the fretboard on a high VSL dulcimer. If you like chording there are definitely long stretches that can be made much easier on a shorter VSL dulcimer, but if youre anything like me, you may prefer a little extra space between the frets in the second octave. The difference of an extra 1/8th of an inch can make a really big difference for my fat fingers lol.

Having several dulcimers of the same VSL is definitely a bit more convenient than having them of different VSLs, but I think it's worth it to get your hands well experienced with adapting to different dulcimers.

One more added advantage to choosing a specific VSL and sticking with it is that you'll be able to use the same string packs for all of them, rather than needing different gauges or tunings for each one.
-Nate

Lots of different VLS, Don -- from 18" to 28".  Play one, put it down, pick up another.  Only takes a minute or so to adjust.

I have dulcimers with VSL's that range from 23" to 27". My fingers/hands (and mind) tend(s) to adjust very quickly.

I only have one dulcimer but I've got a lot of ukuleles, scales ranged from 7.5" to 20-ish inches. I gave the 7.5" one away (I had made it more as a dare than to be playable, but the person I gave it to was great with it.) I can play anything from 11.6" to 20", as long as I keep at it. If I put the shortest ones away for a while I lose my skill with them and have to regain it. Same with the longest one.

I often play dulcimers with radically different VSLs, ranging from a tiny octave dulcimer to standard dulcimers of 25" and 27" and a baritone of 28".  I suppose I have to look more regularly at the fretboard until I get situated, but only once that I remember was I playing a tune I had arranged on one dulcimer and ran into difficulty playing it on a different one. The fingering had to change slightly and I was caught off guard. 

I used to switch between guitar and mandolin, too.  We humans are adaptable creatures.

Do you always play dulcimers with the same VSL?  When you change dulcimers with varying VSL do you have difficulty adjusting?

This is as healthy as I get. Made it to 70 and still going.

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LOVE Green Salsa and Enchilada Sauces.  Nice to grow your own! 

We've finished Mango season on our tree. 

Have been "foraging" at a large local park/arboreteum this spring and summer when I go with a friend to do t'ai-chi, also around the neighborhood.  Malay Apples and Rose Apples from the park, also now the Chocolate Sapote trees are coming into fruit, and I picked enough wild coffee that is drying that I'll be able to grind a few cups worth after roasting.  Plenty of Starfruit around the neighborhood, plus wild lemon and grapefruit.  .  

That's a lot of tomatillos!

John i had never even tasted tomatillos until about 4 yrs ago. At first i thought Hmmm....odd.  Then got seriously hooked.  LOL  Now i grow both tomatoes and tomatillos as my 'most important' Summer veggies.

Yum-O!  Tomatillo sauce is the spice of life, as they say!

I've been picking a ton of tomatillos in our garden lately.  This week I canned 24 pints of green tomatillo sauce, adding onions, garlic, cilantro, and red peppers.  There were several other bowls of them than fit in this photo. Now we'll have enough green sauce to last til April or May. 

I played on the balcony for awhile Saturday morning.  Realized that was roomier than the front stoop!  I played "Wondrous Love," "Nottamun Town," and "Cluck Old Hen," tuned in DAG Dorian. 

I posted a video to Instagram, but they cropped it to a square and you can't see the dulcimer!  (I didn't know till friends commented.)  Ah well!  I may not wait a year to do another one. 

It's so nice to see and hear about folks playing music outdoors.  Thanks for sharing, everyone!

I am glad you were able to be outdoors with your guitar and your McSpadden, Lisa!  Hope you get lots of chances to play outdoors during your "bonus vacation"!  

I was fortunate here (a Seattle suburb) to have Goldilocks weather yesterday afternoon (not too hot, not too cool, not too breezy, not too still, not too humid--just lovely).  And no smoke at this time. Took out my acoustic guitar and my McSpadden and had a great time.  Played all sorts of things on both.  Then just improvised on the dulcimer for a bit while the grill heated up for dinner.  Didn't think to try to photograph or film myself.  Oh well!

So nice to see all the posts of people making beauty and joy!!!  What a great tradition...

I begin a month of "bonus vacation" on Friday of this week--a perk we get at my legal aid organization for every 10 years of service.  I'm past 11 years, just getting around to taking the time off.  One of the things I plan to do is get in whatever porch playing I can as long as the weather holds.  Something extra special about playing outside!

Irene, you can see a video of me and five others playing in David Bennett's post below. The dulcimers I play in both posts are ones that I made.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Friends, it has been so good to see the videos and accounts of PMOTPD-- thank you for sharing them!  

Here is the little movie Mark & I made yesterday:

https://youtu.be/0eo9wVbrWr8 

Here's a video Dave Holeton put together and posted of six of us from the TTAD Zoom group playing "Red River Valley" for Play Music On The Porch Day