Forum Activity for @tumbleweed

Dulci Clan, welcome to the forum!  We have all been where you are in terms of 'starting from scratch'. In fact, I only got into building dulcimers a bit less than 3 years ago.  Fortunately, being retired which means I have a lot of time to devote to the craft; plus having a professional background in several trades, it has greatly shortened my learning curve.  However, it has been with the tremendous help from members of this forum that I have reached the point I now do a few commissioned pieces as well as annually supporting 3 charities' fundraising auctions through the donations of my builds. 

But, in the process of going through the learning curve, which I know will never be completed, I have had to ask what many might consider 'silly' or 'stupid' questions. Fortunately most of the members here were, are still, very patient and kind and want to assist. 

In short, again, welcome and don't hold back with questions.  Also, I spent hours and hours going through old threads on the multitude of topics already discussed or being discussed. They answered many questions before me having to post them here.

As suggested, relax, it's as much an art as science and many of us learn by what doesn't work as much as what does work; but we try to keep mistakes to a minimum. And, we can learn a lot from others mistakes. 

Hi Stephen!  

The Festivals you see listed in our Events/Festivals section are all the ones that have been input by site members, minus ones that are past and over with.  I understand your frustration with not being able to peruse past years.  I tried showing 'past' as well as upcoming Events, but it was very confusing to people when they were all showing... dozens and dozens of long past events.  (more like FB... LOL)  I try as best i can to keep things unconfusing here, and to keep things 'current' so folks don't get lost or overloaded. My goal is not to maintain and archive. People mostly want quick reference and current info.

Does not DulcimerPlayersNews (subscription magazine) put out a yearly festival list?  I see a "Festivals List" mentioned at the bottom of their issue's Table of Contents .  Is that list not comprehensive enough?

As far as this site (FOTMD) goes-   since festivals are not static information, a list of dulcimer festivals is only as good as the person/people maintaining it and contributing to it. An accurate and comprehensive traditional 'list' would require someone tracking down and verifying information all over the country. I've got my hands full just maintaining this site, and I have no paid staff to build or maintain an official type list. FOTMD has no subscriptions to fund such projects.

As you know, we do offer a FREE Events/Festivals section here on FOTMD where folks can input their festivals with photos and any supportive materials they like, and their event will show on our site's Main page as it draws near, and disappear when it's finished.  If people don't add their events into it, that's unfortunate since it's a free service.  If they want additional exposure here, they can also advertise their festival on our main page Ad Slideshows, for as little as $10/month. I can't offer any cheaper than that. I think it's a good option for those who want to have their festival really stand out on this site. Of course they can also buy ads in DPN.

I suspect Facebook has gotten people used to simply instantly posting their events and promotions wherever/whenever, on dozens of music and dulcimer FB sites.  'Instant' has taken the place of plan-ahead maintained lists or spreadsheets.

To have a truly 'comprehensive' online Festival List, either: 1) most everyone must submit their festivals via software, OR 2) there'd need to be a person dedicating time and effort into manually creating and maintaining one.  On FOTMD, we have option 1) already in place, but I suspect most folks just post their festivals on FB instead since they're on their phone on FB anyway all day.  FB tends to suck energy away from more traditional websites.

@ken - What I should have said in response was I had seen the video some time ago and what had been going through my mind *at the time* was the things I was corrected on *since* I started this thread,  i.e. the ignorant questions I asked being *completely new* to this instrument, like sound hole placements and shapes.  I am reading and learning by everyone's response, I guess sometimes communicating words in text isn't the same as being in person. What I should have said about the video was I had hoped to see different kinds of dulcimers being compared like bass versus baritone vs stick etc. Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise, I do respect that.

Please don't take me the wrong way, it has been an extremely stressful week at home. I do respect everyone's experience and willingness to share information on this post , and appreciate you, Dulcimore Dan, Ron Gibson, Kusani, ButtercupVictoria, Matt, John, in responding.

This instrument is so beautiful, I can't wait to learn how to play it. Thank you to everyone for your responses.

I've never seen a comprehensive Festival list; not even on ED 'back in the day'.  

Where is there a full list of dulcimer festivals? I see some on this site but I would very much like to see festivals for all of 2018 and perhaps past years. I've been searching. Any ideas? Thanks!

Dulci-Clan -- Once again you're getting lost in nearly meaningless details, and over-complicating things. 

Overall shape (hourglass, teardrop, elliptical, trapezoid, etc.) has no discernable effect on dulcimer sound. I have a standing offer of $100 to anyone who can pass my blind listening test and tell which instruments are playing (I play some tunes on some dulcimers and send you an MP3 -- you tell me what shapes are playing what tunes).  

There are well over a hundred factors that affect the sound of an instrument, and the kinds of woods used for sides/backs/tops are pretty far down that list -- not even in the top 10. 

Soundboard placements?  The dulcimer has one soundboard -- the top.   

Do you mean fretboard placement?  The dulcimer has its fretboard running down the centerline of the top, by definition (unless it's a courting dulcimer with two fretboards evenly spaced across the top.  Fretboard overlays do not effect sound, but they do make it smoother to play.

Once again, soundhole placement does NOT effect sound quality.  It can effect sound volume, but as a beginner you'll not notice anything.

People like Dulcimore Dan, Ron Gibson, myself, Kusani are giving you the benefit of our several decades of practical experience as builders and players, and you seem to be ignoring it. 

I don't want to sound harsh or uncaring, but please -- take Matt Berg's advice:  Go play a dozen different dulcimers for 10-20 minutes each; take plenty of notes about your experiences, and then get back to us.

Well keep looking, there's a lot out there on the internet!  I also wonder if the sounds are different because of where the microphone is, the ones closer to us sound louder.  I like the ones in the back as well as the Blue Lion but can't quite catch the name.  John something... ?

I'm glad you had such a good time, @tumbleweed.  I've gone in previous years but wasn't able to make it this year.  I would have liked to meet Sarah Morgan.  I've done a couple of workshops with Leo (one at the Harvest Festival and one at Redwood Dulcimer Day) and definitely learned something useful in both.  Did you join the late afternoon jam?  It's always a good time. Usually @Leo-Kretzner and/or @Gregg-Schneeman lead. They do a great job of including everyone and keeping the tunes moving along.

I hope the move works out for you.  You should be at home among the . . . uh . . . tumbleweeds. 

Hi everyone,

Haven't posted in a while due to other stuff going on.

I went to the Harvest Festival this past Saturday. It was awesome as usual. As usual I was late because nobody gets anywhere on time in So. Cal. unless you leave the day before. The first class that I went to was beginning Autoharp. I turned out to,be the only attendee so, even though I was 10m late I had ONE ON ONE attention. We covered a little more advanced iterms since I had a little knowledge. Thanks Dana

Next I went to Leo's simple chord class for dulcimer. Loved it.  Had a great time.

Third class was the Irish bodhran. The instructor's wife played fiddle as back up. Dave the instructor was also awesome.

Last class was back with Leo and the harmonica. Another fun class.

Have to say this was one of the best festivals I have attended. Sadly it was my last as we are moving next year a few states away.

Hope they have festivals like this in my new home area. Oh and we are moving to North East Texas. If anyone knows of any please let me know.

Try to open Ken's .pdf. It is very good.

Appreciate that, Ron! You're absolutely right, it's already stressing me out trying to understand. The simplicity of it's design, seems to have a laid back easy vibe to play, and the mystery behind how this instrument came about is enough for me to relax and run with it.

I did see Vintage Fret too. Only an hour away, yeah! And thank you for that other link. My search was "dulcimer nh".

They're around, you've just not learned to suss them out yet.  Check acoustic music shops. 

Check out this guy:  He'll probably be able to help find players... and even build you a dulcimer maybe... http://pierce.state.nh.us/nharts/artsandartists/tradroster/tradartistinfo.asp?ArtistID=371

And other thing to check out.  I did a simple google search on "dulcimer new hampshire" and found these two listings right off the bat.  http://vintagefret.com/?post_type=product

You need Adobe PDF Reader (free) or some other PDF reader software or app to read my article.

@Buttercup - watched that video a couple of times, it's fantastic, but they're all the same shape and sound hole placement, the only differences she notes is the type of woods, tops and overlays. I was hoping for a video with different shapes and different sound board placements. Thanks for the post :)

@Ken - - I'm in NH. There is a folk festival coming soon in Portsmouth, but looking on their website I didn't see or mention a single dulcimer.  Worth checking out though. Did find someone about an hour and half away that I could talk to, she mentions the Portsmouth festival, a Vermont one that just passed, and an Albany Society. Can't help but wonder if there are so many more around that I just don't see. Unfortunately I am unable to open the pdf, probably on my end here, I'll look into it later tonight. Thanks again for the input :)

Ron, I love that lighthouse/seabird design. Your soundholes have always been special and that new design is quite nice.

To post a picture you simply click that little icon that looks like a piece a piece of film (embed local media). It is the second-to-last icon in the toolbar, in between the eye (preview) and the happy face (smileys).  You can also use the "attach file" function just below the text box on the right to attach rather than embed an image.

Dulci-clan -- where are you that dulcimers and "not common"? We may know people nearby who are very knowledgeable and willing to help beginners.  

Here's a link to an article I wrote several years back that gives you an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms (so we all talk the same lingo) plus answers to many beginner questions about the tuning, playing care and feeding of a new dulcimer.

MOST people interested in dulcimers don't really care about how their dulcimers are built; I both applaud your effort and want to say that for the most part what really matters is the look and sound.  There are many, many ways to design and build a dulcimer, from Lego to cardboard to plexiglass, to plywood to solid woods, in at least a dozen general -but-different body shapes and an infinity of sound hole shapes/placements.  None of which means anything unless you, personally like the look and the sound of the instrument. 

I Just Got A.pdf - 1MB

this is a great video (I think) comparing different dulcimers:

That's very interesting advice!  Thanks.

I am not interested in building, just buying. Understanding the construction seems important to know as a new player.  Though it has some straightforward rules on sizes and constructions, finding there are so many different ways they're built, string numbers and types, it's hard to know generally where to start. @Dan, Kusani, Ken, Matt;  appreciate you reaching out.

This instrument is not common where I live, so I figured I just have to dive in, get one, clean it up, see what happens! My friend told me yesterday she has a friend that plays so at some point I can pester her.

One thought to add, before deciding whether or not an instrument sounds good, try a few instruments.  If possible, listen to it in a jam.  Unless you have a very well trained ear (or the instrument is very bad or very good) it is hard to judge an instrument's sound in isolation.

Are you looking to buy or build?  If you're looking to buy, do so based on what the dulcimer sounds like, not so much what it looks like.  Buy from a reputable builder, not some cheap thing you see on Ebay.  If you see something you like, ask us about the builder and we'll tell you what you know.  If you see an ad and the seller can't tell you who the builder is, there's a good chance you don't want to buy the instrument.

If you're looking to build your own dulcimer, the vast majority of us who build put soundholes symmetrically in the widest part of each bout.  It's a matter of the science of acoustics. You can bend a lot of the 'laws' of science but the results are not necessarily a good thing.   Single hole dulcimers are not particularly prevalent for a reason.  

You said "...near the nut side...".  The nut is at the head end of the dulcimer; there isn't any "nut side".  There is a head, a tail, the near side (closest to you) and the far side (furthest from you).  

I just saw a four string with one hole today near the nut side but not quite! So confusing to choose when just starting out.

There's a real complicated formula for the area of  sound holes, but 3-4 quarters worth is a good amount for the average dulcimer.  Bigger instruments can go more, of course.

As far as placement of the sound holes, again there are formulas, and location does effect the sound.  You don't want them in the ends or near the sides or fretboard.  Ideal location is half way between the fretboard and the edge, at the widest point of each bout.  Bouts are the rounded sections of course.  An hourglass has two bouts, upper and lower. A teardrop or elliptical has just the one bout.  Rectangular or trapezoid shapes can have 4 soundholes about a third of the way in from either end.

There are always exceptions -- the Tennessee Music Box for example often had a line of holes from head to tail nearer to the fretboard than the edge.  I've seen dulcimers with no soundholes in the top, but a line of holes in the side on the audience  side of the instrument.  I saw one where the builder hadn't gotten the idea of the possum board right, and had cut soundholes in the inner bottom and possum board itself!

Didn't Ken at one time recommend total area of the sound holes be about the equivalent to the area of four quarters, or was it two? Presently I am working with the 4 quarter equivalent and the instruments have a very good sound; my customers are very pleased. 

You are gunna' get a lot of differing opinions to "sound" effect by varying placement . I won't respond to that but will tell you the size is very important. Too much or too little can have an effect on tonal quality.

DAN

www.dulcimore.com

Hi everyone, new here, thanks for having me.

In researching dulcimers, I'm seeing holes placed in different places, could be one each near the nut and bridge, both near the nut, both near the bridge, or four - two on the nut side, two on the bridge side. Does the placement of the sound holes affect the sound? Can't tell where there are so many different shapes and places they can go.

Here is a photo of the cantilevered fret board on the first dulcimer I built. I only made two like this.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

 IMG_2533.jpg - 172KB

Hi Jan,

Did you ever find any more info on October is a Gypsy Lass?  I'm very curious about it also. I know it only by these words (and did not know it was even a song - I thought it was "just" a poem):

October is a gypsy lass

Who dances through our town

Scarlet is her flying scarf

Many-hued her gown

On her dusky hair she wears

A crown of bittersweet

Maples spread a golden carpet

For her dancing feet

Thanks for the responses. I might have to give it a try.

I hear ya, Strumelia! 

I was just thinking of our FOTMD member Oliver Ogden who passed away a while back.

It was nice to look over his fotmd photos and see him happily playing with his FOTMD friends.

https://fotmd.com/oliver-ogden

Ok, we are now officially sick and tired of fresh tomatoes for the year.                 

The first dulcimer I built (back in 1974) has a cantilevered fretboard. I used plans made by Joseph Wallo who worked at Weaver's Violin Shop in Washington, D.C. I made the fretboard from three pieces of wood and after 44 years of constant tension the on the strings (mostly in DAA tuning) there is no curling of the fretboard. Although this is not the largest dulcimer I own, it is the loudest. The top vibrates as well as the back but not as much as the back. I thought I had some photos I could easily find, but I don't. I'll try to take a few and post them for you.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Hi @Webb.  You might find David Beede's demonstration of his "decoupled" tailpiece to be interesting. I am not a builder myself, but I find the difference in tone that he gets to be truly dramatic.

I am interested in luthiers and players a like opinions/experience with cantilevered fretboards tail/bridge 

( made popular/exercised by Howie Mitchell and Keith Young ) compared to tail/bridge being in direct contact with the tail block. 

The Lover's Ghost (Child 248) as sung by Barbara Dickson, New Celeste or Pauline Scanlon

This is an absolute no brainer for me............"The Unquiet Grave" by Jean Ritchie..............you can hear her sing it here:

https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/10/ghost-stories-in-song-for-halloween/

It is such an easy tune to play.......btw, there are a few others by other artists there as well...........enjoy!

Not having any photos to refer to, I am guessing that Don O is right. Now, if they used Floating Bridges, it wouldn't be an issue (just pandemonium).