Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

I'd had hopes of getting to attend. Then the attempts at getting my parents moved into Senior house failed.  So, likely, I'll still be living with my folks in March. 

Hopefully they'll list the sessions soon.  Here are some sessions offered last year:

Old Time Music for Beginners
Key of A
Ballads
Beginning Dulcimer
Singing with the Dulcimer
Counter Melodies
Little Songs
Irish Drinking Tunes
Surviving A Jam Session
Key of G

There were also seminars on dulcimer construction and Sacred Harp/Shape Note Singing

Ken,

I did not see any sessions listed yet. Do you know what kind of sessions may have been offered in the past years?

Thanks

What Dusty said.  Blend in, have fun, join the songs you can play and sit out the songs you can't. 

Since you know your jam partners, it should be easy to ask them what songs they like to play and what keys they play most often :-)  Pick a few songs and practice them before the jam.  If you can only play along on one or two songs the first time you sit in, that's still a good start!

How are the ukuleles tuned?  If they're in GCEA, chances are they're playing most songs in the keys of C and G.  Those are the keys a beginner learns first.  The key of D is only a little harder; beginners won't be happy if you keep calling songs in D but intermediate players should be able to cope.

My solution for playing with ukes is to bring one dulcimer tuned GDG for the key of G and capo at the 3rd fret for the key of C.  If I didn't have a dulcimer that tunes easily to GDG, then I would tune a standard dulcimer down to CGC and capo on the 4th fret for the key of G. 

If the song's not in C or G, I'd sit it out ;-)  Or pick up a uke.  You know those ukes are going to suck you in eventually

The most common keys in folk or old timey or bluegrass music are C, D, G, and A.  You should be prepared to play in those keys in any multi-instrument jam.  And many songs have a specific tuning that they are always played in.  St. Anne's Reel is always in D, Billy in the Lowground is always in C, Red-Haired Boy is always in A, and so forth. I try to practice songs in their common key so that I am always ready to play with others.

How to get into those keys?  I can bring a single dulcimer to a jam.  Tuned DAA or DAd, you can obviously play in D. With a capo at the third fret you're in G and at the fourth fret you're in A. Then you can tune down to CGG or CGc to play in C. 

There are other ways of getting those keys (like tuning DGd for G), and if you have any extra frets playing in other keys gets much easier, but I find the capo is all I need to get the four most common tunings.

But the most important advice I can give is to remember that when you play with others, your job is to blend in, not stand out.  If you don't know the song very well, just play quietly using a minimal number of notes. Little by little you'll learn more of the repertoire.  But you should always listen more than you play. 

And it can't hurt to take the lead on one or two tunes.  Don't be afraid to just say "How about Goin' to Boston in the key of D?" and then start playing?  Others will follow along, and if you show them patience as they learn one of your tunes, they will likely return the favor.

Seriously?  This is why other musicians groan when you bring a dulcimer to a jam.  We expect everyone to change for us.  How nice? Not.  If you plan to play a dulcimer with other instruments, you should change for them, after all, there are more of them than there are of us.  Majority rules in a jam.

Yes, the dulcimer is a wonderful instrument,..., that can change and play nicely with other instruments.  (And when you get REALLY good, you can bring just one instrument, or a fully chromatic dulcimer,..., hmm, fully chromatic CGg with a capo, that could do most everything.)

Just go ahead and play noter/drone whereever you're tuned - most guitar/uke players will quickly find the key and join in. I was surprised to hear someone playing drone style with a guitar player playing with full chords, but by God it worked and I thought it sounded great. The dulcimer is just the coolest instrument. I someone else if playing the dulcimer, just let them start, find the first chord and your off. It's fun and it's easy, don't complicate it lol.

Tune as you always do.  Tell them, with their chromatic instruments, that you play in the key of D (or C if you tune CGG or CGc).  They can play to your tuning easier than you can tune to their playing.  

You won't necessarily be able to play every note of tunes they play.  But if you listen, you'll be able to hear 3-5 note phrases of the tune.  If you can quickly find that phrase on your melody string, just play that phrase over and over, in the same time as the tune, and you will have created a "part" for the tune that will meld with what they are doing...

If you say "I'm tuned DAA".  They will tell you that you are playing in the key of d because that's the first note of your scale.  If you are tuned DAd, they will say that you are playing in the key of g.  That's because dulcimer folks tune the instrument to a keynote and everything revolves around that keynote; where chromatic instrument players tune to some base tuning from which they can play in all sorts of keys.

Bring two one DAd/DAa and one CGc/CGg and a Capo.  (DAd/DAa depends on your playing style.)

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 31
The Winter Holiday Dulcimer 2017

  http://bit.ly/hotdpodcast

Celebrate the winter season with wintry seasonal music by dulcimer players John and Karen Keane, Christine Shoemaker, Stephen Seifert, Wendy Songe, Jessica Comeau, Holly Tannen, and Heidi Muller and Bob Webb.

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast can be found on most podcast apps.
Here's the link to Hearts of the Dulcimer on iTunes:  http://bit.ly/hotdpodcast

Don't use a podcast app or iTunes? You can listen to all the podcast episodes directly on our website:  http://dulcimuse.com/podcast

We also have a resource page for every episode, where you can find photos, videos, and song lists. Here's the resource page for this episode:  http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/031.html

Thanks, Lisa, I agree that C and F make the most sense to me.  My tuning is CGG and having the C and F chords in both keys is a great way to keep this simple.  It will be a lively song for a jam on death and I want to start in C with the verse on melody string only, then across the strings for the chorus, ending on C for a measure, then Bb (suggested by Jan Potts since it's in F) for a measure and then F for a measure (or those two, Bb and F, maybe only half a measure each), before starting the chorus on an F chord for the chorus a second time, but in F.

It also gives me an ending with a measure of F, then half each of Bb and F.

What I really love about your suggestion is the link!  I plan to prowl that site like crazy.  I am at an awkward stage with the need for either arrangements and/or learning how to do my own.  There's even a bit of a story to it.  (My playing sometimes uses the excuse of "Now you know why I am a storyteller and not a musician.").  I now handle the rights to the songs and arrangements of my late aunt, Norma Andersen.  Her musical world was Barbershop, but I bet she's approving my own musical journey.  Thanks for nudging me a bit further.

Hi everyone,

I'ts recently come to my attention the lots of members don't realize that they have Followers waiting to be approved by them.. sometimes for many months.  Members cannot exchange private messages or keep track of great new items posted by people they admire if their 'follow' has remained PENDING.  Some members have turned OFF their site notifications for when a new Follower has requested approval of them, so the poor pending follower remains in limbo.

I'd like to ask all members to please CHECK your Followers list to see if you have PENDING followers that require that you either Approve them or Delete their request.

There are TWO ways to check for PENDING followers:

1) Simply go to your Profile Page (by clicking on your name at top right of any FOTMD page...if you see your name then you know you are logged IN)... and on your profile page you should click the Followers TAB.  That's where you can approve or delete Followers as you like. (btw, deleting them will not send them a notice, it will simply quietly remove them from your follower list).  See this image for what you'll see to approve Followers that may be Pending in your profile:

2) The other easy way to check for any Pending followers is to HOVER your mouse over your NAME at the top right corner of the site (when you are logged in) and you'll see a dropdown menu appear.  In the menu is a link to "Pending Followers", with a number after it indicating if you have any.  Click there to approve any pending ones.

Ok, so....

Once you've updated your Followers list so no Followers have been left hanging, you can check how you have your site notifications set for you account.  For example, you can set your account to just automatically approve any new follower!

To check your settings for this, click on the Gear picture icon in your profile page ...there you will see three TABS:  Profile, Account, and Notifications.  --> Under the Profile TAb, there's a little checkbox that says: " Keep Followers Pending Until My Approval" .  Make sure that checkbox is UNCHECKED if you want people to be able to freely become a follower of yours without needing or waiting for your approval.

  --> While you are there in your Settings... under your Notifications TAB, you can use the drop down menu to set it to send you a notification for various site events... like when you get someone requesting that their Follow of you be approved... or when someone makes a comment on one of your videos or photos, etc.

Please take a couple minutes to go over your profile/account settings.. it greatly effects how you experience the site, and makes things easier for everyone!

Thanks so much!   

Maybe this helps?  http://www.secretsofsongwriting.com/2010/05/18/3-smooth-ways-to-change-key/

What I'm getting from it, essentially, is the chord sequence C  G  Am  C7  F

Although to my ears it sounds fine to play the tune in C, strum the C chord for a measure, strum an F chord for a measure, and then start playing the tune in F.  The C and F chords are common to both keys.

Key changes need a bridge to transition and Robin Thompson suggested I take this out of "What Are You Working On?" and start it's own discussion.  I could try this in Music Theory, but am interested in how to do this and, maybe, others have wanted to do key changes in a song.

Yesterday I asked:

I am currently trying to develop When the Saints Go Marching In.  I am using Ionian tuning and want to go from the key of C to the key of F. Might anybody be able to suggest a bridge?

Thanks Robin !

I just received information on registration for the 2018 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming. Here is the link: https://www.hindmansettlement.org/programs/cultural-heritage-programs/dulcimer-homecoming/ This is the first year that the homecoming will be under the direction of the Hindman Settlement School rather than the Appalachian Artisan Center. I am registered and look forward to seeing other mountain dulcimer enthusiasts there.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Congratulations!  My very first dulcimer was an all-walnut Folkcraft and I loved it. In fact, I regret selling it.

Enjoy!

Nice, I'm partial to walnut instruments. Enjoy.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I really like teardrops.  Enjoy that neat old Folkcraft!  Nice photos, too.

Congratulations on your new (31-year-old) baby!

I love my Sweetwood's Student and it's great, I'd never sell it, but felt it was time to get another. That time was now. I have been looking for many months and well...It's far from new. It'll be 31 years old on the 31st of this month and it isn't flashy, but neither am I. Couple of marks here and there, but so do I. Builds character I'll say. I hope I made a good choice, I think I did with this Vintage Folkcraft TCH 725. It was built while they were in CT. It does have the 4th string pin missing, but I play with 3 strings, may or may not get a replacement. Just had to share. Ya know how it is. Happy Holiday's to all!

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Maybe it's a slot to lose your pick down...?     No?  Then it's probably a soundhole. 

Virginia dulcimers in particular were bad to have small round soundholes drilled all over them.

But I believe Jack Lyle is/was a dulcimer builder from Waynesville, NC.  I visited him in his Balsam Gallery many moons ago. 

He had a thing for maple leaf soundholes and red stain, which were beautiful.

The area under the slit is hollowed out, and the top underneath that is undoubtedly open to that cavity.  Like other hollowed fretboards, there is a major weight-loss when hollowing, and some indication of improved acoustics as well.  The slit is, no doubt, just the builder's way of being different rather than just adding round holes.

haha. I should have guessed that! Thanks for your insight too.

Actually, it isn't a dulcimer--It's a piggy bank! 

Sorry about that. I couldn't resist. Actually I believe it is a sound hole. My Kevin Messenger teardrop has two round ones, one in the hollow, the other in the fret board area between the first and second frets. 

It is a dulcimer made by Jack Lyle if that helps. Just have never seen one have a slit in that before? Anybody know? Thanks

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Ralph Lee Smith has his second edition of  Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions out now which is a good resource on the history of the dulcimer and good information on some of the early builders. His website is http://www.ralphleesmith.com/Books___CDs.html.

Kevin Messenger, John Knopf, and Dan Cox, all members here make dulcimers in the pre revival style and know a good bit about some of the early builders. There are many builders of modern instruments all across America and some in Europe as well.

What a cool case, Bob!  

rockncactus,

New River dulcimers out of Asheville, NC came with an optional wooden case which had rounded corners. The one I saw was made in the '90's.

Walnut Valley Dulcimer out of Burns, KS had an optional wooden case with the metal corner protectors like you describe. This company closed with the death of the owner in the mid '90's if my memory serves me well. Hope that helps you find the history of this dulcimer.

Hey, Ken.  Yes, I've already picked up some good info there.  Thanks!

Over on www.everythingdulcimer.com, David Bennet has been publishing a wonderful nearly daily series called Today In Mountain Dulcimer History.  You'll find info about Amburgey there, I know...

R&C, enjoy that cool mountain dulcimer.  Happy strumming! 

Thanks!  I was very pleased to learn its history and to manage to acquire it.  Marsha gave me some good advice about not changing anything about it.  I like playing noter style.  I love the tradition and history of this instrument. 

My sister-in-law started lessons in Florida this year, although I suspect she's playing chord style.  But we're going to see what we can do together to entertain the family over Christmas. 

Oh my, what a great find, Rocks!  Whatever you do, don't change this perfect and wonderful old dulcimer- that's a collector's instrument and is in mint condition!  I see the frets are only under the melody string..so enjoy playing it in drone style, as it was intended to be played.  (you can always later get a nice second dulcimer for chord style playing, with extra frets too if you want to explore that style)      You're a lucky lady to now be the Amburgey's new player!

Hi, I'm Lizabeth.  I posted to the First Dulcimer thread before I saw this, so I've got an intro on there.  But, briefly, I've wanted a dulcimer since high school, when a friend learned to play during a summer working in the Appalachians.  I looked at them a lot but never pulled the trigger until a couple of weeks ago when I found a mountain dulcimer in a flea market.  I eventually bought it.  It's a Morris Jethro Amburgey (son of Jethro) built in 1978, and it's in perfect condition.  I'm teaching myself noter and drone playing.  I've been playing native American flute for four years.  My family is pretty musical, so I pick things up pretty quickly.  I love being here.  I think forums are an excellent way to connect folks and disseminate information. 

I hope these photos are right-side up!  The first one is of Marsha Harris.  She put a new string on for me, tuned the dulcimer, and gave me some pointers. 

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Robin T., please don't ever delete your instructional videos. I still go back and watch them and Robin Clark's too.