Forum Activity for @dusty

Brad, I would suggest not using a chromatic template to map chords for the diatonic fretboard.  It might suffice for now as a quick reference to find a specific chord, but it will hinder your long-term understanding of the fretboard.  As I mentioned early on in this discussion, one of the challenges with chord shapes on the dulcimer is that they change from major chords to minor chords as you move up and down the fretboard. In order to begin understanding why that happens, you have to see where those fat and skinny frets are.  Using a chromatic template will make it harder to learn the layout of the fretboard and how those chord shapes work more generally.

Nate, I like your attitude! I'm always putzing around with different projects and I enjoy the process of coming up with a solution (oftentimes not real elegant, but.....). I actually bought a couple of screws to make one, but decided it's easier to just buy one.

You've inspired me to think a little more outside the box so it's off to the workbench to see what I can come up with.

Dusty - I know the frets look chromatic, but pretend they're diatonic and it will work. I didn't name each note, I'm just showing the note placement for each chord at each fret. I made it up for my use so it's probably less confusing for me, but I thought I'd just put it out there. If I'd found the Strumbly chart I probably wouldn't have bothered. But then I wouldn't have posted and wouldn't have gotten your pun!

Brad

Hey Brad, don't forget that dulcimer capos work a bit differently than guitar capos. Plenty of folks make nice dulcimer capos, but you can also use a pencil/chopstick/crochet hook fastened to the fretboard with a piece of string tied around the box of the dulcimer. I personally use a C clamp with a wine bottle cork super glued to the side of it

Nate

Brad, I'm having trouble with your chord chart since you appear to be using a guitar template.  I can get past the 6 strings, but that chart shows chromatic frets.  Are you playing a dulcimer with chromatic frets?  That changes everything.

You might just Google "dulcimer chord chart DGd" and see what you get.  Here is one chart and here is another. I'm sure there are others out there.

And remember that the easiest way to get your I - IV - V chords on a dulcimer in an open tuning is to use the bar chords.  So if you are tuned DGD, then 000 is G,  333 is C and 444 is D.  Of course, those are only partial chords, but they can help when you're in a jam. (Like that pun? )

I completely agree. Wooden flutes , like the native American flute, are about celebrating culture and style, not limiting who can make or play them

Where are the bagpipes then?  

@shanonmilan I had a music friend who was a very good mountain dulcimer player yet her mother didn't like hearing her play it.  There's just no accounting for taste, it seems.  

Hey, i resemble that remark, Dusty!  

Haven't gotten a capo yet, but I made myself some basic chord diagrams in D-G-D tuning. Thought I'd attach it. Please let me know of any mistakes, suggestion, etc.

Brad

Dulcimer Chords DGD.pdf - 28KB

Dusty - Thank you! That works for me. Off to pick up a capo.

@shanonmilan, try playing the banjo on your porch.  That will have the neighbors begging you to play the concertina!

I like to play concertina on the porch but my neighbor seems to hate me when I do so. Can someone explain why.

Brad, if you are tuned DGD, you are in what is basically an open G tuning.  It will be pretty easy to play common tunes in G.

You can also play common tunes in G in a DAd tuning, but you have to pay attention.  If you don't have a 1+ fret, you can't play a C chord down by the nut and will have to play 3-4-6 or 6-6-8 or something like that.

However, I regularly play in G out of a DAd tuning with a capo on the 3rd fret.  You can also put the capo at the 4th fret to play in A. And if you have to play in C, you can quickly tune down to CGc (another reason to play with 3 strings and not 6 is the ease of tuning!)  This approach allows you to play in the 4 common keys (C, D, G, A) at folk, old timey, and bluegrass jams.

A few years ago I made this video demonstrating how to play in G and A with a capo tuned DAd.

The jams I play at do mostly songs in the key of G. Would a D-G-D tuning be better that a D-A-D or some other? Or does it matter?

Thanks much for the help. I think I get it. I'm going to just play and quit trying to figure it all out. I'll let my ears do the figuring.

Brad, the short answer is that in traditional drone play, there are no chords.  The first and fifth notes of the scale of whatever key you are in ring out throughout (or drone) on the bass and middle strings and you play the melody on the melody string.

Take a look at Robin Clark playing "Coleman's March" .  In DAA tuning, he starts the song going from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret.  At that point he is actually playing a D major chord (D on the bass, A on the middle, F# on the melody).  But then he moves to the 6th fret (G note).  If you were chording, you would switch to a G major chord there, but in drone style, there is no chord change.  The bass and middle are still D and A even though there is no A in a G major chord, and yet the song sounds sweet, doesn't it?

Thanks for all your replies. Dusty, that's kind of how I've been doing it. I think I've got most of the chords I need mapped out.

Ken - I'm still a little confused. I understand about letting the other strings hummm along, but what happens when you change to a different chord in a progression, like G-C-D-G?

Brad, I have a six-string dulcimer that I only play with three strings now.  I much prefer the clarity of sound with the single courses. And certain techniques (like bending strings) just can't be done with those double courses.

If you are used to other chromatic instruments, you may get frustrated with the way chord shapes work on the dulcimer since they switch from major to minor depending on where on the fretboard you are.

They way I taught myself chords, and the way I encourage students to do so now, is to find some 3-chord songs.  Don't worry about playing the melody, but just strum to accompany yourself singing or humming or whistling.  Figure out those 3 chords by the nut, perhaps sticking to the first 3 frets.  When you have those down and can play them without having to concentrate on where to put you fingers, find different versions of those chords around frets 2-5 or so.  Do the same thing, strumming chords there until you get them down. When you fingers are comfortable there, find those same three chords around frets 5-8.

In the end, you've just been strumming chords and singing songs, but you've learned where to find the main chords you need up and down the first octave of the fretboard.

Good start, Brad.  If you ever get tired of trying to figure out those chord shapes, you can simply play the melody on the melody string(s) and just let the others hummm along.

Well, I've been fooling around with my 6 string. It is now a 4 string and may very well become a 3 string!

There is a difference in sound, but not enough for me to add back strings. It still sounds great. In fact I can't even remember how it sounded before (one of the few benefits of old age) so I'm good. My plan is to play it in a BG jam I go to so I've been working on chord shapes (DGD tuning). It's difficult because I'm finding the dulcimer so different from any other instrument I've had. But I'm pressing on as a jam is coming up that I hope to be ready for.

Brad

Thank you for sharing.

https://youtu.be/9G206AjnPgc?si=9WNiZvMM8g6quRXD

Nate's right -- 6 strings give a richer, fuller sound... but it can be difficult to learn to play, pressing down pairs of strings.  If you're trying to learn chords you might find it easiest to just remove one string in each course.for 6 months or so until you're comfortable playing.  Then you can add back strings one at a time and see if you like the effect.  Many of us who play Finger dance or Noter & Drone -- fretting justthe melody string -- like the tradition and simplicity of just three strings.  But the real thing to know is -- whatever works is right for you -- regardless of what anyone tries to tell you

Most of my playing is on a small 6-string dulcimer which I adapted from a Korean instrument probably made in the 1960s.

I play noter-drone in Daa, but I use octave pairs on the middle and bass - Dd-Aa-aa. I use an 0.030W on the middle A. It probably is 0.012, 0.012, 0.014, 0.030, 0.012 and 0.028W.

I like it, and it is soft enough that no one in our group notices my mistakes, or at least is polite enough not to mention them.

Come explore new frontiers on the mountain dulcimer in the northern end of the Appalachian mountain range with Expedition Dulcimer: Roundhouse Lodge, July 25th - 28th, 2024

This is the second retreat in a series announced earlier this year, and the goal is to do five of these per year in different regions of the United States.  Each Expedition will be hosted in a different location in the northeast, southeast, central plains, northwest, and southwest. During four days of immersive learning, each group of intermediate and advanced students (limited to 15 per retreat) will enjoy workshops, meals, and accommodations at breathtaking private estates, former inns, residences, and lodges across the United States. Beautiful, serene settings for focused learning and ample meditative downtime to reflect, practice, or simply relax.

The curriculum is rooted in my 17 years of teaching experience and encompasses skill-defining exercises, repertoire-building, and improvisational study. I take a dynamic approach to each session, tailoring it based on student feedback to address areas that need attention, reinforcing strengths, and presenting challenges in effective chapters.

While the core structure of study remains consistent for each retreat, the selected songs and styles draw inspiration from the lore and traditions of the surrounding region. Likewise, the meals we prepare and present are influenced by the rich culinary cultures of the locals. The schedule allows plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the dulcimer, take time for self-reflection, explore the sights, and even catch a rejuvenating nap.  

Our second announced retreat for next year is Expedition Dulcimer: Roundhouse Lodge, July 25th - 28th, 2024 , which will find us n estled in the scenic region of Forest City, in northeastern Pennsylvania, at the corner of Susquehanna, Lackawanna, and Wayne counties, in the northern Appalachian mountains. Roundhouse Lodge, our home for four days, sits on 41 acres of private property, providing panoramic views of the picturesque countryside. The lodge offers oversized living areas, a double-sided stone fireplace, a rejuvenating hot tub, a foosball table, and a spacious kitchen where I'll prepare meals inspired by the culinary traditions of the region.  

For details on this newly-added retreat, and also about the previously announced Expedition Dulcimer: Stone Mountain Manor - March 28th - 31st, 2024 , visit ExpeditionDulcimer.com

Let me know if you have any questions that aren't covered by the FAQ, and I'll be sure to add them.  Jae and I are very excited about this new venture, and we're looking forward to bringing the experience westward soon!

Thank you for your time - blessings of music,

Bing

 ED-Roundhouse Lodge.jpg - 1MB

Nate - Thanks for your detailed reply. It gives me a lot to think about and experiment with. Maybe I'll try muting different strings just to get an idea of the sound.

Brad

6 strings provide a fuller "choral" sound. In my opinion, if you are doing a lot of chording, it is much more comfortable with three strings. If you are playing noter drone, more strings often make for a fuller sound. If you are mostly fretting on the melody string, you might consider leaving "courses" (aka 2 strings right next to eachother) for the middle and bass string, or just a "course" for the bass string. I usually play with three strings, and a lot of other folks do as well, but I personally prefer the sound of the extra strings, though it is more difficult. I hope you have a lot of fun exploring this instrument, and there is no harm in removing strings if you prefer to play that way.
Nate

I have a 6 string church dulcimer I built from a kit about 45 years ago and have decided it's time to learn how to play it. I find it very difficult to play as is and am thinking about making it a 3 or 4 string. Is there any compelling reason to keep it at 6? Thanks for your help.

What a cool resolution 

And now the "circle" has rejoined!  What a fine development from Randal's inquiry 6 months ago!  Hope things work out with the repairs.

This is great news. Glad to see that progress has been made on this issue.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

A lovely dulcimer and a lovely development!  Enjoy that beautiful instrument, Randal! 

Such a wonderful development in this 6 months-long drama! Thanks for joining, @rtemplin!

HI Randal,

That dulcimer was built by my father.  If the tag inside indicates "Calera, AL", I probably built the fretboard and sanded it :).  Although we no longer own it, I can point to the shop where it was constructed.  I am very familiar with his building techniques and I still build dulcimers today.  I still support the instruments that he built and I would be happy to talk with you about putting it back into playing condition.

I now live in Jemison, Al.  Please contact me via email at roger.templin@gmail.com if you wish to discuss it.

Thanks,

Roger Templin

Well stated Wally and KenH. The mountain dulcimer is what it is. And in my humble opinion, one should enjoy its sweet song as it is without trying to make a bull horn out of it.

The dulcimer was devised for playing for one's own enjoyment, or for a few family members, not an "audience." This would probably have been in a room in a small home after the player's work was done in winter, or on a porch in the summer. Other family members often would have been reading, sewing, washing dishes, etc. 

"Is it really normal for a dulcimer to have a very weak, drowned out sound?"

More or less.  The dulcimer was never designed/built/intended to be an ensemble instrument. 

Until the late 20th century the dulcimer has always been a solo instrument for playing to an audience of say a dozen quiet, appreciative listeners, no farther than say 15 feet away.  If accompanied at all it would have been by a sympathetic fiddle, guitar and/or banjo player who understood how to blend their own instruments with others, not play as loud as they could because they could.

You may wish to try this english concertina However,I suggest you think really hard before getting one, for what I heard they are one of the more challenging instrument to learn.