Forum Activity for @hewalker

My husband designed and makes my picks-they rest comfortably as a standard pick but swivel out of the way to allow fingerpicking without any skipped beat!

When i used to play chord/melody style (about 100 years ago it seems, lol) I built up a really hard and durable callus on the side of my thumb right next to the nail.  It protected everything, even the edge of my nail.  Once in a while the outer layer would shed off naturally, but the layers under it quickly rebuilt to take its place.  

It's funny how my left hand calluses evolve and change over time depending on what instrument I'm currently playing a lot, and in what style.  Since i now play dulcimer type instruments with a noter, I don't get calluses from dulcimer playing.  But I get banjo-playing calluses on the tips of my fingers, especially my left middle finger and my left index. 

(chalk I put on.)

So, does chalk not hold? What is chalk for then? W. May had said to just use chalk on his. I have a peg something, not drops - I will try that.

thanks

I've got 5 dulcimers with the wooden pegs and i use a product called Regal Peg Drops from Regal Music, Ely MN.  One drop holds for quite some time.  A lot longer than water or spit. (more hygenic too). LOL I think i got it throough EBAY.  It's very inexpensive and one bottle lasts for years.  One drop per peg.

( Mixolydian (D/A/d/dd) tuning.)

Bridge to nut in 28'.5    if I was to tune to DAddd, should the ddd be lighter than 12's. String Gauge Calculator shows 9, so I'm thinking 10's or 11's but not sure if 12's would be ok that sounds like what are used for this dulcimer but maybe not for DAddd

rob,

(putting water on the bass peg to swell it.)

After the water (or spit ;-)) dries would it be loose again?

So far I am not using that peg & even if I did not sure I would have the strings 4 equal courses - how do you play that? Not knowing, I would think my fingers would slip through or would miss a string in making cords.

Have it tone to DAaa now, beautiful tone. I'm not sure the pegs could hold dd but since this sounds is so nice, now sure I would keep trying on tuning up to dd

Pegs are a problem for me but other than that, what do you think of a Sam Carrell dulcimer?

Kathy -- if you look one post below your post you will see that Paul already listed his address and price of the arrangement package

That's the way my Maxwell is set up: 4 courses with double melody.  It's been a while since I've played it, but I think I tuned it D D A AA, or D A A AA.  I'm pretty sure it had 2 wound strings so I did 2 D's.  I would suggest putting water on the bass peg to swell it.  As I like to say, Just spit on it and wait a minute.  LOL

(fretting hand and not your strumming/picking hand, correct?)

yes

I have been using my thumb since I started but just lately I have started wondering if I could hurt the nail or edge, so thought of the thumb pick or yes even a fake nail. But not sure how it would work when I use my thumb to fret on middle strings. 

Thanks 

Photos

On the pegs - you can see all the chalk I put on them. I still can't get the bass peg to hold so are using the others at the moment - need to adjust the spacing over on last far one since no bass one at the moment.

The melody strings I have tune aa, sounds great & pegs hold them fine but I run into trouble getting the pegs to hold if I tune to dd. Also I notice a buzz on 3rd fret, not sure if I should just try & move strings over to another notch or raise the strings a bit with some string or paper. 

 e mail sam carroll1.jpg - 82KB

Why are the strings set up like a 4 equidistant dulcimer except the melody strings are doubled? Not sure how you play that, just on melody strings? Can I move them over to have set more like DdAdd - double on the two far strings & melody?

So, what is the best way to start, mark the bridge, remove the strings & clean than put new strings on?

If a peg wont hold, first try chalk or sand just a hair to go in slot better?

Here’s what I could find on the internet with a quick search.  The links below all seem to point to the same Starr Mitchell you see on the Almeda Riddle You-Tube Video.  You may have to copy and paste these links into your browser to get them to work.

A1997 letter to the editor of Dulcimer Players Newsletter :

https://issuu.com/dulcimerplayersnewsinc/docs/120823175704-df406671dca8494abca0a058a469091b/4

A 2001 CD titled Arkansas Original , Tune # 6 “Lark in the Morning” with Starr Mitchell Playing Hammered dulcimer

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Arkansas-Original/release/1943150

Starr Mitchell’s Linked-In Page.  She’s the Education Director of the Historic Arkansas Museum. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/starr-mitchell-43baa124/

Starr Mitchell’s Facebook Page.

https://www.facebook.com/starr.mitchell.1

 (Sam Carrell, who worked for a time with Bill Davis)

I just picked up a Sam Carrell dulcimer, signed & dated august 1984. it need some work but with your help something I can do.

What can you tell me about these dulcimers?

It is the 5 string fiddle shape type. May just need new strings, a good cleaning & some way to have the two bass end pegs hold.

Dear Mr Paul Furnas, is your tablature for the song Si Bheag Si Mohr still available for purchase? If so could you please give me a price and an address where I could order it from? I just saw the video of you and Ron Beardsley and it is a beautiful arrangement of the song.

Marg, it appears you are talking about your fretting hand and not your strumming/picking hand, correct?

I have not used a thumb pick for that purpose, but when I slide with my thumb I tend to bend my thumb over a little and use the edge of my nail. It takes the pressure off the skin and slides a lot easier.  I learned that trick from Linda Brockinton at my first ever dulcimer festival (Redwood Dulcimer Day) about 6 years ago.

I have tried a thumb pick, but prefer the tactile sensitivity of my thumb on the strings.  A callus has built up and somewhat protects the skin....not a preference of all but it works best for me. :)

Strumelia,   (accidentally deleted-)

No worries, just assume I did something.

Thanks for all you do

Marg, your thread was accidentally deleted- very sorry!  I've retrieved it and reposted it for you- please continue your thread there as you intended.  Sorry for the inconvenience!   

Has anyone used a thumb pick for using & sliding their thumb so they don't tear it up?

     (Hope this is ok here, just tried posting under a new post 'Thumb Pick' but it vanish)

Has anyone used a thumb pick just for sliding their thumb & not tearing up the edge of their thumb?

I've had some sucess using the plastic lids from microwave soups, chili and stews.

Gail,

I found one that is by Herdim which looks like the one I use. It is the small sharp teardrop pick. Yellow is light, red is medium and blue is stiff. I may have found a source though it looks like it is limited in quantity. Song of the Wood in Black Mountain, NC used to carry them but they no longer stock them.

I use a pick that looks like the yellow one and really like it for playing some things.  It is a Herdim teardrop.  All I can find on line says it's the small size.  I am ordering some through Amazon to see if they are the same size as the ones I am using.  The Folkcraft dulcimer site also has them. 

Credit card plastic is a mite too stiff and plastic container lids a bit too limber. I am continuing to look.

I made a pick like the elongated Schilling, cut from an old credit card.

...looks like butternut to me......

DAN

www.dulcimore.com

Stinson's (or Stenson's) #2 is a great tune and fun to play. Do you play it in the key of D or in A as most fiddlers do? After years of playing it D ~ I learned it from a dulcimer player ~ I have mostly switched to playing it in A, since that's what local fiddlers want it in and I'm, of course, happy to oblige.

Search on"Jean Schilling vintage guitar picks", you'll find them sold here and there at pick collecting sites, on Ebay, etc.

D'Andrea -- dandreausa.com -- made those teardrop Jean Schilling picks and one shaped like a dulcimer; but no longer apparently.

Try Herdim picks...Folkcraft sells a small (?) one shaped like yours (I believe they used to sell larger ones of the same style). Good luck!

Steven

I use an elongated teardop shaped pick. Several internet searches have not revealed anything like I prefer.

A picture is attached. The tourtise shell appearing one came with my first dulcimer and has Jean Schilling's signature on it. Any help would be appreciated as to source to procure something like those in the picture.

 Dulcimer picks.JPG.jpg - 123KB

it might be butternut

Sounds from the wording like the reply came from "offshore" somewhere, like the phonecalls I sometimes get!

This is the reply I received today.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken,

Thank you for reaching out to us. Dulcimer is an important of our business and your suggestions have been forwarded to our management team for consideration.


Regards,

David Legere
Mel Bay Publications

Gee there's just so many that are fun to play. Sugar Hill is fun if you try to do it in both 4/4 and then 3/4 time.

Just do the "scratch n sniff" test!  Slip a piece if coarse sandpaper inside where that deer is, and sand around in underside. If is does not smell of 'root beer', it's not sassafras!

I don't disagree, but I say it's impossible to tell from a photo, even if it were a professional one. I work sassafras albidum nearly every day, it's one of the staples in my shop. It's heavy, only slightly lighter than black cherry (31 lbs per cubic foot, to 35 for cherry). The pore structure, as usual,  is the key to positive identification, and if you're a science type person you'll like to see http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141635903000771

If you want, send me your address and I'll mail you a little scrap of S. albidum, so you can compare it yourself.