Forum Activity for @dusty

The conventional wisdom seems to be that for those who chord a lot and have smaller hands, a shorter VSL around 26" is better than a more standard VSL around 28". And although 2 inches in total VSL might not seem like much, it makes a significant difference in fret spacing.

I would just make two points here to qualify that conventional wisdom.

First, our hands stretch. It might seem at first that playing a 1-2-4 chord on an instrument with a 28" or 29" VSL is a bit of a stretch, but remember that that is probably the hardest chord to finger and also that as you play more your hands will stretch. Even after 40 years of playing the guitar and 6 years on the dulcimer I started doing an exercise last month that was a real stretch for me.  My fingers and the spaces between them were sore from playing it so much. At first I didn't think I'd ever be able to make those stretches cleanly and without pain. But now I can do both.  The muscles in our hands need to stretch and exercise just like the other muscles in our bodies.  Don't jump to a shorter VSL without actually working on your fingering and stretching your hand muscles first. You might surprise yourself.

Second, in addition to the decreased sustain that Joy mentions, a shorter VSL means smaller frets. That may seem like an advantage down low toward the nut, but as you play up the neck, some of those frets will get awfully small, and playing there will be a real challenge.  Most beginners don't find themselves playing up that high, but as we progress and feel more comfortable with the fretboard, we do indeed jump over those hurdles and start fingering the fretboard well into the second octave.  Watch Guy Babusek, for example. He often plays high up the fretboard, and I would bet that he would not be able to do so as successfully on an instrument with a shorter VSL.

Duct tape!    http://bonggamom.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-make-recorder-case-from-duck-tape.html

A resale shop is a good place to find items made from faux leather (and real leather too).  You can cut up an old coat or handbag and make several flute cases.  Quilted bedspreads and heavy draperies might make nice bags.

Don't forget us dulcimer players!  We need small bags to keep picks, noters, spare strings and such.  If you want to make drawstring fabric bags, this is a good technique although it seems fiddly and of course Martha makes it seem even fiddlier than it really is! 

For a zippered pouch: http://mellysews.com/2015/02/sew-zipper-pouch.html

I've only made one PVC "flute" -- in the style of a Mirliton or Onion flute -- a relative of the kazoo.  I've made any number of other things from PVC -- bows, quiver, potato gun,  bending jigs, atlatls and darts, etc.   I think 2" PVC would make a nice flute case...

What about you, Strumelia? What do you aspire to with your music?

Good question.  When I tuned 65 Sept. 4 years ago,  I retired, and was searching for a hobby to keep my mind sharp.  My son suggested music, so here I am.

And now, over 4 years later, I still do it to keep my mind sharp, and all of this has simply amazed me.  I would never have bet that my memory was so keen, that I would love it so much.  So, I mostly play simply because I can do it.

I have no illusions of ever recording or being like a teen age rock star where the girls swoon and cry, and holler more, more more.  Nope, not to be. Only in my wildest dreams imaginable on perhaps another planet.

However, I am more than happy to jam with my musical children and grandchildren, and some friends from church.  Family reunions too.  I am more than happy to play for my senior group at church, and occasionally at other churches.  I am more than happy to play at assisted living homes, and nursing homes.  They seem to love my music and me, and the good thing is, I don't have to be real good.  Just willing. I love to lead their bingo and keno games too. 

Learning music has been very rewarding.  When someone asks me "how long you been playing that thing?", I just wish I could say "oh, around 40 years."

Terry

Thanks for starting this thread, Lisa. It's good to reflect on this stuff once in a while.

My aspirations are pretty simple.

I want to continue to play for as many years as I can. Violet Hensley and Vesta Johnson are role models, still playing fiddle well on into their 90's.

To have fun playing tunes with friends (those I know now and those I haven't yet met). So far, it's going well. The band I play with, The Mound City Slickers , is fantastic and a more fun bunch of old boinkers you couldn't find.

To continue to improve as a musician and as a human being, incidentally. 

To learn to be more effective as a teacher so that I can inspire new players to have as much fun and fulfillment as I've gotten out of music over the years.

If I can hit those goals, I'll be pretty happy and lucky.

I've played music my whole life, and not once did it occur to me to ask why. I just assumed that people play music.  My grandmother growing up in Brooklyn used to buy the sheet music to the top hits as soon as they were released and she and her sisters would sing the songs on the streets for spare change.  My mom and her two brothers play guitar and other instruments, and at all the family gatherings, after a day of swimming and eating and catching up with relatives, we would sing around the campfire.  It never occurred to me to play music for a reason; making music is just something you do, like hugging your children or telling stories or sharing delicious recipes or complaining about the political process.

But later in life, I did get a bit more ambitious. At one point I tried to play bluegrass mandolin and bluegrass guitar.  My goal was just to improve my technique enough to be able to play at those bluegrass jams.  That effort led directly to my discovery of the dulcimer, and although I abandoned the bluegrass obsession with speed, I have continued to try to actually work on my playing, to practice enough to actually play songs without really obvious mistakes, to develop a steadier right hand and a more flexible left hand and to slowly understand the fingerboard. Until recently, my goal as a dulcimer player was just to continue to improve, something measured by my own ears, not someone else's.

But those goals may be changing again.  I started a dulcimer group a few years ago, hoping to lure out or the woodwork as many dulcimer players as I could who would be able to share their knowledge with me. Instead, although I do indeed have a group to play with on a monthly basis, the people that I've gathered are all beginners.  Our monthly gatherings have turned into my teaching them, and I started arranging tunes not for me to play, but in order to share with others. I am now on the precipice of becoming an actual dulcimer teacher and have several beginning students lined up.  So I guess my immediate goal is to continue playing the dulcimer and improving as a player while also devoting some time to refining how to teach others.

Every now and then someone asks me where they can find my CDs or books and I have to giggle. I am just an amateur musician. I have a day job. Still, I fantasize about someday putting together enough tunes for a CD to share with my friends and family or an instructional book (I do have one good idea, in fact) that might interest other dulcimer players.  But with a job, a family, and now a slowly growing number of dulcimer students, I don't know if I'll have time for any of that.  I am just glad that music is an integral part of my life. My life continues to be enriched immeasurably by music, and I have FOTMD to thank in that regard.

That's not as easily answered as it appears. I've had many varied interests and most of them have turned into boring activities which I eventually dropped. I was never very interested in music until well after I retired when I was exposed to building MDs and HDs. That led me to discovering music was open ended as far as what could be accomplished and learned, from instrument construction/repair to music theory, playing, recording, equipment, etc. It was an epiphany. I'm a very private person with little desire to socialize [my wife's the opposite], but I have taught a MD class for beginners, participate in several dulcimer groups, have arranged a few pieces and in the last few years performed in public with my groups [and now doing a few solo's], none of which I would have done before becoming interested in music. Most everything considered, I think my primary goal is to stay mentally active, learning and trying new things, and have some social activities for us. As for the future, it's wide open, there's still a lot to try.

I will be tickled if I can learn to play well enough grandkids and other family to want to listen and join in singing some of the 'oldies' songs I learned around campfires in my pre-teen and early teen years.  On Top of Old Smokey, Kum Ba Yah, America, This Land is Your Land, When The Saints, etc. etc.  Right now it appears it is going to take a lot more practice. 

I was just pondering about how we all have many things in common in our love for playing music, and yet we also have a wide variety of goals in our personal musical journeys.

Of course it goes without saying that we all have our own particular fondness of different types of music and different playing styles...but I'm not  referring to that.  

What I mean is the variety in our music goals- things such as:
I want to become a dulcimer teacher, ...or I want to be able to record some professional CDs one day and sell them, ....or I want to play for hospice situations, ...or I want to play during my church services, ...or I want to just play at home on my porch for an audience of birds, ....or I want to mostly play and socialize in my dulcimer club with dulcimer friends, ...or I want to be able to play with other musicians in a local bluegrass jam, ...or I want to be able to play my mother's dulcimer that she left to me...

Please share with us what your  fondest goal is in your personal music journey!   

Hi Ken

Interesting site you have there.  I'll be checking it out.

I am not crazy about flutes made of PVC.  I gave up on the one I have, as my mouth would break out in a rash every time I tried to play it.  Too bad.  I did build a wooden mouthpiece.   Helped some.

You know of course there are flute bags, and there are Flute Bags.  Simple cloth bags to protect a flute inside that decorated PVC tube, and 'gaudy' bags for carrying flutes without a hard case. 

Those PVC Tubes can be decorated in many ways.  For a look at some, check out the Google+ site called PVC Archery and Crafting, where I'm a Moderator:   https://plus.google.com/communities/115443350092709812365?partnerid=gplp0     There are a variety of wood tones, dyes, dips, and painting techniques that can make a flute tube look absolutely amazing.

i knew Bob Mize.  he wrote an article for foxfire detailing how to build a mtn dulcimer.  he once told me the fret board was "off"

maybe this could shed some light on this discussion.  at the time i was not aware of the different intonations used.  i did not

push him for an explanation.  he made beautiful instruments.

bo

Yup, that works............what I did with some of my Bansuri and NAF, was take the fabric,edge it and make a pocket on the front, roll the flute in it and tie with ribbon, I keep 4 or 5 Bansuri in a 4 inch PVC pipe.....if you are traveling to flea markets, fairs or whatever..the PVC pipe that is 4 inch is pretty hefty and will not let the flutes be damaged.   Two rubber fernco's without the bands seal then inside nicely.  Check out on of the big box home stores like Home Depot and don't forget there is also light weight pipe in the electrical section too that is used for conduit.

Already doing that Sheryl.  Love Michaels and Joann's.

Salt Springs,  thanks for the great idea.  I think I would use the PVC pipe to protect the flute, and stuff a flute bag inside.  I'm just pondering SP.

I have dulcimers of varying size including three McSpaddens (standard and baritone at 28.5" and one with the shorter 26" VSL).  While I find chording on the 26" is a bit easier in terms of reach I think there is at least a small sacrifice in terms of sustained sound. When I want a fuller-bodied, more resonant sound I still go back to my standard 28.5" McSpadden.

With the advent of people playing chords on mountain dulcimers, the VSL shortened. Longer VSLs were common when people played only noter style. Most guitars today (and banjos) have a VSL in the 24 - 26 inch range. Guitarists who play MD may find a shorter VSL more comfortable as they are accustomed to that on the guitar. For chording I either play my Folkcraft or my Blue Lion. The Blue Lion has a shorter VSL. If you can get to a festival and play different instruments you can see how the various VSLs feel.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Oh, those kind of sewers!   Sewing is therapeutic, and it allows your creativity to show. Just think of the cloth possibilities. You'll be searching for coupons for Joanne's and hanging out in the fabric isles!

Terry................another option is to use pvc pipe with rubber end caps or pvc caps on on one end and rubber on the other......there are a number of types of pipe available of various diameters as well.  A plus is that pvc an be painted, decorated or have polished stone or arrow heads glued on them.   It can be drilled for moisture control too.

I also found that cheap flannel blankets with native designs can be bought on line at places like Crazy Crow trading etc., and if you are really creative you can cover the pipe with a native design fleece etc.  Have fun!

Hey Folks,

Any sewing machine sewers out there?  Just curious.  I am three weeks into my sewing career.  I have a Brother CS6000i, and I love it.

Here is my story:  Recently I got into Native American Flutes.  I have ordered three so far, and none were shipped with a flute bag.  I could have purchased a bag from each seller, but decided their bags cost more than I wanted to pay.  So I says to myself, "why not make your own flute bags".  

So I purchased a machine and have made 5 flute bags so far, out of imitation leather.  Hemmed three pairs of jeans and made a denim tote bag for a cancer patient. 

Now I am thinking about purchasing a few flutes wholesale and selling them at Indian and Frontier festivals.  I figure if one buys one of my flutes, I'll give them the bag of their choice.  My plans would also be to make and sell tote bags of different sort.  I wouldn't be doing this just for the money, 'cause after I did the math, there's just not much money to be made (maybe).  But oh my gosh, I bet it would be fun.

The main reason I decided to post this topic, is the possibility of obtaining some ideas.  

By by,

Terry

I build dulcimers with scales from 24" up to 30". If you measure the separation from the nut to the third fret of finger stretch in chording the distance on 24" vsl is 6 3/16"... 25 vsl is 6 3/8"... 26 vsl is 6 9/16"... 28 vsl is 7" and 30 vsl is 7 5/8"... I like 26" overall for chording and noter playing. Although 25" is incredibility easy to chord on. For only playing in noter style nothing beats 30" for tone. Robert

Many contemporary dulcimer are going to the shorter VSL. There are more women players than men it seems and the natural evolution to a shorter scale of around 26 is quite common. It is my belief the shorter scale is better suited for the contemporary tuning of DAd.

To a guitarist, Scale and VSL (or Vibrating String Length) are the same thing. A guitarist talks about having a 25" Scale instrument, and s/he means the distance between the nut and the bridge.  A dulcimer player talks about VSL and s/he means the same thing -- the distance between the nut and the bridge.

To many (if not most) of us in the dulcimer world, a scale is a series of whole and half steps that make up series of notes into octaves like the Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do scale we learned in grade school (which dulcimer folks call the Ionian Scale or Major Scale).  Other dulcimer scales are the other Modes -- Aeolian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Locrian, Phrygian and Lydian.

VSL = nut to bridge, which most folks would understand in the case of the Folk Craft. To me a scale is a specific, defined series of step/half step musical note progressions [think key/mode/chromatic, not song], not the length of a fret board. 

Hi Noah - I'm a little late coming to this thread!  It looks like you have sorted out the issue.  On a lot of older dulcimers the 'trick' is to work out how the maker set up the instrument initially and for what tuning and what style of playing.  Sometimes nuts, bridges and string gauges have been altered and it can be a devil of a job to work out how to get an instrument playing well  

So my Gallier is 28", my McSpadden is 28.5" and my FolkRoots is 29". I got to play a hickory Folk Craft yesterday with a 27" scale length. When I see the words Scale and vibrating string length, I'm wondering how these differ...or are they the same?

The Folk Craft did seem shorter than what I'm used to and I have to admit I liked...no, I LOVED the ease of the shorter scale/vsl (?). Again, not sure which is the correct term. 

I'm wondering if I should trade in my standard McSpadden for one of their 26" scale models. Can someone school me on these terms and how they interchange. And I'm curious if anyone here started with a standard 28"+ and move down an inch or two after some time. 

Thank you, as always, for your insights and input!

A Hughes hourglass I bought in the late '80's. I still play it occasionally. Solid walnut back and sides, solid spruce or cedar top (it's darkened considerably over the years). I knew both Virgil and Norman Hughes when I lived in Denver. I was still somewhat active in Civil War re-enacting with my infantry unit back in NJ and I was thinking about joining an artillery unit (run by Virgil). I ended up not joining although I did participate in a couple of events with them. I remember their shop where they made a number of different folk instruments...they played them too (quite well!).

My Hughes dulcimer was well made with a laminated headstock, floating bone bridge, and a 3-piece inlay strip in the back of different woods, and heart-shaped soundholes...an attractive and nice sounding instrument.

What a great thread topic!  My pocket tune is most definitely Lee's Waltz. I was blessed to finally meet Lee at Unicoi this year. She was a dear! I shared how much I love 'her' song.

The one other song I can play without half a thought is Nothing but the Blood. 

I want to learn many more but I find memorization a challenge. Right now working on Celtic Air.

I'm cutting back on all sweets and watching portions. Trying to eat super nutritious things that fill me up. For breakfast, after my coffee of course, I had a whey protein smoothie made with plain greek yogurt, frozen banana, raw cocoa, almond milk and powdered peanut butter.

I used to lift weights every other day but once that habit stops, it's SO hard to get it back. I loved having firmer arms and all so I need to do it. Going 3x per week is fantastic Strumelia! 

My first love was a little kit purchased from a man at a Georgia arts and crafts festival back in 1984-87ish. I never played it.  It doesn't have too good of a tone but it was good enough it got my interest some years later and I took it to a group and learned to play. Never looked back. 

My first love was a little kit purchased from a man at a Georgia arts and crafts festival back in 1984-87ish. I never played it.  It doesn't have too good of a tone but it was good enough it got my interest some years later and I took it to a group and learned to play. Never looked back. 

My first was/is a Bill Taylor.  My grandmother left me some money after she passed away so I figured the dulcimer was best purchase to make.  To this day I can remember standing there at Bardstown contemplating which one to buy.  Ron Turner came over and stood beside me then pointed to one and said "That is the one you need." Great choice - small holes in the top so I could not drop picks inside - and a sweet sound.  Sad to say Ron passed away not long after that, but I'm forever grateful for his assistance.  

Try CGG for the tuning -- same tab as DAA since both are 1-5-5 tunings.

I have the DAD tab. I'll try it in DAA. I've tried several keys right now I like CGC ,but still not the same as the recording. My voice is just not cut out for DAD.  Thanks

I have the tab in my files but haven't printed it or tried playing.  John Blosser did it in DAA on his "Coyote Speaks" CD with a young lady with a lovely Irish voice singing it.

Thanks Dan I've done that still waiting. I know he will get to it eventually. Just thought I might speed up the process.

Why don't you contact Tull through his website.  I'm sure he would be glad to help you with this question.

 Does any one know what key Twilight Eyes on Davids Dulcimers is played? Its performed   by Molly and Tull, Tull has the tab in the key of D I'm pretty sure it's not the same on the CD.  Thanks Glenda 

 Hope this is the correct forum

Wayne, I love the podcasts you guys have produced and I hope they keep coming.  

If I remember correctly, and earlier version of Hearts of the Dulcimer included a clip of the video I posted above when Joni mentions the "dynamite gal from California" who made her dulcimer.  I think it was on a small TV and you used it as an intro to talk with Joellen.

In case you haven't our podcast.  we have an episode telling the story how Joni got her first dulcimer from Joellen at the Big Sur music festival.  Here's the link.

http://www.dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/002.html