Ho Ho Ho and here I go again- buying another dulcimer!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
No tune suggestions (just play what makes you HAPPY), but congrats on the new Folkcraft!
Forum Activity for @john-keane
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ho Ho Ho and here I go again- buying another dulcimer!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Almost exactly a year ago I found this website. I found out that I was getting a duclimer for Christmas (I had been asking for one) and could not wait to get it. I was so excited I was going crazy.
Since then I've had a wonderful time playing my dulcimer. I play some other instruments, so I knew that it was entry level when I got it. Now I've learned from my sweet papa bear husband that he's getting me a new one this year!!!!
Total shock to me since I wasn't asking for one. But he realized that I really enjoyed playing and he also plays instruments and knew that it would be a great present to get an upgraded one. So he wanted my opinion on what to get since he doesn't really know anything about them. I don't know much, but I think I chose a great one for the alloted budget.
SO HERE WE GO AGAIN!! I'm totally excited again and in awe of how blessed I truly am. So for 2 years in a row now at Christmas I'm going to be ripping open the paper on a brand spanking new dulcimer!
My new baby is a Folkcraft cedar/walnut beauty and I'll be drooling over the pictures until Christmas morning. 
My fingers are tingling with anticipation, my heart is bursting with joy, and I can't believe I'll be playing a Christmas tune on Christmas day with a new instrument!
Oh and he was asking me if I'd rather have an iPad or a new dulcimer, like that's even a legitimate question. Thank goodness he asked first is all I can say cause there's no way I'd ever choose anything other than a new instrument of any kind. LOL
So now I just have to figure out what song will be my first song on it. I've gotten into the habit of really trying to pick a first song on a new instrument. Not sure why, kinda sentimental for me I guess. Any suggestions are welcome, Christmas tune or not.
updated by @mandy: 08/03/23 03:37:05PM
Dulcimer straps
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I found a nylon strap (guitar straps work) with leather ends. In order to get it on and off the buttons easily I had to work the leather with Lexol to get it soft enough to over the buttons easily.
Dulcimer straps
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
We're a fairly indisciplined lot Babs and no one minds too much if it's directly related.
You won't need a luthier to fit a strap button, just a decent carpenter. You can buy a 'guitar strap button' online and all it needs is a hole drilled in the end of the tailstock to fit the screw.
The bootlace should be fine at the scroll end.
john
p.s. see you found your way to UK & European group 
Dulcimer straps
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have acouple of Sue Carpenter's nylon quick release adjustable straps. Scroll to the bottom of this link: http://www.suecarpenter.net/catalog.htm . Although you can leave the straps on and just undo the quick release, there is no reason you can't just pull the loop off the ends. Since I have more dulcimers than I do straps, I put them on and take them off all the time.
Dulcimer straps
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I am looking for a dulcimer strap that is easily removed from the instrument.My dulcimer has strap buttons but the straps that I have attach to the button and then unsnap with a squeeze hook removing the strap but leaving the other portion still attached to the dulcimer. I don't want to have that part hitting the back side of the dulcimer but find it extremely difficult to get it off of the snap itself.Any suggestions?Thanks
updated by @sandra-hehl: 02/25/19 03:51:16AM
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
So right johnp, until I made my TMB (with timber sent to me from the USA) the only poplar I had experienced was that 'orrible cotton wool like timber obtained from them gurt long thin trees you see so many of in France , lol. There has been an increase in the use of t'other stuff this last twenty or so years, see a lot of it used for 'fancy' flooring these days ?
John
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
The confusion is not from you Sam, it's more the confusion between names we use for different woods and timber in Europe and America.
john
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
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If you posted a picture of the live tree and asked here what kind of tree is this? 99. 99999999999999999999999999999 % of the folks would have answered 'Poplar'. So I said Poplar. Didn't mean to confuse anyone or put anyone off.
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks Ken, they sound like grand trees, we grow them over here as ornamentals but I've never seen anything that size. Maybe in a couple hundred years time.
The colouration was mainly in the form of green or brown streaks as I remember it, Spalting we tend to think of over here as thin black lines in the wood, very common in Sycamore(a type of maple in Europe and not the same as American sycamore)
john
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
johnp -- I knew my forestry education would come in handy some day...
The wood pictured is one of over a dozen species of genus Populus common to North America, infected by fungus during the dying process - aka 'spalted'.
There are about 25 species of poplar/cottonwood in the genus Populus - in several categories : White and Black Poplars, eastern & western Poplars, Aspens, Balsam Poplars, Bigleaf Poplars, etc.
Liriodendron tulipifera has a name that for some reason has tickled my fancy since I learned it over 40 years ago. Common names include Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Whitewood, Fiddlewood, and Yellow Poplar. It is NOT a poplar, but rather a unique member of the Magnoliaceae family. Like the Magnolias they produce large pinkish-white flowers in the spring. They are one of the largest North American trees, being known up to 190 ft tall and over 10 ft in diameter. Thirty years ago in Ohio I personally surveyed a 20 acre section of bottom land that had only 46 trees, each at least 150 ft tall and 8 ft in diameter with clear trunks at least 70 feet before the first branch. Absolutely magnificent trees!
The tree is called "tulip" because, of course, of the distinctive shape of the leaf, which appears something like a tulip in profile, as does the Liriodendron flower itself:
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Would anyone care to explain exactly what this tree is for the benefit of us Europeans.
As far as I can make out this is not a poplar at all but what we call the Tulip Tree(Lirodendron). In the timber trade it's known as Magnolia.
It was imported into the UK in large amounts after the war when native spieces were in short supply and used as a replacement for 'Whitewood'.
Whitewood was the generic name for poplars, cottonwoods and aspen and used for carcass work. It machines easilly and used for small turned items like doorknobs, broom heads, chair legs and mouldings in general, and of course, matchsticks. So I guess this is what confuses us in Europe.
I can testify to the odd colourings in this wood, I've cut literally hundreds of miles of this stuff when I was a picture framer. And as Sam says, you can trick it up to look like almost anything :_
john
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Used to read a lot. Read somewhere some sage words from an old cabinet maker ... "Poplar? Love poplar. I can stain it and call it anything I want."
I have two all poplar builds and I like both. I have another with poplar back and sides (Sitka spruce top). The sides have almost black streaking through them and the wood is absolutely beautiful.
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi, all.
I've been warming up to poplar (so to speak) in the past few months. I know it has some bad qualities and is considered a junk or secondary wood by cabinetmakers, but it can make a FINE sounding dulcimer!
Ask Robin Clark, Ken Hulme, Elaine King, Kevin Messenger or others on this site. I was surprised myself when I first heard the sound of the firstdulcimer I made from poplar. And the color variations are interesting.
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Agree with you Bob. There's usually a far greater percentage of 'plain' grained wood in most any species. Guess that's why I love highly figured wood so much. Climate, elevation, minerals, the availability and amount of moisture and even the occurrence of wildfire and other dramatic factors can all change, enhance, distress and affect the overall appearance of wood. It can also ruin it. Wind shaken and some lightning stricken trees are good for little other than toothpicks. Emerald Ash borers have killed my stand of ash (some in the 3 foot diameter class).
Poplar does take stain well and is both strong and durable if maintained and kept dry. I think the jury is still out as to whether it's the softest of the hardwoods or hardest of the softwoods.
Heck I even made a couple of dulcimers from pine (from George Beckwith here on the site), one teardrop, one hourglass. I like both of them.
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sam. I often see purple to pink and even dark red but 99% is bland tan. I guess it depends on the minerals in the soil the tree grew in. The color intensity fades as the wood dries. It seems like a thin piece would bend easily into an hourglass shape without heat or soaking,because planks are very springy. The only dulcimer related use I have for my poplar so far is in making shipping boxes with it. I use solid poplar for the sides and luan plywood for top and back... Bob
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dear Bob;
Keep watching that poplar. There can be spectacular color in poplar. I've seen brilliant greens, purples, browns and totally black woodgrain in poplar ... often in the same small chunk. It's an excellent choice for soundboard material, especially for a nice TMB.
Sam
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Every year I get about 200 boards of poplar from the local sawmill 1x6"x6ft long. I cut it up for making grave blankets. I always save a bunch of the nicer boards to dry and use for building bluebird houses. I never found much use for poplar for anything lasting outdoors. The wood rots in a heartbeat. It does make nice movable shelving in my plant delivery truck but that's it. If I ever get a way to resaw it into thin stock I would love to make dulcimers out of it. Although the grain is a bit dull to look at. I hear poplar is used by food bowl turners because poplar imparts no allergic reactions.... Oh well.... Bob
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ken I dried this slab didn't get any end check but the wood was very soft. I just don't think I could have made it structurally sound. Sanded smooth and a bit of finish, I think it would have been very nice ... just wish I'd gotten to it a few months sooner.
Dana ... uh ... yep ... had a moment a few years back. Wish I could remember it ..... sigh ...... :(
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dang! What about if you stabilized it with a good slather of urethane or epoxy, sliced it in half, urethaned again and then started hand planing?
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Now Sam you know I think a lot of that brain of yours. It has it's moments!
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
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well ......there will be another Sam
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Aw Sam...that would have been some pretty stuff. 
updated by @john-keane: 10/16/15 05:05:28PM
Good Wood Gone Bad :(
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hauled a downed Poplar off the hill a while back. It's not much good for stove wood. It burns up too fast and leaves too much ash to be carried out, but I wasn't about to let it go to waste. While sawing it up I had a thought (yes Dana ... it DOES happen :). I decided to split a length long enough for a soundboard and see what was in there.
The log split true and the spalting is beautiful ... but the wood was too far gone. Much of it was soft (doty). The slab shown split out nicely. It's about 1/2 inch thick and could have been hand planed down very well. Shame it's past prime. 
updated by @sam: 04/13/18 09:33:30PM
Christmas Songs
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On This Day Earth Shall Ring
Over the Hill and Over the Dale
Mary Did You Know
Christmas Songs
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Thanks, John. Since I've never come across a strictly Christmas type of verse for it, I wondered if I'd missed something. I've been collecting verses for this lovely song for years. The verse you mentioned is the one that I have as the third verse of the 5 verses I use.
Christmas Songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
You're right Folkfan it is a Welsh lullaby, but it often gets an airing in school Nativity plays and other 'Baby Jesus' type stuff.
While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.
john
Christmas Songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Is "All Through The Night" originally a Welsh Carol? I thought it was just a lullaby.
Christmas Songs
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I've really been using these simple songs for ear practice and transposing to the key of D. (An easily found, inexpensive source for your songs and others is the Wee Sing for Christmas book, there's even a CD.)
I'd add these:
First Noel
Here Comes Santa Claus (although I have to omit the G# that comes up once)
Up on the Housetop
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
+
Holly Jolly Christmas is in a piano book I have & has a good traditional sound, too.
Christmas Songs
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Joy To The World
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Christmas Songs
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Just found my old Xmas song list from hundreds of years ago.
Almost all are easyish in noter/drone style.
In the Bleak Mid Winter
Good Christian Men Rejoice/In Dulci Jubilo
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman (Aeolian)
Good King Wenceslas
O Come All Ye Faithfull
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Aeloian)
LittleTown of Bethlehem
Once in Royal David's City
All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos)
Silent Night
Sans Day Carol/Holly Bears a Berry/First Tree in the Green Wood
Down In Yon Forest (Aeolian or Dorian)
The Holly and the Ivy
We Three Kings of Orient Are
While Shepards Watched ... (Not diatonic so really needs a 6+ fret)
Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree (Red Flag)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Away in a Manger
Christians Awake
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong Merrily on High
I Saw Three Ships
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Wassail Song
Jingle Bells
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
I think most of them will be playable in Ionian unless marked otherwise.
Hope this will give you some ideas for the Christmas season.
Please feel free to add to the list.
john
updated by @john-p: 06/09/16 08:21:50PM
Holiday Music Recommendations
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I hear you, John Henry. There's a local couple who perform "I Saw Three Ships" as call and response, effectively turning it into a sea chanty.
John Henry said:
Me, I just enjoy the good old fashioned Carols that I grew up with sung with feeling, but not necessarily "the same as". Hence one of my 'first to reach for' CD's is 'A Tapestry of Carols' , ( Maddy Prior with the Carnival Band , Saydisc) Should always be remembered tho' that what many people regard as 'trad English' carols are in fact neither English or traditional, but have in many cases been highjacked from elsewhere.
JohnH
Holiday Music Recommendations
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I'll give it a try--and dream of the sand and surf...
Holiday Music Recommendations
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Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I am glad this discussion finally got some momentum.
Rick, you can't be a scrooge and listen to the Hawaiian slack key guitar Christmas album I mention above. It is so soothing and pretty, not syrupy and sentimental at all.
Holiday Music Recommendations
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Interesting topic. I've become rather a Christmas scrooge over the last few years, but I do enjoy Haley Westenra's Winter Magic. As an operatic "pop" singer (as opposed to an opera singer, I suppose) from NZ (although I think she lives in London), her voice, while pure of note, is a bit big for traditional tunes (although not as big as mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins--though Westenra is, quite simply, gifted while Jenkins, though also gifted, has to work a bit harder and is more of a traditional opera-style singer). Plus, Westenra is quite pleasing to contemplate while listening to her music. Then, again, Katherine Jenkins makes me wish that I were in Wales. Anyhoo, Westenra is the only thing that can tame my inner Christmas scrooge.
Holiday Music Recommendations
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'll second Dusty's choice of Slack Key Christmas. Also from Hawai`i, but with all vocal songs, is Hilo For The Hollidays, by Kuana Torres Kahele. http://www.mele.com/music/artist/kuana+torres+kahele/hilo+for+the+holidays+%2810-23-2012%29/ Most of these are sung in English, I think only 3 songs are in Hawaiian. Both of these are available from www.mele.com
Another I like a lot is Light Of The Stable, by Emmylou Harris. The link goes to a remastered CD, we have the original version on cassette. The remastered CD has a few extra tracks. http://www.amazon.com/Light-Stable-Emmylou-Harris/dp/B000641Z3Q
Paul
Holiday Music Recommendations
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
http://jewishroots.net/sound-files/sheet-music/maoz-tzur-sheet-music.htm
Here's "Maoz Tzur" which is a very simple song and can be played slowly. Maybe your daughter would like to try it.
Happy Chanukah
Holiday Music Recommendations
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Me, I just enjoy the good old fashioned Carols that I grew up with sung with feeling, but not necessarily "the same as". Hence one of my 'first to reach for' CD's is 'A Tapestry of Carols', (Maddy Prior with the Carnival Band, Saydisc) Should always be remembered tho' that what many people regard as 'trad English' carols are in fact neither English or traditional, but have in many cases been highjacked from elsewhere.
JohnH