I can't believe it's been three years. Wow. Rod was the first one to welcome me to FOTMD. He was a generous and kind soul. One reason I don't join the dulcimer club on Paltalk much anymore is because his absence there--even after three years--is so palpable it makes me sad.
I like that image of him teaching angels to play the dulcimer.
FOTMD member John Henry in the UK recently posted a video of his beautiful version of The Friendly Beasts, one of my favorite Christmas Carols.
John Henry then mentioned that he was encouraged years ago here on fotmd by our then-moderator Rod Westerfield affectionately known to us all as "Deputy Mo". John Henry writes:
I had more or less abandoned noter play until I found my way here, used a peculiar form of chordal play instead, but thanks to our friend 'Deputy Mo', who offered encouragement not only in my use of the noter, but also in the way I approached this infernal machine...I gained a little confidence, and now you have me , warts and all. All I ever try to do is (i) illustrate that expression can be coaxed from a tune when using a noter, and (ii) share what I do in the hope that it may help others....
John (it was Rod who drew my attention to the use of this tune as a Christmas Carol ???
)
Rod loved this site dearly- tirelessly helping and encouraging everyone, particularly beginner players. He was a good friend and a great help in all ways. His posts and explanations are still helping people here. Sadly, Rod passed away unexpectedly on Christmas day in 2010, but his contributions, posts, and FOTMD page are still here on fotmd: https://fotmd.com/rod-westerfield
I remember Rod particularly at Christmas time here on the site, and John Henry's video and comments made me recall how Rod and I agreed that The Friendly Beasts was one of our favorite carols.
So I thought it would be nice to pull Rod's recording of The Friendly Beasts from his profile page playlist and post it here below. I've attached the MP3 clip at the bottom of this post. We can raise a little toast to 'Deputy Mo' this holiday season, and know that he continues to help and encourage players, both here on FOTMD and up on high...I like to think of him teaching the angels how to play the mountain dulcimer... 
Well my alto C seedpod strawfire ocarina showed up on Friday. Fits nicely in the hand and feels lovely to hold.
The Aria ones do sound lovely, good choice! I like the brown glazed seedpods as well, earthy tones, and no 2 are quite the same.
Ruth It's an Aria tenor, not nearly as high as the soprano. Cats don't seem to care for my ocarina OR my rebec....just too piercing for them- they run for the door like crazy! lol 
I like those brown raku-style seedpods, they sound nice too I think. The twleve hole isn't much diff from the ten hole ones- those two tiny 'extra' holes on the 12 hole give you a couple of very handy sharp or flat notes, but you don't have to use them. That enables you to play in a couple more keys, or songs that have an accidental note here and there. I notice lots of xmas carols have those notes. But good thinking to start on a 6 hole or 8 hole pod Oc.
What brand of ocarina? And given the cats reaction, was it soprano? I'm toying with getting either a seedpod or scarab style one from Songbird, but an alto. Both these are 6 holes, the 12 hole ones look too daunting.
I love the NA flute too! Infact I like them so much I have 6 and just sent some wood this morning to a flute maker to have one made. lol I even attend 3 different flute circles in my area. Tons of fun
Yeah right, I'll be playing Stairway to Heaven soon....or Zelda's Lullaby....
I love the part about the cats! When my neighbors had a dog, I could play harmonica in my dining room and make him bark and howl along with the music next door. My cats never seemed to mind. My wife, on the other hand... well, I never had an actual curfew, but she says she can relate! And playing while on the road generally requires going further away from civilization than the people who smoke.
I had to refresh my memory on ocarinas. Rock on!
I bought an ocarina last week, and have been having some fun on it.
I've always loved the sound of recorders and whistles playing early music- medieval and renaissance, even just early folk tunes. Well made ceramic ocarinas can sound pretty nice once you get the hang of controlling proper intonation with your breath, especially if you learn a little vibrato. I've never played a wind instrument before, but always wanted to try one. I do have a passion for learning new things and exploring new musical challenges.
The challenge in this case is- I'm using it as a little tool to improve my limited skill at reading music (standard notation sheet music). I can pick out tunes in standard notation, but it's a laborious process for me- I want to be able to sight read sheet music better than I do. Surprising how this ocarina is actually helping a lot with that. My ocarina plays in key of C, but can play sharps and flats as well, so I'm just starting by playing very simple early tunes in C with limited range and reading them from the sheet music rather than using 'ocarina tab' like many folks do. Ocarina tab is pretty annoying, and if I'm going to spend any effort learning to read anything I figure it might as well be something I can use for any instrument.
I'm learning a lot and it sounds pretty...sometimes. To me at least. lolol...
The high notes can be a bit intense, and after only like four days, the cats Suki and Sheba just know. As soon as they see me take the ocarina out of the box they both rush to the door and run downstairs to get away from me. Brian set an ocarina curfew of 10 PM. Whaa....?? Suddenly I'm a leper.
Gosh, gang, I am suddenly immensely grateful that I kept my mouth shut. A couple years ago DH took up guitar. The nook in the house where he practices is awash in picks, music sheets, instrument stand, books, tuners -- you get the idea. He seems happy so I just putter on by. Now I am seeing that I may need my own hill of goodies -- this dulcimer world does become expansive, doesn't it?
Ah, yet another thought! I am using a Herdim pick but there are some guitar picks in the house and I can look at some homemade options too. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi Robin
The dulcimer I am playing is the one that is in my thumbnail photo -- it is a teardrop shape -- it's really very charming -- I am hoping to sit down with the maker -- but holidays are a busy time and I need to wait until there's a hole in his busy schedule. Meanwhile, I toddle on. The truth is most of the odd sounds are likely due to me. Ellen
Robin Clark said:
Hi Ellen,
Do you have a photo of your dulcimer - I'd like to look at the set-up you are using.
It is interesting that the maker designed the instrument for Gdd tuning and a short scale. There were a lot of old dulcimers that were pitched up to the key of G, particularly those with a slightly shorter scale - and that can give an instrument a really bold voice. You don't need to drop to the key of D if you like the instrument's voice in G. There are ways around that issue. For example you could tune to GDg with the right string gauges on that 24" VSL and still follow all the DAd TAB and lessons (you just pretend you are in DAd and everything works out fine but you are in a higher key). If this is the dulcimer you bought from your local friend who build it you could get him to help you set it up to playperfectly inthe style you want - I'm sure he would help you get absolutely the best tone and playability from the instrument for your prefered playing style.
Hi Ellen,
Do you have a photo of your dulcimer - I'd like to look at the set-up you are using.
It is interesting that the maker designed the instrument for Gdd tuning and a short scale. There were a lot of old dulcimers that were pitched up to the key of G, particularly those with a slightly shorter scale - and that can give an instrument a really bold voice. You don't need to drop to the key of D if you like the instrument's voice in G. There are ways around that issue. For example you could tune to GDg with the right string gauges on that 24" VSL and still follow all the DAd TAB and lessons (you just pretend you are in DAd and everything works out fine but you are in a higher key). If this is the dulcimer you bought from your local friend who build it you could get him to help you set it up to playperfectly inthe style you want - I'm sure he would help you get absolutely the best tone and playability from the instrument for your prefered playing style.
Thanks, Everyone, for helping out. I will try the single melody string. I am really learning to appreciate FOTMD -- I would have a hard time moving forward without the internet support. Ellen
Ellen said "I am a bit confused on one other thing. It sounds like many people switch back and forth between Daaa and Dadd tuning -- but Ken's string calculator suggests two different string sets. So does one just go with the strings most often used in one of the tunings?"
Yes we often change up a note or two and down a note or two using the same strings. As you saw, from a set of DAd strings you can go up to EBe, and perhaps FCf; but you'll probably break a string trying for GDg. Likewise you can go down to CGc easily, and perhaps BFb before the strings get too floppy.
Going from DAd to DAA is even easier because you're just slacking off the melody string from d down to A.
You can also tune to Dorian Mode -- DAG -- and Aeolian Mode DAC without changing strings. Those tunings give you very minor sounding scales for tunes like Shady Grove, Drunken Sailor, Scarborough Faire, City of New Orleans, Be Thou My Vision (all Dorian Modal tunes). Aeolian Mode gives you tunes like Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies, Greensleeves, Long Black Veil, and Wayfaring Stranger.
Ellen, I was just about to suggest the same thing as Randy. You will get a cleaner sound if you use one melody string. Try it and see if the dulcimer sounds better to you.
Ellen...slacken one melody string and lay it over to the side.....then play without it and see if the 'echo' is gone.
Yep, it's still Mixolydian... all the tabs still work... you'll just be playing in E instead of D. Strother's calculator is a little "light" for my taste, so if you can ease them up a pitch it may take away some of it. However, it could be that you just have an instrument which has a lot of sustaining power and it seems like an echo. Some people like that in a dulcimer; some don't.
OK. So is that still a Mixolydian tuning? Your comment made me smile because when I heard the audio clip, I thought the same thing. "That doesn't sound so bad" -- but in real space the drone is . . . really long. It's not sounding charming like it should. There's a big buzz from inside the box at some points.
Elaine, I really didn't hear an excessive echo in your sound clip. However, just for curiosity's sake you could try tuning up to EBee and see if that takes away some or all the problem.
OK, We followed the advice here. The dulcimer is now strung thusly : Bass string 22 Middle String 14 Melody Strings both 11 and tuned Dadd. I think there is too much echo. Oddly, when I tried an "Appalachian capo" (pencil held with rubber bands) across the first fret, it all sounded better. The dulcimer came to me tuned Cggg and the original strings were bass =26 and all others = 18.
I am going to upload an audio file and I would most deeply appreciate advice. I am a bit confused on one other thing. It sounds like many people switch back and forth between Daaa and Dadd tuning -- but Ken's string calculator suggests two different string sets. So does one just go with the strings most often used in one of the tunings?
Ah, even more helpful insights! We're about to put the new strings on and will try Ken's suggested 22, 14 and double 11's. Hopefully that will get us to the place that we just have Operator Error to explain why the dog heads out the dog door after the first strum . . .
Ellen, I'll just add one thing here- your 24.5" scale length/VSL is rather shorter than most dulcimers. McSpadden dulcimers for example are 28 or 28.5". What this means simply is that if you and someone else with say a McSpadden were BOTH tuned to DAdd and you both had the very same strings on, then your dulcimer's strings would feel a little 'flabbier' because of your shorter scale length. To correct that, one would typically put slightly thicker strings on a shorter instrument to achieve enough tension to play and sound taut enough in standard tunings. If you tune a regular string and a slightly thicker string to the same note, the thicker string will feel tighter at higher tension. But then, you've also learned that one can tighten a string too much! That's why we use VSL length and string calculators to figure out what gauge of string we need for tuning a string to a certain note.
Wow. That is VERY helpful. We will brave the Black Friday crowds to see if we can come up with 22, 14 and two 11's.
Onward!
OK Ellen. I went to the Strothers String Calculator -- www.strothers.com and plugged in your 24.5" VSL Here are the results.
C = 24 G = 16 G = 16
D = 22 A= 14 A = 14
D = 22 A= 14 d = 11
If you go to the first page of the Beginner's Group here, Lisa has written out tuning directions, and there is a link so you can hear which C, D, and A you should be tuning to...
You're on the right track with the strings, gauges and tuning Ellen. Hope the new bass string makes everything sound good. Whoever made this pic did a helpful thing.
I just measured from the nut to the bridge and came up with 24.5 inches. I'll need DH's help to get an audio file uploaded - might be a couple of days.
I did wonder if I was in the right octave. Going from memory, I thought "I start with middle C" - so I started heading for middle C on the bass string. Well, that was wrong. I broke the string! Then replaced it with a different product that seems to make the sound worse still. What a muddle. Will try to dodge the shopping crowds tomorrow to get a duplicate of the bass string I broke. Then will begin again, tuning the MELODY strings to D just above middle C. Once we're at that point, we'll try for the audio file upload.
Meanwhile, Turkey Day was filled with dear friends and good food. I am blessed (no matter what my levels of dulcimer ineptitude).
Many thanks for the quick responses -- makes me feel like I'm not alone with this particular knot.
Ellen -- the gauges mean nothing to us unless you give us the VSL, as the two are intimately related. 26/18/18 isn't bad for some VSLs and some tunings.
Ditto what Rob said...
Ellen... those strings sound like they should be "right." What is the vsl of the instrument? Sounds like you might not have the melody string up to the right octave. Remember, It should be an octave above the bass. Are you using an electronic tuner? Most of them show which octave you're tuning to by a number. As for the "echo," if you could post up a sound file, it might be easier to diagnose.
Hope your Thanksgiving is Happy
Rob
Hi All,
My lovely local dulcimer came to me tuned CGG. The strings were pretty heavy wire (Bass string = 26 and the others = 18). I visited a knowledgeable shop in Big City where I was advised not to try to tune to DAD with that set up, so I switched as follows: Bass = 26, Middle = 16, Melody = 12
Now I am getting more than a drone -- I am getting an unhappy echo. And the melody strings seem sort of flabby.
What would you do in this situation? I am happily in Dulcimerschool (learning tons) and I think it does help to be in DAD so that what I am attempting sorta sounds like the instructional video (well, in my dreams we are at the NR -- "nearly recognizable" stage).
Meanwhile, don't forget that this is the night to set your scale back ten pounds. It's an important thing to do every fall.
Happy Thanksgiving all.
Ellen R
Sure Stremelia, here is the hosting company I use.
Strumelia said:
Garland, can you post that link here? I'd love to know it too! Thanks.
Garland, thanks so much for the advice. I just checked out weebly and it appears to work about the same as webs.com, which I am using now (see the link in my original post). It is certainly easy. The problem for me, though, is that while these web hosting sites allow the quick setup of a site, the prefabbed templates also limit what you can do and maybe I'm too much of a control freak. I have a vision of what I want a page to look like and get frustrated if I can't get exactly that. I think I am more likely to find another web hosting site that supports Wordpress. A couple are specifically designed for Wordpress and have one-click installs. When things slow down at work (erhaps over the holidays) I'll probably junk the website I just set up a couple of days ago, register my domain name, and set something up from scratch, probably using WordPress.
Thanks for your suggestions. And Byron, I will definitely check out Luna Pages. How is their customer support?
Garland,
I had never heard of Webly. A quick look at their web site and I have to agree with you that for an easy set up and the price it would be hard to beat.
I use Word Press through Luna Pages, installed through cPanel. The good thing about installing through cPanel is the updating through cPanel, a click or two and you're done. Luna Pages also does domain registration with the ability of some large number of subdomains.
Garland, can you post that link here? I'd love to know it too! Thanks.
Hi Dusty,
I teach Internet marketing and design many client sites.
The simplest tool I have found for a beginner to set up web sites is Weebly.com. The one that gives you the most flexibility and power for a free content management system is Wordpress. Wordpress has thousands of plugins to add things like shopping carts, forums, membership area, video galleries and much more.
I highly recommend Wordpress but do NOT use Wordpress.com. Instead just get hosting from a reputable company that gives you cPanel access. You can install Wordpress yourself in a couple of clicks from cPanel.
I will send you the link to the hosting company I use - about $7 per month for unlimited web sites.
Thanks, Lois. I guess it's about time I figured this stuff out, huh? If I do go the Wordpress route, I will certainly choose a host that is designed for WordPress so that I get the extra support. We'll see.
I use WordPress for our church library's catalog and Blogger for 3 blogs. They have limited support, but are free and fairly flexible.
My own website is through HostMySite.com, with great support 24/7. You can get your domain name through them, too. To design it I started out year's ago with a template, but nowadays I use Serif WebPlus which is easier and less expensive than DreamWeaver and way easier than Microsoft's web program (I forget the name, but I tried it and hated it; worked out a return). I'm overdue on upgrading my site with some planned changes I want to do, but know that if I have questions the user forum for it is a good group. Serif's about to come out with a new version, so you might be able to find an older edition which ought to still do all you need. I remember the last time they upgraded, Office Depot had the previous edition drastically reduced.
I know a webdesigner who thinks equally highly of KingWebHost.com.
Wow, Kevin Y., thanks for all those links. That will save me a lot of time. The more I ponder this the more I think I am going to use wordpress and take control of the whole process rather than continue with the pre-fabbed stuff that is quick and easy but not necessarily what I am looking for. Plus, I should probably learn moremore web designfor work, so I can sort of justify whatever time it takes. I may indeed contact you with questions down the line!
Kevin M., thanks for the encouragement. I've found it pretty easy to just plug content into the templates at webs.com but I end up with pages that don't look exactly the way I want them to. I think I'm going to abandon that site you were looking at and start over. Once I do that we could definitely link between our sites. The main purpose of the River City Dulcimers site is for our local group to have a resource to find tablature, information on our meetings, and so forth, but I still find myself fielding questions about luthiers and instructional materials, so even our local group would benefit from links to people like you.
