Here's a picture of my FolkRoots with dolphin tone holes. My dolphimer!
Robin Thompson said:
Hey, frets4fun-- feel free to share pictures when you get the dolphimer! :)
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I love the maple leaves on my Folkcraft teardrop.As Jennifer Ranger said, I like having something a little different. I think leaves are great shapesfor sound holes...the the aspen leaf is used in advertising as a very stylized design--and easy to recognize, I think! The last thing I'd want on my dulcimer would be something confusing...like when you dress up for Halloween and people (rude people) ask, "What are you supposed to be?" I guess the f-style holes are least confusing!
Sam said:
Have you considered a very sweeping script style letter of one of your initials? The 'M' could be done very nicely with slightly enlarged 'feet'. Go through the alphabet in different fonts in word or something. I bet you'd find some very attractive styles that would add that personal touch you are looking for.
Sam
I like the traditional look of the traditional soundholes as well, but I also think they can be reserved for the traditional instruments.If you are building a new dulcimer yourself, or if someone else is building one for you, then by all means, be creative and personalize the soundholes. I like the look of leaves and vines a lot, but sometime soon I'll have to have a dulcimer made with turtle-shaped soundholes.For you, though, I think you already gave us the answer: aspen leaves. If you play fast enough they might look like they are really quaking! The only problem is that a single aspen leaf is not too shapely and not nearly as recognizable as a maple leaf for example, so you might have to go with a small group, as in the attached photo (though certainly you could rearrange the leaves for aesthetic purposes). Other Colorado-themed possibilities would be the outline of mountain peaks, the shape of a blue spruce, or simply some climbing vines.Whatever you decide, you will have to post some pictures so we see how your new baby looks.
I only made 2 dulcimers, so "favorite" may be speaking prematurely. I used cactus, 2 kinds of birds, mountains, a butterfly and a group of leaves on a vine. The leaves are the soundholes, the vine is a curved line cut only partway into the spruce top, and filled with a putty made from walnut sawdust & wood glue. They were all fun to do, but I guess the mountain and the cactus are probably my favorites. They made it onto both dulcimers, so I musts liked 'em.Paul
One time I made a hammered dulcimer for my wife; and since at the time both of our sons were active high school thespians, I carved the little tragedy/comedy masks, as inserts or "rosettes" for the fairly large-diameter holes one makes on an HD. For a pattern, I borrowed a pair of earrings owned by my younger son's girlfriend (a thespianette). Basically, I just enlarged what somebody else had already worked out, in terms of stylization and contours.Sometime, I can excavate that instrument and photograph the holes -- but not at the moment. Also, at my limited skill level, it would be fairly hard to carve those at the smaller scale of most MD soundholes; but there are people in our community who could easily do it. They do make a nice pair, visually.
Among the traditional heart shapes, I like the Weeping Heart,which has a sort of tail out of the point, leading to a drop.If you're going to personalize, I would pick something that has meaning for you - say your favorite tree, or if you like a kind of bird or other animal. Leaf silhouettes make nice sound holes, as do many animals like dogs, cats, bears ad birds. I once made a dulcimer for a lady was a real space nut, and the sound hole was in the shape of the Space Shuttle!
I got a new embroidery machine and have been wanting to make some dulcimer quilted bags..so as soon as I draw me up a pattern will be making this..my nephew made me a beautiful leather guitar strap that would be able to fit around me is necessary...as far as a stand..i put my guitar to bed in its case and have put the dulcimer to rest on its stand..lol...love your questions.excited to see others ideas.
My family keeps me so busy making quilts and quilted grocery bags that I have never made anything for my mountain dulcimers. I just got this brand new awesome sewing machine--maybe I'll try something--after I finish my niece's wedding quilt. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
ps. My family likes my music a lot--but they go really crazy over the quilts. :)
A couple of months ago I walked into my music room to find a picture had come off the wall and fallen onto the guitars underneath it. They were in cases, but if they were on stands, or leaning against the wall, they would have been damaged by the picture frame. If knocked over, a neck could have been broken. I keep my instruments in their cases when they aren't in my hands. I do use a stand on stage when I take breaks,or bring more than one instrument. Even my steel guitar stays in a gig bag, though I use a stand to play it. I was playing dulcimer today and Kitty decided to play string-with the leather laces I use for a dulcimer strap! If I had walked away, she might have dragged it to the floor. They ain't much, but they're paid for!
Paul
I did a simple three plait leather strap from 72" leather boot laces. I haven't put it on a dulcimer yet. I carved some buttons to hold a strap on for the current build. I carved them from red oak and left them pretty 'beefy'. They should last forever. I've also bought some nylon rope in bright colors and plaited a couple straps form that. I'll probably use one of those as the might add a little character to my dulcimer. I've made some noters. Some from cowhorn seem to work really well and 'slide' with ease. Various picks, which I imagine everyone does. I tend to like the sound of softer picks. I've bought several, but I don't like any of them. I made some 'simulated' quills by hot melt gluing string trimmer line into the end of a piece of dowel. Leave the string long and trim to suit just like a quill and the dowel handle can also be used as a noter. That's about it so far, but I'm having lots of fun.
First response, I have made no accessories for use with my mountain dulcimer! Then , hang on, like KenH , enough noters to keep a decent camp fire going for a while, half a dozen or more 'hard' cases to put various dulcimers in when travelling, several little foot rests , and that 'thingy' which comes in useful for positioning the cam corder, several jigs of one shape or another to use when shaping sides, all sorts of odd blocks for use when sanding during construction, and that curtain arrangement which restricts sound and stops my wife going mad when I play late into the night............ Yes, I suppose that I may have made the odd item! LOL (and an awful lot of sawdust and shavings, some of which have ended up as' works of art' executed by my grandkids!!!)JohnH
I made a music stand and dulcimer holder from an old art easel, quilted dust covers for for my several of my dulcimers. A wooden quilt stand morphed into a multiple dulcimer holder. It can hold 8 instruments.I made a single quilted padded bag for my Berg when I first got it out of some fabric that had musical notes on it. The Berg was so very long that it didn't fit any standard case. I had intended the fabric for coveralls for my daughter. Then when I picked up a second instrument Kurt Simerman suggested that I try making a double bag. That was on a Saturday. That night I when I came home from the festival, I made a heavy padded bag using the same musical fabric. I showed it to Kurt the next day. It was a double drawstring bag. He was so pleased that I took his advice that he called some other vendors over to look at it. heheheheeeLet's see, what else? A bag to hold an instrument on a closet door, modified a chair for playing comfort. Most of these items I put on the thread "Favorite Dulcimer Accessories". Made a possum board once I used an old fabric bold cardboard core, but I prefer the wooden ones that my brother, Dave/Harpmaker made for me better.Using plastic bags, I've made disposable foot rests for festivals. They're light weight and and easy to carry. If it's an outdoor festival and they get wet or muddy, I just toss them.
I'm sorry that I can't offer any cool stories or photos to this discussion board. I felt brave enough putting on my own (store-bought) strap buttons. (Sorry, Ken, I know you are theoretically opposed to straps, but I couldn't play without one.)My mandolin strap is a simple shoestring. And I've made capos for my guitar with nothing but a pencil and some rubber bands.I look forward to hearing about what others have done.
I don't use straps. I've made a couple single dulcimer stands for folks. A few capos. Music Holders that clamp onto your dulcimer. And a ton of noters...
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/17/16 01:43:18AM
I've had this book and cd for perhaps four years and love it! I could listen to Jean talk and play for hours-- and have! Strumelia said:
Perhaps if you don't like it you can sell it used on Amazon.com
For a whole different approach, perhaps next try Jean Ritchie's recent teaching dvd? She is a good beginner level teacher, and it'd be interesting for you to observe the difference in playing style.
Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Mountain-Dulcimer-Homespun-Tapes/...
Perhaps if you don't like it you can sell it used on Amazon.comFor a whole different approach, perhaps next try Jean Ritchie's recent teaching dvd? She is a good beginner level teacher, and it'd be interesting for you to observe the difference in playing style.
Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Mountain-Dulcimer-Homespun-Tapes/dp/063406293X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1277476190&sr=8-3
Like your attitude Littlebird " Anne Littlebird said:
You can play it any way that is comfortable for you. I play both ways. Ther eis no right or wrong way.
To keep it from sliding make sure that your thighs are level. You will probably have to be in a chair lower than you would normally sit in. Or raise your feet slightly on say a phone book or two.
A chamois on your lap also helps to keep the dulcimer in place. Just make sure that you wash a new one - some of them have a coating on them that might affect the finish on your instrument. A washed one is fine though. I keep one in my case just in case I wear something that is really slippery.
Just breathe and play - it's beautiful instrument. WHen I get frustrated I pick up the dulcimer. It calms me right down. JUst noodle and make something up. No worries about what is right and wrong. If you are playing it - then it is right.
Hi Katie;David Schnaufer was a great dulcimer musician, but not a god. I've been playing for over 30 years; and when I saw his "learn to play" video, I was lost after the first ten minutes. IMHO David was not a particularly good teacher, and that is one of the poorest teaching videos I've ever seen. I will now don my flame-proof armor and stoically await the wrath of the Schnauferites.
More people play the dulcimer flat than tilted at an angle. Especially beginners. Forget the holding it at an angle nonsense until you learn to play flat.Second. You cannot sit lady-like with your knees primly together. Sit with your feet flat on the floor (or use a riser if you have short lower legs. Sit "hip-shot" with your left leg leading. Open your legs and place the first fret over your left kneecap. Pull the body of the dulcimer back towards your left hip. Don't try to place the dulcimer at right angles across your body.As far as which fingers (or thumbs) get used for what -- again, the mantra "there is no right way or wrong way to play the dulcimer. There is just your way" comes to mind. Whatever works for you is what you should do.Personally I'd like to see you learn to play a couple songs using one or more finger just on the melody string(s) - without trying to learn chords right from the outset.Frankly I really dislike seeing beginners who think "I have to learn to play exactly like Robert Force, or David Schnaufer, or Stephen Seifert.... or any other dulcimer player out there!
Katie,Most teaching materials present that particular teacher's approach to playing- and that's as it should be, because we should be teaching what we do best. However, there is no one best way to play, or to hold the instrument, or strum, etc.Most people do play with the dulcimer flat on their laps, not angled up like a guitar. It's ok to do that!I believe most people also use their left thumb as well, because they feel it lengthens their useable stretch when making chords and moving about from note to note. That's ok too! lol!When i used to play chord/flatpicking style, i kept my dulcimer flat on my lap and used a strap to keep it from sliding around. I also learned that if I keep the tail end of the dulcimer firmly against my right hip and the peghead end out more sitting right on my left knee area, it enabled me to have much easier access to fretting the entire fretboard without bumping into my stomach. The angle was better for both my strumming and my fretting hands, plus the dulcimer was more stable and didn't rock or tip about. A strap enabled me to do this better.You can either have a music store or luthier add a strap button either or both ends of your instrument (cheap and easy), OR you can figure out more creative ways to attach a home made strap....see my video here: http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/video/noter-style-beginner-7-home I myself can't imagine trying to make chords without using my left thumb, but then some people don't use it. Go figure. Everyone has to find their own most comfortable and practical way to play. It's YOUR style, and you get to decide what your playing style will be like. Don't be afraid to try different things, and to check out some additional teaching methods by various teachers- there are many many great teachers out there, and they all play slightly differently. That's part of the fun.Keep it happy and try lots of things- that way you will discover what's right for you .
Don't worry about using your left thumb, loads of players do.That angled position that David and Stephen use is quite distinctive and does free up the back - but it is not a common playing position.A strap completely solved "dancing dulcimer syndrome" for me. I can relax way more with a strap and get my MD into a position that suits my style of playing - no matter what I'm sitting on!
Hello Katie, appro the 18th July, I have no firm detail as of now, but it will almost certainly run into late afternoon, I shall not be leaving Bristol until after lunch, and I know that others will be travelling from Bath and Frome. As soon as Geoff informs me of his arrangements, I will let you know of them. You could contact him thr' this site, he will not mind. He has already said that it would be good if you could get attend, and there will be a mix abilities and styles, of that you can be sureI am sometimes described as a 'vigourous' player, and therefore have need to anchor my dulcimer, either by the non-slip mesh which is freely available, or by a strap, for which you may need 'buttons' on your instrument, tho' some people make do with less rigid arrangements. Being male, I am able to spread by knees widely, thus helping to stabilise the instrument and also to help in its projection somewhat, and I do use my thumb, despite John Shaws best efforts!!! LOLbest wishes JohnH
Sorry Katie, I forgot to respond to your point about using the left thumb. I don't use my left thumb either, because it doesn't feel comfortable or natural to me to do so, but lots of players do use it - probably the majority! I haven't seen the Schnaufer instructional DVD, but I suspect his reason for advising against thumb use is to encourage a more upright, vertical position in the left hand digits viv-a-vis the fretboard. (Thumb use tends to flatten the hand a little, and might tend to encourage a less positive finger action.) Bear this in mind, but remember that lots of players do use their thumb!
Hello Katie - David was a wonderful player and there is good theory behind the tilted position he advocates (as the back of the dulcimer is freer to vibrate and project sound than if it is damped by the knees). Stephen Seifert uses the same position. However I've never been able to get this position to work for me, and like most players I have the MD flat on my lap. I put non-slip mesh on my lap under the MD to stop it slipping around. (Some people use a strap on the the instrument, with the strap going under their knees or around their back, for the same reason.)If you look at most of the videos on this site and elsewhere you'll see most people adopting the flat lap position rather than the Schnaufer position. If the Schnaufer position doesn't work for you I wouldn't worry about it at all!
updated by @john-shaw: 02/13/16 10:38:36AM
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All this affection, and music too! It don't get much better, unless you add a JAM SESSION to it.Paul
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Aw shucks .It's nice to have an online family, and you, Dear Strumelia, are our matriarch.We all share your affection for this place and the wonderful folks who inhabit it.