Forum Activity for @strumelia

Wow I bet you are super thrilled to have this new beauty, Richard. Happy playing! 

Suzette, tune to DAC and try my free noter/drone style tab for Shady Grove:

https://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2009/03/beautiful-aeolian-mode.html

(I posted over 30 free tabs on my noter dulcimer blog)

Tomorrow's THE day!

What Ken Hulme said. Enjoy playing it Richard.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Enjoy your new beauty, Richard! 

Nice!!! Thanks!

Suzette, in the drone style, you never fret the bass or middle strings. They are always left to drone, and you will play the melody on the melody string.

You will sometimes run across tablature that places the melody across all the strings.  That tab is just not for you, so ignore it.  But whenever the melody can be played solely on the melody string, you can ignore the chording indications on the bass and middle strings. Over time you'll discover that a lot of traditional tunes sound great in that style, but some more modern pieces don't.

Make sure you join the Old Style Noter & Drone Group . You'll find lots of guidance there. 

Thanks Mr. Turtle. Yes, I am looking for one finger drone style. So for most songs, I’m guessing I can just play the melody string?

This is not the easiest tab to read, so don't feel bad.

The song is given in two sections.  In each there are three lines.  The top line refers to the bass string. The second to the middle string.  And the bottom line to the melody string.  So in that first section, you start by playing 1-1-1, meaning you fret the first fret on all three strings.  You end that line playing 3-3-5, meaning the third fret on the bass and middle strings and the 5th fret on the melody string.

However, if you are a beginner or if you want to play in the traditional drone style, tune DAC and only play the bottom line (melody string) of each section, letting the bass and middle strings drone.

The description on the page indicates how to read note duration, but if you know the melody, I would just follow the rhythm in your head.

For the record, there are plenty of examples of tab for this song that are easier to follow, so if you can't figure this out, I'm sure people can help you find other tab to use.

How do I read/play this? Is it 6 individual lines? 2 individual lines?

 BDA00891-BE2C-410C-B509-80A3C738562D.jpeg - 98KB

That's one good lookin' dulcimore, Richard!

Beautiful work!   As is everything that Dan makes.  One of thee top three or four traditional dulcimore builders in the coutry.

Dulcimore Dan built a replication of a Leonard Glenn dulcimer with full traditional features. Fiddle edges, staple frets, feet, wooden tuning pegs, music wire strings, taller fret board for noter playing. Poplar with butternut stapleboard, tail piece and head stock. Walnut tuning pegs.

 Glenn Traditional 01 cropped.jpg - 61KB

Ah, so now we know: 1) why Leo could not attach a word file, and 2) why there was suddenly a .pdf there that Leo did not put there. Mysteries solved!

To explain the confusion, I turned Leo's Word file into a pdf and posted it in his thread.  I was trying to be helpful , but this appears to have caused enormous confusion .  Just call me an agitator (or maybe a gremlin).

Leo, I have our site code set to not allow people to attach word docs to posts, because that type of file can contain malware code. It's just a site safety setting that has nothing to do with you.

I conclude (half believing it) that it was necessary for me to leave the page, the computer and the room it's in for it to work!! Have no idea how it turned into a PDF from a Word doc. It's all voodoo and gremlins, but sometimes they're friendly...  

Thanks, Gregg, for posting about our Saturday get-together and open jam at Claremont's Shelton Park! We'll be there on Saturday from Noon to 3 - or longer if the turnout warrants it! C'mon down!! 

(I'd post the flyer with all details, but Word docs are not showing up after choosing 'Attach File.' (Computers still hate me.))   [And yet, lo and behold, a flyer has appeared -- DT]

1st Annual Mountain Dulcimer Day.pdf - 185KB

Thank you Greg…. I appreciate having this info!

Unless the vibrating string length is excessively short or extremely long you should be able to use standard dulcimer strings:

Melody Strings = .010 -.014

Middle String = .012-.014

Bass String = wound .022-.024

If you plan on using hammer on and pull offs, then a lighter gauge will have more flexibility and be easier on the fingers.

Locating the bridge is not too difficult.  Measure the distance from nut to 7th fret.  The distance from the 7th fret to the bridge should be approximately that same distance.  If the notes go flat as you ascend the scale (fretboard) move the bridge a little closer towards the nut (small increments).  If the notes go sharp as you ascend the scale (fretboard) move the bridge slightly farther away from the nut.  Once you have located the bridge to get decent intonation all the way up the fretboard, mark the bridge location on the banjo head with a pencil.  This will enable you to locate the bridge quickly in the future.

And, as you have already been advised, slanting the bridge slightly will sometimes improve intonation on the middle and bass strings.

Thanks Dusty!  I’m taking no chances sending it to you.. LOL!!   I’m going to try restringing tomorrow….  I’m hoping the bridge will become self evident. Thanks for your quick response!  Linda

Hi Linda.  Congratulations on your new hybrid baby.

By all means, put steel strings on the banjammer.  I would offer to do that for you, but if you sent it to me you might never get it back!  Those gauges you list are about right.  You can buy them at any guitar shop.

If the floating bridge is in the right place now, then just change one string at a time without moving the bridge.  If it's not, then my suggestion is to put on the middle string first and adjust that one.  Guess where the bridge should be and tune up the middle string using a tuner.  Then fret that string at the 7th fret, which should be about halfway between the nut and the bridge. You should get an octave. If it's off, you need to adjust the bridge by moving it further from the nut if the octave was sharp and closer to the nut if it was flat.  Once you have the middle string done, do the same for one of the other strings, but this time instead of moving the entire bridge to adjust it, angle it, keeping the middle of the bridge where it was when you set the middle string.

This sounds harder than it is. Just take your time and use your head and you can figure it out.

A friend has given me her banjammer… (can you believe it?!). It has nylon strings… they sounded pretty cool but seem kinda floppy to play. When I tried to tune up a step, the high string broke. Of course. I called a friend who has a banjammer and his has steel strings. 10-14-24.  I can find nothing online about strings! Looked at Mike Clemmers site and left a voice mail at that number. I’d prefer to change to steel strings. 
Question:  Should it work to just put steel strings on it? It looks like it has a floating bridge which I have no idea how to adjust.  Any input appreciated…

Hi Dusty, just saying I'm going to be meeting up with Leo Kretzner and as many Dulcimer Players that show up at the Shelton Park Dulcimer Statue, corner of W.Bonita Ave and Harvard Ave.N. in Claremont CA for International Appalachian Dulcimer Day!  

I'm glad y'all enjoyed the article!  

My wife and I took a trip to Mountain View Arkansas about 12 years ago and got to visit the dulcimer shop. Also got to listen to the jam session on one of the porches there. Did buy some tuning pins to make a hammer dulcimer from the dulcimer shop.

I recently found a dulcimer @ an antique store in Texas and had to do some repairs. I used spray can lacquer for music instruments, bought @ Rockler, on the top and back of the dulcimer and orange oil on the fretboard. Be careful when using GooGone. If you have acrylic nails, it will melt them. I have some experience with luthier projects. Also have a lot of luthier tools and can repair most hand wood instruments. 

That's a good article on the Dulcimer Shoppe and McSpadden. Thanks for sharing it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

jeff....  FWIW, that original post is six years old.   

Hi Kris. I worked at J.C. Shellnutt & Co. in 1976-77. If you tell me the serial number I might be able to give you an idea of when it was made. It should be stamped in the tail stock, if I recall correctly.

Congrats on your new baby, Megan! What a beautiful dulcimer.

Yes, that was a really nice article.

Love my McSpaddens!

Thank you Strumelia and Dave! Please do post pictures when it arrives, I'd love to see it! I wholly relate to the Christmas sentiment--I was refreshing the tracking page all morning yesterday in anticipation! I hope Santa's UPS truck visits you soon. :)

I imagine we have many FOTMD members who own a McSpadden.  

https://mhobserver.com/the-dulcimer-shoppe-how-one-nebraskan-farmer-left-his-old-life-behind-to-build-the-ozarks-greatest-instrument/?fbclid=IwAR2tXcsa64cc8igUDNqheX4wzNE0u9QORr-D7brf69lMp69De8CrBaMy3pM

Meghan, That is one of the most beautiful Dulcimers I've ever seen!

I am right now waiting, like a kid for Christmas, for Ron to finish my custom instrument. I'll post pics when it arrives!

What a lovely dulcimer Megan! 

Hope it's OK to piggyback on this thread--I just wanted to chime in to say I ordered a Ron Gibson thanks partly to these forums. It just arrived today & I'm extremely happy with my decision, so thank you to those who weighed in on the original question!

I went for a 4-string Barbara Allen model in cedar and walnut. I haven't played many other quality dulcimers to compare, but it feels great to play and has a really lovely rich sound. Ron was very easy to work with and I was impressed with the price and turnaround time for such a nice instrument. Hopefully this helps anyone else who is on the fence and searching these forums for info. :)

 Annie.jpg - 299KB

The IADD stickers arrived today. The coloring came out significantly darker than I had expected, but they're perfectly fine otherwise.  The yellow lettering is easy to read against the background, but you have to look closely to see that the background shows the soundholes and fretboard of a dulcimer.

If anyone wants one (or a few), contact me by PM.

That's a terrific subject to cover, Patricia.

Early music is one of my passions. Much of it utilizes compelling drone intervals that are familiar to drone style traditional dulcimer players.