Forum Activity for @strumelia

Looks like a nice purchase!

You should keep in mind that your 1970s dulcimer is diatonically fretted. Many modern dulcimers have an 'extra' fret or two... most commonly a 6.5 fret. Yours does not have a 6.5 fret (which is not too difficult for a luthier to add for you if you want). This simply means that if you tune to DAd and expect to follow dulcimer tabs written for DAd tuning, you may find you are 'missing' a needed note for using that tab.
There are ways to work around that. However for now I'd suggest the easiest method is to tune to DAA instead and use tab written for DAA tuning... which usually does not call for using a 6.5 fret. Or just tune DAA or CGG and start picking out simple tunes by ear.  Have fun!

Congrats on your new to you dulcimer. It is interesting to note that it has feet on the back. That was somewhat standard in Appalachia long ago. Many people played with the dulcimer on the table standing as they played. The table top acted as a sound board and rendered a louder sound. Some people use bamboo or river cane for a noter. The strings likely need changing. Regarding care for the dulcimer, the advice I have always received and followed is to avoid any product with silicone in it.  John's suggestion of string gauges is a great starting point. Enjoy your dulcimer.

Great job! I assume you got the case too. Easily worth twice what you paid. Seems to be in fine shape as well.

Just about everything that goes out my door is strung with 2x .012 melodies [d] 1x .014 [A] and 1x .024 [D].

Cleaning "should" be about the same as your guitar, but I suspect the finish is shellac, so be careful with anything alcohol based as it will dissolve the finish.  000/0000 steel wool for the frets and fingerboard, a bit of oil if it seems dry.

You've got a nice piece of history to care for now, [oh how I wish they could talk], welcome to the adventure............

On Monday I purchased a mountain dulcimer at a local antique store.  I was able to find a little information on the make and model, but I was hoping to find a bit more here.  

The label indicates it was made by Ellen Yeoman of Mixolydian Musical Wood Works in Summerland, CA, in 1978. I did a quick Google search and found an old page connected to Bryan Mumford, which also included a phone number. Amazingly, Bryan Mumford answered the phone, and I was able to send him some pictures. He confirmed it was one of the ones they made and that it has a solid spruce top with Mahogany back and sides (the the back appears to be plywood).  

He did not remember what size strings they used on these instruments and was uncertain of the value.  Since it was the first used one I had seen locally, I took a chance, bargained a bit, and purchased it for $120.

Here are my questions: 

1.  Was my purchase price in the ballpark?

2.  What size strings would be appropriate for this instrument? 

3.  It needs a cleaning, and since I play guitar a bit, would using those products be safe? 

I've already poked around this site a bit and have some ideas for a noter and picks (I can make those). I've also found some ideas for tuning, but I'm still open to suggestions for the easiest method.

The plan is to learn to play it. My 86-year-old dad also wants to learn, so we are going to embark on this together. Both of us have interests in Appalachian, Bluegrass, and folk music. He also makes and plays Native American-style flutes. 

The more I dig around this site it appears it has a plethora of information and friendly folks.   

 Dulcimer Smaller Image.jpg - 190KB

I tune mine a half step lower due to my vocal range

Well it looks like I was a little premature in posting my question a friend of mine just informed me that Yamaha now makes a CD player with a integrated USB port and it will also work with my "Teac amplifier" for those who remember the 1980s, Oh happy happy joy joy Sorry for wasting everybody's time reading this post. I'm trying to keep up with technology, sometimes it can be frustrating 

4 strings are easier to play if they're a little bit thinner.

General Music Discussion i quess

Well it looks like I'm being slowly pushed into the present and that's where I am having a problem. Can everybody's out there help. I enjoy sitting in the front room sipping a cup of coffee and listening to Music on my CD player through my stereo receiver. And here's where the problem lies: it looks like more and more artists are no longer selling their music on CDs and forcing you to download their files. The problem is I'm not really big on listening to music on my laptop. Laptops no longer have CD players so you can't even burn a CD anymore.  and I do prefer to listen to the music through my stereo receiver. I can always put the files on a thumb drive USB but then the only way I know would be able to play the music is through my Blu-ray player through the television which means the TV is on all the time and the quality of the stereo is not as good as going through my  stereo receiver. Any ideas out there how to solve this problem I also must say that my receiver does have the old RC jacks on it. and yes I finally did get rid of my rotary telephone smile. oh for those who are not familiar with that type of phone you'll need to Google it, we used to use those back when there were typewriters smile Any suggestions out there on how to solve this problem 

I would like to sell my Sunhearth which W.Martin created in 1976. Inside soundhole is signed and numbered. Original box and paperwork included. A well know luthier familiar with vintage and rare Sunhearth instruments estimated the value at $2000. If interested please contact me. 

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I take weekly group lessons with Don Pedi and play noter style in all tunings Don plays in .

I am not a traditional player and my dulcimers all have a 6.5 fret, but I definitely enjoy playing melody drone with a noter or my thumb in Dad. If I didn't have a 6.5 fret, well it might be fun to mess around with but definitely wouldn't be the same.

In my opinion, because of internet and social media, it seem that the dulcimer is more popular ... or at least, more visible (if you're looking )

I can understand that. I also do a lot of finger dancing. Folks think at playing noter style is easy, but it takes practice to make it sound good. Keep on doing what you're doing.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Yeah, I'm more of a finger-dancer, rather than just using one finger.  I have used a noter, and yes, it's not that hard to still hit the middle string with your finger.  But finger-dancing came more naturally to me after years of playing chord-melody style and I never got very good with the noter.

I often play noter style in DAd. After a little practice you can manipulate your noter to fret the middle string. Of course, there is no reason you can't use your finger to do that. I think playing with a single finger rather than a noter changes the traditional sound. The zing of moving from one fret to another just seems not to be there for me. Another option is finger dancing where you use several of fingers to press down the melody. Watch some of Don Pedi's videos. It is fun to discover new techniques in playing. There is no right or wrong way to play the mountain dulcimer. Enjoy whatever way you choose to play it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

@tonyg, I'm glad to hear of your discoveries on the instrument.  In traditional, modal dulcimer music, the tuning is dictated by the specific notes of the melody.  DAd gives you the lowered 7th note (found on the 6 fret), which does not exist in DAA (it would be on the 8+ fret).  So certain tunes such as Going to Boston or Old Joe Clark can only be played in DAd.

That lowered 7th note defines the mode as Mixolydian.  DAA, beginning on the 3rd fret, provides the major scale or Ionian mode, which has a regular 7th note on the 9th fret.

If you have a 6+ fret, you can play the major scale or Ionian mode in DAd, which is presumably why that extra fret became so popular.  And if you are fretting with your fingers and are comfortable moving to the middle string, then you can overcome the main limitation of playing trad tunes in DAd only on the melody string, which is that no notes are available below the open melody string (the root or tonic).

But the short answer to your question is that traditional players tune DAd whenever the melody requires that lowered seventh note.

After abandoning chord melody playing (former long time guitar player), I've been playing drone style, (but no noter though) using more traditional tunings, and have really come to appreciate the old time sound of the dulcimer.  However, the other day I tuned to DAD for the first time in a long time, and was pleasantly surprised to find how good this tuning sounds played drone style without any chords.  Since I don't use a noter, I can easily play a couple notes on the middle string when necessary.  It would seem most DAD players use chords, but I was wondering if any of you traditional players use DAD?  I guess you could say I'm becoming a  semi- traditional  player, ((no chords but no noter) using not-so-traditional chords (DAD/DGD).  Hmmmmmmm........

Hello world!

I’m Gareth, living just outside Edinburgh here in Scotland. I’ve played mandolin off/on for around 20 years (doesn’t make me good though!) and I drifted toward the Seagull Merlin family of instruments having noted them in a local music shop, along with mountain dulcimers. Exposure to traditional folk from the US got me interested in the dulcimer.

Presently I have two mandolins, a ‘project’ bouzouki and a Merlin which I bought gently used a few weeks ago. I’m finding the relative freedom of the Merlin to be really amazing and drawn to pick it up whenever I can. Usually while dinner is cooking or between meetings at work (when I’m working at home).

In the past I’ve played in a few groups with friends, then as part of a mandolin and guitar orchestra, but now mainly music-making is for my own amusement and general sanity.

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Thank you, Karen and Dusty. These embellishments are probably too advanced for me right now but I think I will still try the hammer-on and pull-off with some of the simple songs I’ve been playing by ear to get started and add some flair and variety.

I am saddened by the news of Terry's death. It is always somewhat of a mystery when an active member suddenly becomes silent. I wondered why he disappeared from the forum. Now I know. He was a delightfully positive person who truly cared about bringing joy and happiness to others. Yes, Dusty, loved that hat. RIP, Terry.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sad news.  For a few years Terry was very active here and always had encouraging comments for everyone.  There was true joy in his heart and respect for the humanity in all of us.  Plus, he wore a good hat.  RIP.

So sad to hear. Terry was a great guy. We exchanged a lot of emails. I purchased a dulcimer from him one time. He invited me to stop by and visit him if ever I traveled his way.

I am very saddened to hear this news. Terry was a good friend to me when I first joined this site some ten years ago. He encouraged me to enjoy and appreciate my own style of playing (self taught) and singing. I hadn’t seen Terry on this site for some time but just attributed it to my own intermittent activities here (not on as much as I used to be). He was truly a good person. Rest In Peace Terry.

Thanks, Dusty!

Hi @karen-b, I arranged Beech Spring specifically to teach those left-hand techniques.  You can find my arrangement here .

In general, I find slow airs and ballads to be well suited to those techniques.  For example, see my arrangement of Calon Lân .

I wanted to add- Terry Wilson was very active in playing music for elderly and/or disabled folks. He was quite active in fotmd's "Dulcimer Therapy" Group , if you would like to Join that group to read all the inspiring threads there. In one of his threads in that group, he wrote the following a few years ago. I think Terry would like that I share his words here today:

"I'd sure like to see this group revived.  Senior Ministry is my heart.  I love it and participate with a passion.   I also head up our Senior Ministry at my church, with the name of SALT, which stands for Senior Adults Living Triumphantly.   And I am here to tell you, our group of approx 75 attempt to live this way every day.   We have ministries in Assisted Living Homes, Nursing homes, a Hospital, a food bank,  and a local Rescue Mission, and a Prison.   

We don't all go out and play music, in fact, I am the only one.  But we do lead bible studies, and our largest, sewing.  We distributed over 600 bags and pillows last year, and that's not counting blankets, bibs, and toiletries. 

I say all of the above, so you would know what I am all about, and it's genuine.   We have a heart for seniors.

Which leads me to say this:  "If you are considering performing at an Assisted Living Home, first, you must have a heart for it.   Compassion and passion. 

Don't wait until you are a great or even a good musician, just be willing and DO IT.   I play every week at one and every two weeks at another.   I do it all myself, except I have someone to come in and lead a 10 min. devotion.   I sing, play dulcimer, ukulele, and harmonica.  I AM NOT GOOD AT ANY OF THOSE!!!!  BUT THEY LOVE ME!!!!  Go figure, huh?   I consider myself just marginally adequate.   But my goodness, I have great fun, and it's great practice.   

Every week, one 94 year old woman will say; "We don't know what you are, but we sure do like you.  Thank you for coming."   Another lady will say: "There is no one quite like you."

One of the big differences between my ministry and others who come there is this:  I engage them.   I use them.  I encourage them to participate.  The less singing I have to do the better.

I provide song sheets to every song to hand out.  All in large print.   Take them up as each song is finished.   Can't give them to much at one time.   Even if they just look at the sheet and not sing, no matter, everyone gets one.   Their eyes tell you they want one.   I also provide hand shakers, and they love their shakers.  Great therapy.

Twice during the last 12 months I have bused the residents who participate to our church to perform for our church group.   It is a real "hoot", and they love it.  

I would sure love to hear what some of ya'll do.   I need some new stuff...

Okay, I'm off now to my "gig" with the old folks.  This morning from 10:00 until 11:00 is my time.   I'm amp't up this morning.

Thank You, Terry"

It's always sad to hear this type of news. May Terry RIP and his family find peace.

DddA is switching the strings from D3-A3-d4-d4 [standard DAdd] so the sizes would stay about the same, D3-.022W, A3-.012, d4- .010, adjusted to VSL.

I had some lovely interactions with Terry-- such as nice fellow!  I hope his passing was as peaceful as possible.  

Someone just let me know that fotmd member @Terry-Wilson passed away in Oct 2023.

I am very sad to hear this, as I had many fun discussions and interactions with Terry over the years here on FOTMD. A veteran, Terry was deeply dedicated to playing music and bringing joy to older people in living facilities. He played multiple instruments and enjoyed playing songs that everyone knew and could sing or clap along with. Terry had so much positive energy that he loved to share!
Terry we will miss you.

https://www.mathewsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/terry-wilson

Note that if one assumes an average dulcimer VSL (distance from nut to bridge) of around 27", one would need an impossibly thin string to tune way up to the 'a' note above high d (designated as D4, right above middle C). I believe any string would break before reaching that high of a note at that scale length, no matter what the gauge. So, on a normal sized dulcimer, any string tuned to the note of A would have to be tuned to an A note lower than middle C (C4).

Hi all. I’m looking for your favorite novice and intermediate-level tunes that lend themselves to incorporating hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides.  

Using a low wound D bass string, and a thin (.010?) unwound middle string in high d, and another thin or medium gauge string (.012/0.13?) for the melody string tuned to A (three notes below the high d)... would enable you to play in the key of D in ionian mode in noter style.  The tuning would be best labeled as DdA (I might have mistakenly typed it as Dda).  Fretting the melody string on the 3rd fret would then make it sound like a unison tuning of Ddd.  It's like DAA but without the '5th' on the middle string. It would have a unison tuning sound like Ddd, but would also give you the three extra lower notes to play on the melody string.  (It's late and I hope I'm not confusing anything in my explanation!)

@tonyg Indeed, I did.  Thanks for pointing out my error-- I'll correct the posting.  And hope I use the correct "A".  I'm a dunce when writing/talking about music.   

Robin......did you mean Ddda?

I play DddA (using doubled high drones) and like it lots.  I've been stringing instruments for awhile with a wound bass, doubled high drones, and single melody string.  

Never heard of that tuning, but if the middle string is an octave above the bass string--which is indicated by the lower case "d"--it probably has to be plain steel.

Dda........you don't hear much about this tuning.  Strumelia mentioned it in an old blog, and I was wondering if the middle string would be an unwound high d or a wound lower D like the bottom string?  Also, any thoughts or experiences with this tuning for drone style would be appreciated.  

"OOPS"  I will look in to

Thanks again Dusty after I posted this questing I found this web sit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykL2JYGP3CM 

Have not explore this site but at this point I do like that it gives you the Key and Tempo. I look in to Bings sit as well. 

Thank again Mr. Dusty :o)