What is your VSL/scale length from nut to bridge? And what gauges are the strings do you have on this dulcimer? These factors are important in figuring out your problem.
(note: don't attempt any tuning higher than EBE or you may break strings)
EBE definitely wasn't the way to go, but I recalled seeing a post that mentioned CGC as being compatible with DAD songs. I tried it and it seems muted or softer, which tames that middle string. It may take a bit getting used to as the strings are not as taut. Thanks again for the input.
That way, if things are still discordant, then the issue is definately not the capo itself causing problems.
Capo is on first fret. I had that setup, as it's the one Mark Gilston recommends in his book that i purchased. He plays it in a Youtube vid, and of course it sounds great. I'll try tuning to EBE. I think that's it. I'm very musically disinclined. I basically just learn songs by Youtube vids and making tabs from them. Thanks.
You're playing "King..." from DAd tuning -- capoed where? And it's when you're capoed that the open middle string is discordant?
Have you considered re-tuning from DAd to whatever the capoed tuning is, or to any other tuning?
Even though I know it's beyond me, I've been trying to learn King of the Fairies for a few months now. I almost have it but when I strum with an open middle string It sounds off to the point, I'm considering ditching the song. It's not a problem without the capo while playng other songs in DAD.
Fixes I've tried. I noticed with the capo, the strings were almost laying on the second and third frets. I laid a straight edge on the first five frets and sure enough, the second and third were high so I filed them down. I then put new strings on. I used a 12 for the middle, which is what I had. It's a little better, but that middle string still dominates. Any insights appreciated.
Thank you all for the input and suggestions.I found Mr.McCafferty online and ordered one of his capos[tuner included!] .I also stocked up on strings.It's hard to find suitable gauges and lengths for the dulcimer in Canada,in my experience.
That's great to hear. You will not be disappointed. Those with the tuner look like a great idea (I got mine before he came out with those). Glad we could be of some help to you.
Thank you all for the input and suggestions.I found Mr.McCafferty online and ordered one of his capos[tuner included!].I also stocked up on strings.It's hard to find suitable gauges and lengths for the dulcimer in Canada,in my experience.
@davisjames, I took the liberty as a Moderator of moving your question here to the Forum on specific features of dulcimers and instrument questions. The "Site Questions" Forum is for questions about how this website works. I hope you understand.
Ron Ewing is often credited as the one who basically invented the dulcimer capo several decades ago. I have a much fancier capo that cost about three times what one of Ron's does, but it doesn't work any better. I'm sure Terry's are great too. I play one of his dulcimers but haven't bought a capo from him.
Yes, Terry McCafferty’s capos are wonderful. I cannot brag enough about his capos. They are worth every penny.
As a guitar player, I have been spoiled by inexpensive capos that work great for the guitar.
I even wrote Terry after my capo arrived to personally thank him.
Terry McCafferty makes some really nice capos for a little more money than the economical Ewing capos (which are generally a good value). I have purchased 4 of Terry's capos. Nice mechanism, consistent pressure across the strings.....my favorite dulcimer capo.
https://www.mccaffertydulcimers.com/capos
Can anyone recommend a good dulcimer capo?I had one but the "legs' were too bigl and I broke it trying to tighten it enough to clamp down on the strings of my Folkroots..In this case less is more....As an aside,I used to somehow use an elastic band and a pencil as a capo[laugh] before I knew that dulcimer capos existed...much easier to have a good capo...
/
As KenL says, Georgia really does not have a traditioan of dulcimere building/playing in the same way that Kentucky, or Tennessee or North Carolina or the Virginias do. No known early (1800s or early 1900s) builders or traditional shapes associated with the state. Neither does South Carolina. The reason may be how and from where those areas were settled -no direct connections to areas where the instrument was known, no settlers from other known dulcimer building areas, etc.
(Dale had a shop in Pigeon Forge in the 1990s )
Thanks for the information - could it be Dale didn't make/sell many dulcimers, that it's hard to find out information? Or, maybe because he made them before we could google or post about the dulcimers from Pigeon Forge.
Many thanks for all this information. I shall get the Book.
Two good books on dulcimer history are Ralph Lee Smith's Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions and The Story of the Dulcimer. I suggest doing an internet search for them. Georgia is not known for having a history of mountain dulcimer making or playing. If you just want to know about Georgia, an internet search will provide you will lots of information.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dale had a shop in Pigeon Forge in the 1990s and made hammered and mountain dulcimers. I knew him more as a hammered dulcimer maker. As I recall he did good work and made fine, playable instruments.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thank you very much Ken for all this information.
Do you know where I could find some information about the history of the Dulcimer and Georgia?
Bye
John Pledger lives in northwest Georgia and after he retired decided to start building dulcimers. He is a hobbyist who sells his dulcimers through Etsy. Here is a photo of him with two of his dulcimers. This is what it says on his Etsy page: "I am a hobbyist Dulcimer maker from North Georgia. I make one dulcimer at a time and only seven or eight per year. I enjoy playing the Mountain Dulcimer and attending craft shows with them throughout the year. I meet a lot of interesting people who love art and music. The Mountain dulcimer is arguably the easiest of the stringed instruments to play. I am learning old time American mountain music and Celtic/New age tunes. The dulcimer is the instrument for the beginning string student because of its ease and immediate results." He is a member here and you can search for him under members and send him a private message if you have any other questions.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Hello ,
I am new to the community and have played the Dulcimer for a couple of years now in a local folk rock music band from the French Alps.
I recently purchased a Johnny Pledger Dulcimer. Do you have any information on this builder since I got it from a French musician...
IAM also curious about the history of Georgia and its link with the mountain dulcimer. If you can get me any information on the subject I would be more than thankful
Many thanks,
JBaptiste
Sycamore makes good dulcimers.
It has a Janka hardness rating of 770; mid way between Honduran Mahogany at 800+ and Silver Maple at 700. Softer than any of the common American woods used for the rest of a dulcimer body like Walnut or cherry, but a bit harder than Poplar (Janka 550) which makes excellant instruments.
The lower part of the dulcimer top looks to be a crotch, don't know the species.....hard to make out from the image.
Does this 6 string look like a Rippled Sycamore & what type of tone wood would that make
Does anyone own or know anything about Dale Ward's, dulcimers? It's a 6 string Pigeon River String Instrument, handcrafted by Dale Ward 9/24/97
That is a song still under copyright. You may need to purchase the sheet music and then get someone to do the tab for you. It is available here
https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0152332
in the key of C which should be fairly easy to create tab for.
If you can't find someone to tab it for you, pm to me.
That is a song still under copyright. You may need to purchase the sheet music and then get someone to do the tab for you. It is available here
https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0152332
in the key of C which should be fairly easy to create tab for.
If you can't find someone to tab it for you, pm to me.
I play dulcimer for residents in assisted living/memory care, and one of the residents loves to sing You'll never walk alone. I would love to be able to play this song for him; I'm hoping he'll remember the rest of it (now he just gets the first 2 lines). I'm sure I can get the lyrics. Does anyone have tablature for this song that I may have? I've checked all the free tab sites that I know of with no luck. I'm afraid I don't know how to write a tab or read music. Thanks for your help with this!
If you google "Don Pedi Youtube" you'll find at least 8 recordings of Don's playing. Notparticularly "instructional videos". The folks who make their living with dulcimer don't tend to give away a lot. But you'll also find links to Don's website with all of his available materials.
The David Schnaufer instructional video may not be available on YouTube. I think I bought a DVD of it years ago. My memory is that it was put out by Homespun Tapes. You can find a few videos of him playing though, and lots of videos of Don Pedi playing.
For one example, here is Don Pedi playing Sally's God Mud Between Her Toes . As Dan and Ken have said, he is the absolute master of the fingerdancing approach and is a font of information about traditional tunes. His website is http://donpedi.com/ .
Thanks all who responded! Dusty, I tried to review the David Schaufner video you suggested, but my attempts at searching got me nowhere. Same for the Don Pedi reference. If they are all on YouTube, could one of you guide me to find both of them, please.
Yep -- what Dan said. Don Pedi is probably THE current master of traditional Fingerdancing. Check out his videoes, how-tos, classes and festival appearances.
I say go to the master, Don Pedi.
If you are Fingerdancing on just the melody string, use whatever combination of fingers in any order that doesn't tie your fingers in knots as you move up and down the fretboard!
If you change over to Chord-Melody style playing, then which finger get usedon which string is more important.
Dusty has pretty well laid it all out for you there...
Jimmy, there is no single way to do this. What works best for you is what's best.
And I think you are right to work on one thing at a time. Don't think about adding chord strums until you have figured out the left-hand fingering.
In David Schnaufer's instructional video, he demonstrates how he uses three fingers (no pinky or thumb) to move up and down the fretboard. As he moves higher than his hand position he uses his index finger, and as he moves lower, he uses his ring finger.
Personally, I use all my fingers since I need all the help I can get! Most of the time I approach the fretboard the way guitarists and violin players do, where you try to minimize hand movement and keep your hand in one position as long as you can, with each finger assigned a fret position. Each position is named for the lowest fret. So if you use your pinky on the first fret and your ring finger on the second fret and so forth, that would be called first position. If you use your pinky on the second fret and your ring finger on the third fret and so forth, that would be second position.
However, whereas on the guitar or mandolin, each fret is of equal size, the dulcimer is missing some frets, so you might sometimes skip a fret. In second position, I might use my pinky on 1 and my ring finger on 2, but then my index finger on 3, skipping my middle finger. Find what is comfortable for you.
Some people use their thumb a lot on the melody string, turning the thumb to the side a bit to be able to use the edge of the nail and slide around like a noter. I do that occasionally out of chord positions, but not most of the time, since using your thumb comfortably means the other fingers don't line up on the melody string as easily.
However . . . and you may not want to do this . . . once you are using your fingers you are no longer limited to the melody string, and "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a good example of why. The song begins with a big jump from 4 to 9, and even goes down to 2 on a couple of occasions. That's a big jump. It's fun with a noter, but not so fun with your fingers.
But if you are tuned DAd, then any note on the melody string is also found on the middle string three frets higher. So the first note of the song could be the 7 on the middle string. That 2 on the melody is also the 5 on the middle string. The whole song can be played between 5 and 9, which is a much easier stretch, isn't it? Attached you'll find the melody of the tune using both melody and middle strings. Give it a try and see what you think.
I’m learning how to play the MD again after many years. I’d like to stop using a noter for the melody and use my fingers as a noter substitute instead. I need suggestions about how to approach assigning my L, R, M, I, T fingers to playing a piece. I’ve attached a score sample that id like to work on. Are there general guidelines to do what I want to accomplish. (I think it might be easier to add chord strums later if I get my fingers trained to work with intervals‘ now. Right?) Thanks to any help anyone can give me. 🤓
The “possum board” is sometimes an enhancement to the volume of a possum fiddle.
Picture! Picture! Picture!
Thanks to all who responded. I finally got things right. I was missing the .15" allowance for compensation. When I
took that into consideration and ran it on a fret calculator, I ended up with a 25.5" VSL, so from the nut to octave is 12.75" but octave to bridge is + or - 12.9"
Bill R
The width of nuts/bridges, and the depth of the notches aren't terribly important. The distance between the inside edges is. the VSL. If the nut & bridge are that bad, it would probably behoove you to make new ones.
Still would like to see pictures -- overall plus closeups of the places where the nut/bridge ought to be.
Sorry, I forgot to say to set the bridge to the same measurement as fret 1 to fret 8.
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (melody only).pdf - 238KB
