looking at a dulcimer advertised with no info on who made
walnut teardrop, - made USA in the late 1980’s, - purchased in North Carolina.
tuning pegs, white & up - strum hollow curved but not large, pins up on end of fretboard - sound hole not crisp f.
Any ideas?
There are quite a few "bowed dulcimers", played upright between the knees. Ken Bloom of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina is the major builder and promoter of bowed dulcimer. It is a very old traditional style of playing.
I have dimensions and photographs of a bowed zither/dulcimer originally made in 1865, in a museum in Pennsylvania, and will be building a replica in the near future with the blessing of the museum curator and staff (I already built another instrument from their collection by the same builder).
Check out any of Aubrey Atwater's youtube vids. I've seen her fiddle and clog and sing -- an "all in one" performer.
Miss Strumelia, you are absolutely radient!
Feet as music: I remember well an appearance by Doug Kershaw on the Ed Sullivan show. He sang, played fiddle and kept time nearly in a full clog. I feel that that added so much to his performance.
I have 3 banjos, none of which I play well. None have resonators, and, all have skin heads. I have a modern tonering banjo, a fretless mountain banjo, and a fretless tackhead minstrel-style banjo. Tried for years, but can't get the clawhammer or any down -picking style down, so I play a 3-finger style. Love the sound of instrument!
Well maybe not fully vertical, Ken, because then it gets in the way of the didgeridoo! This may be where Gayle learned of this style:
Robert and Al played over the top even while standing. Laliya play the dulcimer truly as a guitar, from the bottom, while holding it across the chest, as Gayle mentioned. But maybe it's just an Australian thing!
Well, you can't really hold the dulcimer in an "autoharp hug", but you can play it "upright" like a guitar; either seated or standing. Google any of the videos of Robert Force; especially his teaching vids forthe songs Did You? and Wellyn as well as any of his performance videos. He and his late partner Al D'Ossche sort of invented the "guitar style" fifty years ago.
Aussie, eh!@ That explains "vaulted" 
What state are you in? You lot don't have maple but you have some fabulous woods for lutherie down there. Do you know of the builder Richard Troughear? How about a player named Anne Bowman?
Any reasonably hard wood 6-12mm thick will do for a possum board. The board can be rectangular or sawn to the shape and size of your instrument.
Yeah, any instrument that makes you feel happy when playing it is just plain GOOD. :)
(Cynthia I would love to hear more of you on your kantele- I loved what you posted a while back... so full of feeling and so ...from a Different time and place.)
There are many more gourd banjo makers now than there were ten years ago. You can actually get a decent playable one for $300 or less. Gourd banjers are less expensive than regular banjos in general.
Clawhammer banjo is the one that grabs me, and I used to play it. If I had a gourd with nylon strings I'd be playing it right now! About happiness and instruments...gotta add ukulele...yep, just gotta. Beautiful Lisa. I really love the Sacred Harp tunes on clawhammer banjo. Listen to the Banjo Apes do those. Wish I hadn't sold that banjo.
Bess, for that tune (from an old WV Hammons family recording) I was playing in clawhammer style. Other times I play in minstrel style and tuning. Even though the two styles have a lot in common and can look like the same thing to an observer, I do find the actual physical playing styles of clawhammer and minstrel banjo to be different in significant ways other than simply because they use different tunings. It took me a few years to actually notice that there were these differences. To this day it takes me a minute or so to mentally/physically adjust when I switch back and forth between those two styles of playing. There are always some moments of "Uh, what the heck are my fingers supposed to be doing, again?"... lolol.
I do suggest that a beginner decide which of the two styles to concentrate on for a while, rather than jumping back and forth between clawhammer style/tunings, and minstrel style/tunings. Mixing the two up could be problematic unless you've had at least a year or two of playing one style before exploring the other style. It's possible to learn both styles at the same time as a beginner of course, but the result would very likely be a hybrid style, so you have to decide on what your personal goal is.
If you mostly just play alone at home or with family you can play however you like without worrying about styles at all. But if you plan to play with other folks that seriously play one of those styles and not the other, it might not be the best idea to jump into their established jamming group and start playing their customary repertoire in a hybrid style. ;) Playing in groups means we try to blend harmoniously and enhance what the group likes to do, rather than sticking out and possibly disrupting what they like to do. 
Wow! Thanks for the wonderful gourd banjo playing , Stumelia. I was fortunate enough to find a travel sized minstrel banjo who is patiently waiting for me learn how to play. Were you using minstrel style of play or clawhammer? I can manage an imitation of clawhammer and find myself using it on ukes as well as banjos and banjoleles. The non-steel strings definitely give the banjo another character. One of my favorite instruments is a baritone banjolele. I like it because it adds more of a percussive element and doesn't steal the show like a real banjo.
Barb
I went abroad to France on some business in fall of 2017 and brought along my McSpadden in a soft case. I'm not sure about what the luggage allowance difference is between international and domestic flights but I was able to find under "musical instruments" the size limitations and discovered I could bring my McSpadden with soft case as a carry-on. It fit into the overhead bin on top of other people's luggage. I was nervous about it, I must say, but it traveled fine. I would prefer doing what Aaron does next time. Anyway, it was possible in 2017 to bring it onboard an international flight at least.
Thank you Garret. From what I am reading it appears that you can bring your dulcimer on the airplane as carry-on, as long as it fits in the overhead bin. The problem is I am booked on a CRJ200 going from Huntsville, AL to Washington DC and bins measure 18" wide! Ridiculous. So unless, the crew is willing to put it in one of their personal lockers which would be bigger and longer, I don't think they're going to let me take it. Such a shame...
I went abroad to France on some business in fall of 2017 and brought along my McSpadden in a soft case. I'm not sure about what the luggage allowance difference is between international and domestic flights but I was able to find under "musical instruments" the size limitations and discovered I could bring my McSpadden with soft case as a carry-on. It fit into the overhead bin on top of other people's luggage. I was nervous about it, I must say, but it traveled fine. I would prefer doing what Aaron does next time. Anyway, it was possible in 2017 to bring it onboard an international flight at least.
OK -- here's a photo of my sono-tube cardboard dulcimer case with the jig for my Holly Leaf dulcimer next to it, for scale. Just a tub, two 1/2" plywood disks for top & bottom, some duct tape and a piece of nylon strapping for a handle. This carries 2 dulcimers, one of which is 39" from end-to-end. I roll them up together in small-bubble bubble-wrap until I get a squeeze fit, then tape on the ends. Have used this technique to ship dulcimers all over the place@
Pardon the messy workshop/garage...
Thank you, Ken, that is a very clever set up!
OK -- here's a photo of my sono-tube cardboard dulcimer case with the jig for my Holly Leaf dulcimer next to it, for scale. Just a tub, two 1/2" plywood disks for top & bottom, some duct tape and a piece of nylon strapping for a handle. This carries 2 dulcimers, one of which is 39" from end-to-end. I roll them up together in small-bubble bubble-wrap until I get a squeeze fit, then tape on the ends. Have used this technique to ship dulcimers all over the place@
Pardon the messy workshop/garage...
Sound posts were used by "Uncle Ed" Thomas and Charles N. Prichard in their dulcimers. Thomas had two sound posts; one about the 3rd fret and one about the 10th fret. Prichard had one sound post in the center of the fretboard. A friend made a reproduction of the Prichard dulcimer and when I asked him if he put in a sound post, he replied that he hadn't. He did on the next one he built and noticed an increase in the volume of the dulcimer. I put one in a dulcimer I recently built. People have commented on how nice it sounds, but I can't say for sure it was because of the addition of the sound post. Matt is correct. If you want more volume from a mountain dulcimer, add a possum board.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Yep -- what Matt said. You could put in a soundpost (and some of the pre-Revival era builders did) but it wouldn't do any good if you play it in your lap because any added vibration on the back is muted by your lap.
The easiest way to get more un-amplified sound is a Possum Board. Basically it's a thin plank the length of your dulcimer, with a couple 1/4" square dowels glued across it near the head and tail end of where the dulcimer will sit. If you ask over in the Dulcimer Making Group, we'll be happy to help you put one together from a board that you can get at Home Despot or Lowe's.
BTW -- most of us don't call that a "vaulted" fretboard; we refer to it as an Arched fretboard.
The violin sound post transmits vibrations to the bottom of the violin because the string press down on the saddle and the soundboard would collapse without the post. The fret board/neck of a dulcimer, even one with vaults, is too stiff to have that problem. To keep the posts in place, the luthier would need to put pressure on the back of the dulcimer. Any vibrations would be absorbed by your legs.
Try using a Galax bottom, "possum board".
It's 11 PM and time to hit the sack. I'll see about getting a pic of my tubular case in the AM.
Some banjos are loud and beautiful, others can sound mellow and beautiful. I have quite a few banjos. My most mellow sounding banjo is my lovely gourd banjo with nylon strings:
Here's a link to a similar discussion from about 7 years ago. In that discussion I link to an article about the law requiring airlines to accommodate instruments in the overhead.
I can't remember if I mentioned this in that discussion, but Aaron O'Rourke shared with me a few years ago that when he travels by air he packs his dulcimers in a soft gig bag surrounded by his clothes and towels and stuffed in one of those hard, oversized containers made for carrying golf clubs, which he checks as luggage. The dulcimers are safe inside and the airlines are used to handling those things. Then he also has a light, soft case when he gets to his destination.
Also pay attention to this discussion in which Jan Potts warns us that some airlines don't let economy passengers use the overhead spaces at all. They are closed before you even board.
I have taken small dulcimers as carry-ons. I have an octave dulcimer that can fit under the seat in front and a ginger-sized dulcimer that I put in a hard viola case in the overhead. I've never traveled by air with a full-sized dulcimer, but presumably if it can fit in the overhead, you can take it.
And to put the proper amount of fear in you, here's Bing's song about Northwest Airlines mangling his dulcimer .
That's a lot of great information! After further thought, I'm thinking there's no way they're going to let me take it with me - the dulcimer would not fit in a CRJ200 overhead bin. And putting it under the seats in front of me, would obviously annoy a person sitting next to me if they can't stretch their legs. I'm 5'1", so no problem for me, but with my luck, I would probably end up with a guy measuring 6'6"!
It's not TSA you have to worry about, it's the particular airline. Last year, flying from Florida to Kentucky for the Berea Traditional Dulcemore Gathering, Allegiant made me check my handmade case because they said "it didn't look like a musical instrument case", and there was no recourse but to put it in the belly of the beast. On the way home on American, they let me have the same case in the cabin where the crew keep their goodies.
BTW, the case was a 40" length of 8" diameter, 1/2" thick hard cardboard "sonotube" used as a form for casting concrete pilings.
Thanks, Ken! After further research, I see I am booked on a CRJ200 which is a ridiculously small jet with overhead bins that won't even take a small suitcase with rollers (from what I am reading in different forums.) I'm wondering if they would let me put it under my seat, although it would obviously go between my seat and the seat in front of me. Also, my case is a soft case. I guess I better invest in or borrow a hard case in case they tell me it has to go in the bagage compartment. Do you have a picture of your case? Sounds interesting...
Here's a link to a similar discussion from about 7 years ago. In that discussion I link to an article about the law requiring airlines to accommodate instruments in the overhead.
I can't remember if I mentioned this in that discussion, but Aaron O'Rourke shared with me a few years ago that when he travels by air he packs his dulcimers in a soft gig bag surrounded by his clothes and towels and stuffed in one of those hard, oversized containers made for carrying golf clubs, which he checks as luggage. The dulcimers are safe inside and the airlines are used to handling those things. Then he also has a light, soft case when he gets to his destination.
Also pay attention to this discussion in which Jan Potts warns us that some airlines don't let economy passengers use the overhead spaces at all. They are closed before you even board.
I have taken small dulcimers as carry-ons. I have an octave dulcimer that can fit under the seat in front and a ginger-sized dulcimer that I put in a hard viola case in the overhead. I've never traveled by air with a full-sized dulcimer, but presumably if it can fit in the overhead, you can take it.
And to put the proper amount of fear in you, here's Bing's song about Northwest Airlines mangling his dulcimer .
It's not TSA you have to worry about, it's the particular airline. Last year, flying from Florida to Kentucky for the Berea Traditional Dulcemore Gathering, Allegiant made me check my handmade case because they said "it didn't look like a musical instrument case", and there was no recourse but to put it in the belly of the beast. On the way home on American, they let me have the same case in the cabin where the crew keep their goodies.
BTW, the case was a 40" length of 8" diameter, 1/2" thick hard cardboard "sonotube" used as a form for casting concrete pilings.
Thank you so much, Dusty! I can't imagine being without my dulcimer for 6 days!
My understanding is that as of a few years ago, the airlines were required to allow you to carry on any instrument that could fit in the overhead compartment. So the dimensions of the overhead compartment and how early your board would be the determining factors.
There have been a few discussions on this topic. If I can dig them up I'll post again with the links.
I play 5-string resonator banjo, Earl Scruggs style. I had a wonderful teacher who first taught me fingerpicking guitar (46 years ago), then I moved on to fingerpicking (aka Earl Scruggs style) banjo. Don't play as much as I should, but it is still fun to pull out now and again.
Hello, Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone has had any experience traveling on a commercial flight with a mountain dulcimer. I'd like to take it with me onboard as a carry-on but if I understand correctly, TSA allows a maximum 45" dimensions. I've got a McSpadden soft case 36" X 10" (at the widest point) X 3" which would put me 4" above the limit. I was wondering how strict TSA is about this. I would hate to "check it in" as I am sure that 800lb gorilla they keep in the back will smash it to pieces, God forbid!
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated, especially from those of you who have experience with it. Many thanks!
I have a little 3-string banjo built by Michael Fox, called a Dulcijo. The dulci portion of the name refers to the tunings used-- typical mountain dulcimer tunings-- but it is definitely a little banjo. Nice & cool little instrument!
I got my banjo playing buddy a new tuner for Christmas -- Acme Wirecutters!!~!
I play a bit of banjo. It is a lot of fun.
It is also loud and raucous.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Don you wrote me about this a week ago or so, and I responded, but never heard back from you. Can you tell us an example of a particular group you belong to that you have this issue with? At least then I can check that you already belong to the group, and start from there in helping you.
Also, as I asked you prior: when you have this issue of not being able to access a group you are a member of... are you sure you are LOGGED IN on the site when you try to access the group? I ask this because any person who is online looking at fotmd.com would be able to see the site and many of the site pages... but they would not be able to see the content of groups unless they were logged into the site. If you see your NAME in the top right hand link bar, then you are logged IN. You should check that because what you describe sounds like that may be what's going on. To see the contents of any Group you are a member of, you need to be LOGGED IN to the site.
@Don-Grundy, Ken is correct. You do not have to sign into a Group once you've joined it. I would also like to point out that we have a Forum specifically for Site Questions . Feel free to peruse the existing conversations there or start another one of your own if you have any questions. If we all use that Forum for site-related questions it becomes a great resource for others.
Don -- once you're a Group member, you don't "sign on" to that group. You'll find the Groups you are a member of listed under your name when you hover over it with the cursor.
Well crud and other sayings of a simular nature...looks like I stand corrected, huh?
However, I am a thumb, index, middle finger picker. That leaves out the thumb brace for me. More like resting the ring and pinky next to the fret board.
But as to pulling up on the strings? I would be afraid there might be a chance of the string 'slapping' the frets if string was pulled hard enough.
From Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer Book: "Brace the thumb of the right hand against the side of the fingerboard near the right hand end. Play, with a slight lifting or plucking motion, the melody string and second string with the forefinger, and the third string with the middle finger." Also The Best Dulcimer Method - Yet, (the only Dulcimer book I've seen in the past 40 years) repeats "Play with a slight lift in plucking motion." As far as string buzzing it hasn't been a problem, but my action is a little high. Not nickel and dime, more like a buck and a half.
Didn't know how to post that original quote.
Also sorry it took two weeks to respond, but, life..
Hobbyhorse... great job! I like that you were inspired by my epinette built for me by Michael King. 
