Mary i loved your story. How great that you are forging ahead, enjoying the journey, and not letting anything get in your way this time!
Some friends and I get together every Christmas Eve and a few of them have started leading us in new songs (mostly Yiddish Christmas carols and some Swiss-German songs) and doing little performances. This past Christmas it was so much fun, and so goofy, really, that I challenged everyone to come up with a new talent for Christmas 2020 and perform it. You've got a year: go!
I think I'm the only one who actually took that seriously. I tried Tuvan throat singing for a couple of weeks (YouTube is amazing...I finally realized that if I could master Tuvan throat singing, which would take years, even I would not want to hear myself), the harmonica, the nose flute. Then I remembered the 44-year-old D50 CapriTaurus dulcimer in the garage, which I have carefully carried around in its original cardboard box all these years. I took a few lessons after I bought it in 1975 but the teacher was unimpressed with me and I shuffled off in discouragement. (Crushed.)
I can't play any instrument, don't read music, was overwhelmed by trying to tune by ear, didn't know how to change strings, have never made any headway trying to learn to play the dulcimer by reading the books. I'm kind of shy; I was never going to be able to seek out someone who could help me. But everywhere I went, I carried that dulcimer box full of hopes and dreams.
At the end of January this year, it suddenly hit me: Could there be videos online now that could help me learn to play this...?
Since then, of course, I've bought two more dulcimers from Howard Rugg. I'm beginning to understand that's part of the journey: Learn a tune, buy a new instrument.
With trepidation I even went to Redwood Dulcimer Day this past month. That was totally out of my comfort zone; I kind of expected buzzers and flashing lights when I signed in that would spell out "Fraud! Fraud!" I was afraid the whole day would basically be a replay of the angst of walking into the high school cafeteria. But guess what, people were friendly and encouraging and SO enthusiastic about dulcimer music that it was a real high. And I wasn't even the least capable person in two out of three workshops I took, which was a surprise to me. (In the third, I muted my strings and concentrated really hard.)
I think Bosco the comfort dog, who came with Kevin Roth, was a valuable addition. Every festival should have a Bosco.
I'm really grateful for this community, the interwebs, and the folks way back when who came up with this marvelous music-maker.
Yeah Patty.....you were surely inspired to get that dulcimer. JUST BEAUTIFUL. and to use the cheap piano stand. Can you lower it to a height that you can sit down and play too? I use those cheap black Walmart adjustable stands and put it at the lowest level and have several of these parked at my kid's houses in Utah when I go there often to be with them and play music. I love the noter/drone style and the sound. There are many tunings for modes that will be useful to learn...but stick to Daa or Cgg and then branch out. Oh joy to learn that lovely dulcimer you just got. Congratulations on your recovery and living in Oregon, you'll find many others to play music with. A beautiful state to live in. aloha, irene
Thanks Strumelia, the overall length is 40" and no it did not come with a case.
Wayne, a 28" or 28.5" nut-to-bridge scale length is about as long as it gets and still be considered 'standard scale length' range. So it seems to me this instrument was designed with a scale length in mind that is several inches longer than that. Whoever laid out this fret board with the nut positioned where it is now had the goal of making this longer dulcimer have a 'standard' length scale.
If you replaced the current fret board and put the nut where it would 'normally' be expected, this dulcimer would likely have a scale of 31" or so-- really a bit too long to comfortably tune up to the usual dulcimer key of D, and such a long scale would also make for difficult-to-reach finger stretches while making chords. So, somebody made this dulcimer have a 'normal' scale by the easiest way possible- by having the nut moved up by several inches.
How long is the overall length of this dulcimer? I assume it did not come with a case? Might be a little fragile and expensive to ship because of its added length.
About the Merlin, I can't say much because I feel like it's comparing apples to oranges. Instruments are tools, and much depends on what your own personal goals are for your playing. Choose a tool that will help you get where you want to go. :)
There have been a number of complaints about the Seagull Merlins not having correct fret spacing and very few frets. Seagull makes decent guitars but whoever is making the stick instrument Merlins for them is apparently not doing particularly well. Definitely what I would call a "try before you buy" situation!
Thanks for the help folks. The scale is 28" inside measurment from nut to bridge. Intonation seem very good except for the fret that plays the octave in relation to the open string. For some reason it is about 20 cents flata at the octave fret. I guess that fret could be slightly closer to the nut to sharpen up things but I am OK with how it plays at this point. I am new to the MOuntain Dulcimer and my main instrument is the upright bass. I like the concept of the DAD tuning and the easy of making nice sounds with the Diatonic layout. After seeing a Merlin 4 string that is also same tuning but the D strings are reversed I think I am more drawn to this Merlin option as its more guitar like in posture. The reason I was wondering about value is I may sell this Dulcimer and buy a Seagul M4 Merlin shown here http://www.seagullguitars.com/en/products/m4
Any adivse on how these Merlin guitar style Dulcimers compare to a real Mountain Dulcimer would also be appreciated.
Hi, I'm Patty, I live in Beavercreek Oregon, and about 10 days ago a little voice in my head said 'you need to find a dulcimer.' Coincidentally, there was a like-new Folkcraft on CraigsList and when I saw it I happily got it, and have been picking up accessories and books and as much info as I have time to read right now. I joined Fotmd so I could look at how people had made cheap guitar stands work for dulcimers. Heartened, I ordered a likely looking stand from Amazon and it got here today, and I didn't have to do a thing to it except to lower the top extender a couple or 3 inches so it cradles the upper headstock. If anyone's looking for a cheap stand right now, it was $11.98, and it's called the 'Chromacast Upright Guitar Stand Two Tier Adjustable-Extended Height'. The supports on the bottom are about 5.75" across, plenty narrow enough to hold a lady with curves, without me having to tweak it. it clears the floor as it is by a good half inch. A couple pieces of pipe insulation on the supports would move it up farther. (Yes, I am lazy.)
Yahoo! One less thing to worry about. I also need to thank the person who posted a photo of their dulcimer on top of a cheap keyboard stand--I set mine up in my living room with the music stand behind it and it's the perfect height for me to stand up and play.
Looks like I joined the right Mountain Dulcimer group!! Lotsa smart people here!
ps. for instrument junkies, it's a 2007 D Series, made by S. J. Ash of 100% black walnut.
Such an awful day. . . May we always strive to bring peace on Earth with goodwill to all.
Someone laid out the scale a little differently by starting the nut higher up the fret board than usual. That shortened the scale overall.. which actually might make it easier to play if you have smaller hands. As long as the frets are placed so that it plays in tune on all frets, you're good to go! (use a tuner to fine-check the fret placement, but at first glance it looks to be generally correct)
I'd be interested to know the scale length of this arrangement- what's the length in inches between the black nut and the bridge? Perhaps the instrument itself is extra long, and the owner decided to shorten the scale to a more standard length, to make it easier to play.
I'd say that if it plays in tune and comfortably, you can enjoy having this dulcimer that didn't cost much! 
Thanks Dusty! :D
Tatts, I'd like to also mention that in this "How do I.." forum (and thank you for posting your question in the right forum!), there is a thread about how to change your profile/account picture. That thread may explain further details for you that might be helpful:
https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/site-questions-how-do-i/15152/change-upload-your-avatar-member-profile-picture#r21272
I started playing about two months ago, and so far I play a combination of fingerdancing and chord-melody, depending on how well I know a song and what I feel like doing. Since I mostly play Appalachian tunes this works well for me. I use a pick, though I'm still experimenting with which one is right for me.
Thank you for your eloquent words, Salt Springs. I went to school with two people who were killed in the Towers that dreadful day.
Today we remember so many who lost their lives some 18 years ago. I remember the phone call that came from my son who was working at the American Stock Exchange that morning. He told me how he and a few others managed to get through the dust and general chaos that ensued. He also related some of the details of what he saw, sights that young men and women should not have to see nor remember.
I remember speaking with a young woman who lost her brother in one of the towers. Both he and his wife worked for the same company and she was home that day taking care of a newborn baby. She told me how he had called his wife while trapped and then silence.
I spoke with the wife of a rescuer who told me how her husband suffered after being exposed to who knows what.....I hope he is well.
And this evening I read how school children whose schools were in the area may yet fall victim to various life threatening illnesses.
So perhaps we should all think about this for a moment if we have not done so. It is easy to forget things as we run about generally doing things that matter very little. Or, focus on insignificant things going on in our lives that will have little or no significance in the days ahead.
Somehow I have to force myself to remember to keep things in proper perspective. It is not always easy to do that, but when I think of all the sorrow that event caused, and others such as mass shootings, school shootings, incidents of domestic violence, child abuse and all the other things that we tend to ignore to keep our sanity intact I can honestly say that I have much to be thankful for and hope to heaven that that perspective never gives way to the petty things that characterize so much of our days.
So we remember that day and the lives that were lost.........
Where ever it was made, all the joints are tight and looks great that way. Good you replaced the tuning gears and strings. Now the "taste is in the tasting"....of the pudding. HOW does she sound? Have you checked with a tuner? first fret and 7th fret octave in tune the same? that's a good indicator that it's done good in the "fret department". I've gotten a few dulcimers that frets are NOT TRUE...and I'm going to rip out those frets and make new fret board and put 'em on it....making sure the VSL fits the frets and be in tune. a project for another day. This dulcimer would be really cute some added flowers and tole painting. aloha, irene
Finger picking, usually in the late evening when the kids are asleep and it's time to wind-down. Generally though, I'd rather be building one than playing one.
Being able to play a tune the first time I picked up a dulcimer is what attracted me to it and is still why I like playing it noter or finger and drone style. I have a 3 string, diatonically fretted dulcimer which I've had for 52 years. Until a couple of years ago I was unaware that anyone played a dulcimer any other way! I've learned more in the last year and a half since joining this group than I'd learned in all of the previous years combined. I usually play in Ionian, Bagpipe tuning, or Aeolian and sometimes Dorian. I also have a chromatically fretted dulcimer which I play noter/drone style as well. While I don't play it as often, it certainly is handy for comparing how a tune sounds in 2 different modes.
NOTERS AND DRONERS.....YEAH, you all expressed how I feel about what I love to do on the dulcimer. I'm soooooooooo grateful to have found others that like playing this "traditional style". Thank you for sharing your thoughts here and expressed so well. Today I just finished, and tuned him up, another Box Dulcimer. yep, I made only 3 strings on him because I only had 3 banjo tuning thingies in my shop. Ha. I like playing both 2 or one melody string. (I'll have to try a bacon sandwich.) personally, I don't like playing in Dad because I lose those 3 lower notes. there's so much I love about dulcimer and playing it....aloha, irene
I only play noter/drone style. I love the sound and also the "feel" of playing in this style. I also have, in the last few years, fallen in love with playing the traditional 3-string, diatonically fretted dulcimore, with staple frets under the melody string only (I have 3 of these instruments each tuned to DAC, DAA, DAD).
Hi @tatts. If you hover your cursor over your username in the upper right corner a drop-down menu will appear. Click on the first option, "Account Settings." Under your profile picture you will see an option to "Upload a New Image."
I think it was a decent buy for $50. Very strange setup, that for certain. Not "old style fret placement", just a plain Diatonic layout, but with a HUGE blank run at the head from the Nut to the break over the edge of the tuning head!!
Almost looks like the wrong fretboard was installed on the body. Or the wrong VSL scale was used to cut the frets -- that board could have a much long VSL... Maybe the strum hollow was cut and the frets installed from the wrong end. The sound holes are a strange mishmash too, with the trefoil between two round holes.
The body appears to be mahogany veneer, and heavily braced inside.
I take it there is no maker's label visible through the holes. I'd say YES it's a commercial build, probably from Asia (just a hunch) or at least somewhere that did/does not understand how the fretboard is supposed to be on a dulcimer.
Most of my playing these days is a combination of finger-dancing the melody with my left hand and fingerpicking with my right hand, although I can, and do, strum chords to accompany my singing or to accompany another dulcimer playing the melody. I've tinkered with the chord-melody style, but I can't say I use it much. I prefer finger-dancing with my left hand or using a noter held in my left hand (thumb on top if the fretboard is high enough) for lining out the melody and fingerpicking or strumming with the right hand to get the strings to ring out and establish rhythm.
Since most of my repertoire is old ballads of Appalachia and the British Isles, I play mostly in 1-5-5 tuning (Ionian) and 1-5-7 tuning (Aeolian). The actual tuning varies with the instrument I'm using at the time. My 1-5-5 tunings include D-A-A, C-G-G, G-D-D, and A-E-E. My 1-5-7 tunings include D-A-C, C-G-Bb, and B-F#-A. Since most of my playing these days is done at home for my own satisfaction, the actual tuning is what I perceive as the best tuning for that particular instrument.
Although I have played in 1-5-8 (D-A-d) tuning on occasion, I seldom use it these days. I've found that the vast majority of melodies written for D-A-d tuning (which is a traditional Mixolydian mode tuning) are actually Ionian melodies more suited to 1-5-5 tunings, such as D-A-A. Although D-A-d tuning is the predominant tuning these days, I find it more suited to the chord-melody style. Since I prefer to play in a melody-drone style, the various 1-5-5 tunings are more useful to me.
The tuning and style you choose to use is a matter of personal preference. There are those who swear by the chord-melody style. I happen to prefer a melody-drone style. All styles are valid, and I make no value judgements concerning which style is better. The only thing that really matters is which style brings you the most satisfaction.
Hi all, how do I change my account picture?
Thanks
Greetings Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. I have just acquired a used mountain dulcimer. It would not stay in tune so switched over to the geared tuners from Folkcraft and also a set of new strings. I think the instrument had been sitting for a long time. I feel its older but hardly used. I am looking for some kind of marking inside the instrument to see if I can tell who made it. No signs of any kind of ID on the dulcimer. Seems like a quality build and seems in excellent shape. Old style fret placement. Thought I would share the photos to see if anyone can give input on the possible value of the instrument and if others feel its a commercially manufactured piece. Intonation is good and no signs of any damage of any kind. I paid $50 bucks for it and then another 40 for the tuners and strings.
I play, nearly exclusively, Noter&Drone, with a bit of Fingerdancing (a.k.a. Melody Drone) when I'm picking out a new tune and writing my own tab. Why? It is the old traditional 'high silver' sound with drones that I fell in love with 40 years ago. Something about the drones "strikes a chord" in me, as it were!
No need to try and find or remember a bunch of complicated chord shapes, the melody is right there as I walk my finger or Noter up and down the melody string. Left-hand wise, I strum more or less of the three strings depending on the mood of the tune -- usually to the rhythm of the words rather than some metronomic fixed beat.
I play mostly American Roots music and the Scots/Irish/English folk songs that those tunes derived from -- Shady Grove and the ancestral tune it derived from, Matty Groves a.k.a. Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, for example.
FYI -- in the dulcimer world we don't talk about "scale length". We use the term Vibrating String Length -- VSL.
Hi all, I discovered the mountain dulcimer last year whilst building a cigar box guitar. In March I built myself a 26” scale length box dulcimer but only really started playing it about a month or two ago. I’m loving the ease in which you can play chord melody and the beauty of the sound that the instrument makes (even my rudimental one)! The simplicity and beauty of the instrument has made it a real joy to have discovered!
I play a bunch of other instruments (guitar, bass, ukulele, learning the fiddle) and my main go-to style wise is playing the chords and melody together, finger picking almost exclusively. Occaionsally I throw in a claw hammer bum-ditty for variance.
Being from the uk I don’t really know any classic US bluegrass style tunes (although I’ve learnt Wild Rose and Arkansas traveller, I’d like to learn more) so I mostly stick to hymns,carols and other Worship songs. !
I was wondering what style everyone else prefers, particularly what the appeal is for noted/drone style? Because I’m interested and it’s so unusual to me.
Gorgeous Thomas style walnut dulcimore, John! The matching possum board is icing on the cake.
I lived there myself and have family there. There were more than a few dulcimers around there. I have one that is supposed to come my way, it was built in the 1940’s and is fully fretted. Chet lived outside of town, not sure exactly where. He said his first one wasn’t very good. Didn’t start building seriously until he moved to Dayton.
If life allows, it'd be fun to go to Chillicothe and try to find any early instrument(s) Chet Hines built. (I have deep family roots in Ross County, Ohio.)
Thanks Skip....I will explore your idea with some other very good carpenters in this area. aloha, irene
Great find! I own two of Chet’s instruments. Yours was called his Masterpiece dulcimer. Ron Ewing apprenticed under Chet and can tell you more about him. There is a bio of Chet in Jean Ritchie’s book Dulcimer People. He built his first dulcimer in 1935 as a teenager in Chillicothe, Ohio.
