Dusty, thanks for your detailed advice. You do have me thinking of just making the drive. LOL. But if I can find some local players that would suit me just fine. Your key words for advertising will be a great help. Thank you so much.
Bill
Hi @Bill-s. I started a dulcimer group that has been going for about 7 years now, so I guess it's a success. We meet monthly and only cancel meetings around the holidays when life gets hectic for all of us.
Here in Northern California, no one would hesitate to drive an hour for a dulcimer meeting, and I have some regular members who drive 2 to 2-1/2 hours to join us. Hopefully where you are in Michigan dulcimer players are a bit more common than they are here.
I started with perhaps 3 or 4 email addresses, but one of them was a woman willing for us to use her home, so that was a start. Initially, I actively recruited people, meaning I scoured the lists of members here at FOTMD and at the defunct Everything Dulcimer website and contacted anyone within a 3-hour drive, urging them to join us. A few months later I created a website, making sure to put certain key words on the home page (words like "dulcimer," "beginner," and the state, and any prominent cities in the area). Those key words help search engines find your site, so if someone does a search for "dulcimer clubs in Michigan" or "dulcimer clubs in Flint" you want your website to pop up. I still average about one contact per month through the website.
The trick for me was creating a structure that was interesting for both beginners and more advanced players. What I settled on is a three-part structure. The first hour is a free beginner lesson. I think this is essential if you want to welcome new players or people who played a little years ago and have put the instrument down. I tailor the beginner lesson to whoever is the "most beginnerest." So if someone has never played before, we start with the parts of the dulcimer, how to position the dulcimer on your lap, how to strum steadily, and most importantly, how to read tablature. If no true beginners show up, I ask whoever is there what they'd like to work on, so that first hour is a free lesson for whoever shows up.
After the first hour is group play of our common tunes. At our first meeting I brought a good beginner tune as did another member, and we also solicited ideas from others about what tunes to play. Over time, the list of the tunes we are actively playing has evolved, but most of our group play is pretty steady. When we first start our group play each month, I ask the other members to help me choose tunes that would be more accessible to the newbies, so that they don't get too intimidated.
The third hour is a song circle in which we take turns playing a song solo, calling out a tune for group play, or just "passing" and watching others. This part of our gathering was requested by the beginners who wanted to hear what the rest of us were playing when we weren't playing with them. But it has also been important for more advanced players who use it as a kind of dress rehearsal for songs they are working on that might not be ready for prime time yet. To be honest we don't always devote a whole hour to this part of our gathering, if only because our common repertoire has grown, and if we're having fun playing together, I don't want to cut us off. But I usually make time to ask if anyone has a song they would like to play for the group. Some never do, but others are happy to share tunes they are proud of but haven't quite mastered yet.
After we had been meeting for about a year, I got a call from a music store (it's actually a ukulele mecca of sorts) wondering if we would like to meet there instead. I hesitated at first, thinking most of us liked being out of the public eye in a private home. But I had also grown concerned about giving out a private address to anyone who contacted me saying they wanted to join. In the end, meeting at The Strum Shop has helped us immeasurably. If someone breaks a string or if their instrument needs some repair, it can be handled right there on the spot. And the exposure has also brought us new members. If you can find an arrangement like that, I highly recommend it.
Our gatherings have ranged from a low of 6 to a high of 22 or so, and I consider that a huge success. And although we meet just north of Sacramento, we have one member who drives a couple of hours from Reno, another who drives that distance from San Jose, and another who makes a similar drive from Marin County north of San Francisco. It takes dedication not only on the part of the organizer, but also on the part of the participants. I think the biggest challenges were getting the word out and developing a structure that works for beginners and advanced players alike. It takes some effort, so I can't tell you if it would be worth it or if you should just drive the hour to the existing group, but hopefully I've given you some ideas about how to get started if you wish.
Hello all, Does anyone here have experience in forming a dulcimer club? I live well over an hour from any club here in Michigan's Thumb and would like to gather some players who would like to share the music. I don't know any mountain dulcimer players in my area but I think anyone within a 30 minute drive would be interested. But I have to find them first.
Bill
I am happy to do that.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It's on my calendar for 2020. I will not schedule any overseas trips near the date again. Originally my trip to Italy was to start on May1, but the tour company had to move the starting date to May 8 which meant coming back on May 19 rather than May 12. Had the original schedule worked I would have arrived home on Sunday and left for Berea on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to next year.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Wonderful to hear this Ken, we have you scheduled to teach the History class next Gathering!
It's on my calendar for 2020. I will not schedule any overseas trips near the date again. Originally my trip to Italy was to start on May1, but the tour company had to move the starting date to May 8 which meant coming back on May 19 rather than May 12. Had the original schedule worked I would have arrived home on Sunday and left for Berea on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to next year.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
What a great traditional dulcimer gathering! Looking forward to next year!
I've heard the name, but don't know any thing about him. Google only had his Obit and it list him as a guitar maker?
https://www.hornbeakfuneralchapel.com/obituary/3012647
Sorry I can't be more help.
Has anyone heard of or even owned a dulcimer made by luthier Marvin Hilla from Fulton, TN? He has passed now, and I am trying to get more information about him and the dulcimers he made.
Thanks in advance
When I was going to the harp conventions every year, we'd have something called, "HARP TASTING". We'd have 10-15 harps on stage with the curtain drawn. Then we would be in the audience and ONE PERSON would play the same song on all the harps one by one. We wrote down what we liked about them. Then they would pull the curtain and you could see the harps that you personally juried. I thought this very cool. Some harps looked absolutely FABULOUS, but the sound needed improvements. We'd have just some festival time just for the builders to go to and there I learned so very much. Harp making improved tremendously over the 20 years I attended those conferences. However, they got to be so very expensive attending. And so serious. Our gathering I had more fun then a barrel full of monkeys. cost was perfect. friends forever....and wishing I could meet with some of the folks before the next gathering. aloha, irene
You really did seem to enjoy yourself, Irene! What a hoot! We had an intensive 3-day dulcimer learning gig. I won't forget how my legs complained over all that walking! They still hurt, but I'm glad I went. None of the group were what you would call "spring chickens", able to walk anywhere and everywhere. I'm glad you like the Singleton. It's leaving me this weekend...
SUCH a beautiful dulcimer.....I wish I could have heard it played all by itself. NEXT YEAR, we need to have some of these dulcimers show cased....played and we write down what we loved about them. the sound, the high part, the color, the inlay, the teaching of INLAY....oh, my I loved my time there in Berea!!! aloha, irene
Let's introduce myself.
My name is Rik and married. And I live in Holland and no, not in Amsterdam. Just a regular guy. I am a bike repair specialist and self employed. So I don't have a lot of free time. But the time of my business is my own. So I like to build instruments and model ships. I love to work with my hands and create things. So I am not very musical. I did played the guitar once a tiny bit. Blues and a little bleusrock.
Now I am playing my own handbuild Lyre. It's a replica of the trossinger lyre. Found in a German Celtic Warrior grave.
And that's how I met the Dulcimer. Found a view on pinterest when I was surging for more information on a French Lire I would build. Curios I wanted to hear the Dulcimer and on YouTube I found a lot examples. Do you know the feeling "I am home?" Think you know Jessica Comeau, I hear her on the dulcimer. Well that was that. Bought a cheap one. And started to fiddleling around. And really liked to play. The home feeling got only stronger.
I do try to play almost every evening for a bit. And in the weekends. It's the joy to play what counts for me. I am not trying to be good.
Now i have an account on Patreon and follow the lessons from Brett Ridgeway and Bing Futch. And yes I do donate for there work. I think it's important to contribute there effords.
So I hope you know me a little better now. And I try to correspond on this way and to find other players just like me.
I like to play the old traditional tunes in flatpicking style.
With many greetings from Holland,
Rik
Yes, here is a photo of the original in Lexington, Kentucky. The folksinger John Jacob Niles altered the fret pattern, but I used the normal diatonic pattern for my replica.
That's a real nice one. Tryed to find it on youtube, but couldn't find it so quick. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful looking dulcimer! The coloring on the tuning pegs and the cherry inlays are such nice accents. I bet it sounds great :-)
That's a nice one, John! Need more Singletons out there! Real nice meeting you at Berea!
Yes, here is a photo of the original in Lexington, Kentucky. The folksinger John Jacob Niles altered the fret pattern, but I used the normal diatonic pattern for my replica.
Wow what a beautyfull instrument. Do you have a picture of the original?
I am happy to hear that you have followed my suggestion to contact Martin of the German dulcimer shop in Ludwigsburg. I am looking forward to your sound/film example.
Congratulations on your dulcimer purchase. I hope you know that Martin is also a member here.
And even though I am in the US, when I started playing I also relied on videos by Bing Futch and others.
Think there ar a lot ho teach themselfs this way. I do like way Brett teach.
Nice! We need more dulcimer players in Europe. :) Have fun!
Absolute.. Hope more will follow.
I'm happy to hear you wound up getting something you like! We look forward to getting a peek at what you are up to when you can. Don't worry about not being an expert player- almost no one is anyway, we mostly play for enjoyment. :)
This is my way to play. Fun only. No musts. I have to many musts on the job and so on. Playing is relaxing for me. Don't mather what and how long.
I will post a video this weekend i hope. :)
Here's a new Uncle Will Singleton dulcimer replica I built for a player in Toronto. Its name is "Angel", taken from Psalm 34:7. Singleton was the local dulcimer builder in Viper, KY and was related to Jean Ritchie. The poplar body really rings out when played. The red heart and diamond are cherry inlays in the fretboard.
I suspect for "under $150" that the Red Mountain kit is gonna be as good as it gets. Not a great instrument, but a serviceable.
Folkcraft kits are $260-275.
McSpadden has its Sweet Song Kit -- flat head hourglass shape -- for $155 which would be a better choice IMHO than the Cedar Creek -- better sounding and lighter weight...
Cedar Creek Dulcimers has a Red Meadow kit starting at $139.99. Red Meadow & other kits I have the Classic Walnut kit (shown at the top of the page) made as a chromatic dulcimer. I did not put the kit together myself and had them put the grooves for the frets & the sound holes in, which cost more. A 91 year old gentleman put the kit together for me and I tried to make it easier for him. The dulcimer sounds good. It is heavier than my diatonic dulcimer which is what I usually play. Scroll down on the page to click on the Red Meadow kit.
Who all makes a decent quality dulcimer kit for a low price, preferably under $150?
LisavB. I'm glad you decided to join us. You will find this forum to be warm and friendly. We are united by our love for the dulcimer, and we are glad you decided to join us. If you have any questions or wish to share more of your journey with the dulcimer, we'd love to hear more from you.
Hi, I'm Lisa. I fell into the dulcimer completely by accident, and fairly recently. I like making things and my BF keeps teasing me about making a harpsichord for him when I/he retire. Last November, I thought it wise to start with something smaller, and looked on the Internet. Hah, I could make a cardboard dulcimer! Not costly, and I could paint it with my own design. If something terrible happened, not a lot lost. Oh, and they said it was easy to play, so maybe I could try playing it.
So I made one from Backyard Music. Sounds pretty good for a basic cardboard guy. Painted it with an art deco motif, forest green and peach. And I started to play. And it was fun...and...
Then I wanted to try building a solid wood one. Finally gave in and ordered a black walnut kit from Cedar Creek Dulcimers. I was terrified--such nice wood to screw up! But I did it, and I love it! And wow, the sustain with solid walnut.
I love the dulcimer because there are so many ways to play it (noter, pick, fingers, melody string only, strum only, pick individual notes, chords), seems like you can keep learning and trying new things nearly endlessly. Took the cardboard one on vacation to Canada recently. Got to sit by the side of a lake we had all to ourselves (camping) and just improvise. Wonderful! (Cardboard one is good to take where there is a chance of getting a ding...)
Hi Fatcat, we're happy you found us too!! 
I hope your health improves to allow you to enjoy playing your music at home. 
Well, he still has an ebay account so I sent him a message there. So we'll see. Thanks so much, Robin.
Michael, it has been several years since I've even read anything about Darcyhorse Dulcimers. . . I wish you luck with your query!
Would anyone happen to have the contact information for Darcyhorse Dulcimers? I purchased a Darcyhorse Dulcimer a few years ago. I would like to contact the builder, but I no longer have his contact info. Thanks!
Hi again Andreas, and welcome 'back' to the site again! It's good to see you check in here. I hope your health improves and that you continue to enjoy playing music on whatever instruments inspire you. 
I do need to mention that the email address you have set in your account settings here does not function and you need to go into your account settings and change it to a different, working email address, and then hit the 'save' button. As it stands now with that nonworking email, you will not be receiving any emails or notifications from fotmd that would normally let you know about any private messages, comments on your profile page, friend requests, likes, or replies to your posts. It'd be great if you can change to a working email address in your fotmd account- thanks!
Congratulations on your dulcimer purchase. I hope you know that Martin is also a member here.
And even though I am in the US, when I started playing I also relied on videos by Bing Futch and others.
I am happy to hear that you have followed my suggestion to contact Martin of the German dulcimer shop in Ludwigsburg. I am looking forward to your sound/film example.
Nice! We need more dulcimer players in Europe. :) Have fun!
I'm happy to hear you wound up getting something you like! We look forward to getting a peek at what you are up to when you can. Don't worry about not being an expert player- almost no one is anyway, we mostly play for enjoyment. :)
Hi Guys. Was a long time, but I do find a nice Dulcimer. I bought one in Germany. http://www.dulcimer-online.de/
I bought this type. https://www.dulcimershop.de/konzertdulcimer.html
I would thank you all for youre kind help and as you can see. It wasn't for nothing. Now I am teaching myself to play. With the help of Brett Ridgeway and Bing Futch Because They have online lessons. I pay for these lessons on Patreon. Wonderfull website. We don't have that in the Netherlands.
I will post a little picture and a sound/film example. But don't judge my abillitys. I am a student and learning. :)
Garret, I don't own a Bear Meadow dulcimer, but I have two friends who have them and swear by them. One actually owns two. Their action rivals that of any other high-end dulcimers. Their volume is not as great as the other really LOUD dulcimers out there (I have three that are probably louder: Modern Mountain Dulcimer, Rick Probst, and Terry McCafferty) but the Bear Meadows have a tonal balance that puts all the others to shame. Most dulcimers tend to privilege either the high tones or the bass tones, but Bear Meadow dulcimers are just exquisitely balanced.
Dwain has posted some sound samples on the website . Give them a listen.
Hello, All,
I am curious about the Bear Meadow hourglass dulcimers, those with a 27 5/8" vibrating string length. Can anyone tell me how their timbre, attack, sustain, volume, and overall tone compare with the traditional McSpadden dulcimers? Thanks!
Hello all,
This is my first post--I'm very excited to be here! The dulcimer bug has me firmly in its grasp...
I have a Backyard Music cardboard dulcimer I made several months ago, as well as a Cedar Creek Walnut Classic I built more recently. I initially strung up the walnut one in DAD, and found the melody strings very, very hard to press down. Tuned it down to DAA and that's much better. I got several different sets of strings in different gauges with the intent of optimizing the cardboard guy to DAA and the walnut to DAD (has 6 1/2 fret, so better to take advantage of that for DAD).
While I'm not afraid of restringing, I don't want to do it every 10 minutes, either. The question I have is whether I can swap strings between the two or, more generally, if it's OK to reuse strings if they aren't too old, or if once you string them, you should not attempt to restring them. (And while I'm at it, how old is old?)
Thanks!
Strings are not expensive. As Robin states, try a set and change back and forth and see which ones suit you and your playing style. You should be able to find some which will tolerate moving between DAA and DAd and be quite satisfactory in sound in either mode.
@foundryrat Perhaps just give .012's a go and tune and re-tune to see whether it suits?
