Forum Activity for @patricia-delich

Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 3rd Year

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 31
The Winter Holiday Dulcimer 2017

  http://bit.ly/hotdpodcast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate the winter season with wintry seasonal music by dulcimer players John and Karen Keane, Christine Shoemaker, Stephen Seifert, Wendy Songe, Jessica Comeau, Holly Tannen, and Heidi Muller and Bob Webb.

Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast can be found on most podcast apps.
Here's the link to Hearts of the Dulcimer on iTunes:  http://bit.ly/hotdpodcast

 

Don't use a podcast app or iTunes? You can listen to all the podcast episodes directly on our website:  http://dulcimuse.com/podcast

We also have a resource page for every episode, where you can find photos, videos, and song lists. Here's the resource page for this episode:  http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/031.html

Bridge for key change?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, Lisa, I agree that C and F make the most sense to me.  My tuning is CGG and having the C and F chords in both keys is a great way to keep this simple.  It will be a lively song for a jam on death and I want to start in C with the verse on melody string only, then across the strings for the chorus, ending on C for a measure, then Bb (suggested by Jan Potts since it's in F) for a measure and then F for a measure (or those two, Bb and F, maybe only half a measure each), before starting the chorus on an F chord for the chorus a second time, but in F.

It also gives me an ending with a measure of F, then half each of Bb and F.

What I really love about your suggestion is the link!  I plan to prowl that site like crazy.  I am at an awkward stage with the need for either arrangements and/or learning how to do my own.  There's even a bit of a story to it.  (My playing sometimes uses the excuse of "Now you know why I am a storyteller and not a musician.").  I now handle the rights to the songs and arrangements of my late aunt, Norma Andersen.  Her musical world was Barbershop, but I bet she's approving my own musical journey.  Thanks for nudging me a bit further.

Folks, do you have pending 'Followers' left hanging...!?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hi everyone,

I'ts recently come to my attention the lots of members don't realize that they have Followers waiting to be approved by them.. sometimes for many months.  Members cannot exchange private messages or keep track of great new items posted by people they admire if their 'follow' has remained PENDING.  Some members have turned OFF their site notifications for when a new Follower has requested approval of them, so the poor pending follower remains in limbo.

I'd like to ask all members to please CHECK your Followers list to see if you have PENDING followers that require that you either Approve them or Delete their request.

There are TWO ways to check for PENDING followers:

1) Simply go to your Profile Page (by clicking on your name at top right of any FOTMD page...if you see your name then you know you are logged IN)... and on your profile page you should click the Followers TAB.  That's where you can approve or delete Followers as you like. (btw, deleting them will not send them a notice, it will simply quietly remove them from your follower list).  See this image for what you'll see to approve Followers that may be Pending in your profile:

2) The other easy way to check for any Pending followers is to HOVER your mouse over your NAME at the top right corner of the site (when you are logged in) and you'll see a dropdown menu appear.  In the menu is a link to "Pending Followers", with a number after it indicating if you have any.  Click there to approve any pending ones.

Ok, so....

Once you've updated your Followers list so no Followers have been left hanging, you can check how you have your site notifications set for you account.  For example, you can set your account to just automatically approve any new follower!

To check your settings for this, click on the Gear picture icon in your profile page ...there you will see three TABS:  Profile, Account, and Notifications.  --> Under the Profile TAb, there's a little checkbox that says: " Keep Followers Pending Until My Approval" .  Make sure that checkbox is UNCHECKED if you want people to be able to freely become a follower of yours without needing or waiting for your approval.

  --> While you are there in your Settings... under your Notifications TAB, you can use the drop down menu to set it to send you a notification for various site events... like when you get someone requesting that their Follow of you be approved... or when someone makes a comment on one of your videos or photos, etc.

Please take a couple minutes to go over your profile/account settings.. it greatly effects how you experience the site, and makes things easier for everyone!

Thanks so much!   

updated by @strumelia: 02/25/18 04:41:02PM

Bridge for key change?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Maybe this helps?  http://www.secretsofsongwriting.com/2010/05/18/3-smooth-ways-to-change-key/

What I'm getting from it, essentially, is the chord sequence C  G  Am  C7  F

Although to my ears it sounds fine to play the tune in C, strum the C chord for a measure, strum an F chord for a measure, and then start playing the tune in F.  The C and F chords are common to both keys.

Bridge for key change?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Key changes need a bridge to transition and Robin Thompson suggested I take this out of "What Are You Working On?" and start it's own discussion.  I could try this in Music Theory, but am interested in how to do this and, maybe, others have wanted to do key changes in a song.

Yesterday I asked:

I am currently trying to develop When the Saints Go Marching In.  I am using Ionian tuning and want to go from the key of C to the key of F. Might anybody be able to suggest a bridge?

 

 

 

 

Dulcimers in wooden cases?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks Robin !

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just received information on registration for the 2018 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming. Here is the link: https://www.hindmansettlement.org/programs/cultural-heritage-programs/dulcimer-homecoming/ This is the first year that the homecoming will be under the direction of the Hindman Settlement School rather than the Appalachian Artisan Center. I am registered and look forward to seeing other mountain dulcimer enthusiasts there.

 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

updated by @ken-longfield: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

My "New" Folkcraft

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Congratulations!  My very first dulcimer was an all-walnut Folkcraft and I loved it. In fact, I regret selling it.

 

Enjoy!

My "New" Folkcraft

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Nice, I'm partial to walnut instruments. Enjoy.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

My "New" Folkcraft

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I really like teardrops.  Enjoy that neat old Folkcraft!  Nice photos, too.

My "New" Folkcraft

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Congratulations on your new (31-year-old) baby!

My "New" Folkcraft

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I love my Sweetwood's Student and it's great, I'd never sell it, but felt it was time to get another. That time was now. I have been looking for many months and well...It's far from new. It'll be 31 years old on the 31st of this month and it isn't flashy, but neither am I. Couple of marks here and there, but so do I. Builds character I'll say. I hope I made a good choice, I think I did with this Vintage Folkcraft TCH 725. It was built while they were in CT. It does have the 4th string pin missing, but I play with 3 strings, may or may not get a replacement. Just had to share. Ya know how it is. Happy Holiday's to all!

updated by @hd-luers: 12/10/17 12:12:53AM

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Maybe it's a slot to lose your pick down...?     No?  Then it's probably a soundhole. 

Virginia dulcimers in particular were bad to have small round soundholes drilled all over them.

But I believe Jack Lyle is/was a dulcimer builder from Waynesville, NC.  I visited him in his Balsam Gallery many moons ago. 

He had a thing for maple leaf soundholes and red stain, which were beautiful.

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

The area under the slit is hollowed out, and the top underneath that is undoubtedly open to that cavity.  Like other hollowed fretboards, there is a major weight-loss when hollowing, and some indication of improved acoustics as well.  The slit is, no doubt, just the builder's way of being different rather than just adding round holes.

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

haha. I should have guessed that! Thanks for your insight too.

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Actually, it isn't a dulcimer--It's a piggy bank! 

Sorry about that. I couldn't resist. Actually I believe it is a sound hole. My Kevin Messenger teardrop has two round ones, one in the hollow, the other in the fret board area between the first and second frets. 

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

It is a dulcimer made by Jack Lyle if that helps. Just have never seen one have a slit in that before? Anybody know? Thanks

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ralph Lee Smith has his second edition of  Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions out now which is a good resource on the history of the dulcimer and good information on some of the early builders. His website is http://www.ralphleesmith.com/Books___CDs.html.

Kevin Messenger, John Knopf, and Dan Cox, all members here make dulcimers in the pre revival style and know a good bit about some of the early builders. There are many builders of modern instruments all across America and some in Europe as well.

Dulcimers in wooden cases?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

What a cool case, Bob!  

Dulcimers in wooden cases?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

rockncactus,

New River dulcimers out of Asheville, NC came with an optional wooden case which had rounded corners. The one I saw was made in the '90's.

Walnut Valley Dulcimer out of Burns, KS had an optional wooden case with the metal corner protectors like you describe. This company closed with the death of the owner in the mid '90's if my memory serves me well. Hope that helps you find the history of this dulcimer.

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hey, Ken.  Yes, I've already picked up some good info there.  Thanks!

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Over on www.everythingdulcimer.com, David Bennet has been publishing a wonderful nearly daily series called Today In Mountain Dulcimer History.  You'll find info about Amburgey there, I know...

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

R&C, enjoy that cool mountain dulcimer.  Happy strumming! 

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks!  I was very pleased to learn its history and to manage to acquire it.  Marsha gave me some good advice about not changing anything about it.  I like playing noter style.  I love the tradition and history of this instrument. 

My sister-in-law started lessons in Florida this year, although I suspect she's playing chord style.  But we're going to see what we can do together to entertain the family over Christmas. 

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Oh my, what a great find, Rocks!  Whatever you do, don't change this perfect and wonderful old dulcimer- that's a collector's instrument and is in mint condition!  I see the frets are only under the melody string..so enjoy playing it in drone style, as it was intended to be played.  (you can always later get a nice second dulcimer for chord style playing, with extra frets too if you want to explore that style)      You're a lucky lady to now be the Amburgey's new player!

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I took these photos the day I found the dulcimer. It's a miracle that I managed to get it. I didn't buy it until my third trip there over about a week. Nice finds don't EVER stay that long without being snapped up.

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi, I'm Lizabeth.  I posted to the First Dulcimer thread before I saw this, so I've got an intro on there.  But, briefly, I've wanted a dulcimer since high school, when a friend learned to play during a summer working in the Appalachians.  I looked at them a lot but never pulled the trigger until a couple of weeks ago when I found a mountain dulcimer in a flea market.  I eventually bought it.  It's a Morris Jethro Amburgey (son of Jethro) built in 1978, and it's in perfect condition.  I'm teaching myself noter and drone playing.  I've been playing native American flute for four years.  My family is pretty musical, so I pick things up pretty quickly.  I love being here.  I think forums are an excellent way to connect folks and disseminate information. 

I hope these photos are right-side up!  The first one is of Marsha Harris.  She put a new string on for me, tuned the dulcimer, and gave me some pointers. 

updated by @rocksncactus: 11/29/17 10:17:38AM

DAA tuning: Plus frets

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Robin T., please don't ever delete your instructional videos. I still go back and watch them and Robin Clark's too.

DAA tuning: Plus frets

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes they are; thank you!

DAA tuning: Plus frets

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Strumelia, I hope the little movies are of help. :)

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks everyone. This will get me going. I'll try to check back in and let you know how it's going...

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@kb9jlo , if you just want some tab for Christmas songs, feel free to use the four or five I arranged recently for my local dulcimer group.  They are all in DAd and only include tunes in the public domain.  You can find them here .

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

When I started with native American flutes I learned a ton both by joining the Flute Portal and by looking at different flutes on eBay. I'm doing something similar now with dulcimers. Besides reading on the forums, I'm looking at dulcimers on ebay and studying different styles, different components, etc. Sometimes the auction has a maker's name listed, so then I look around for info on him if I don't know the name. For instance, George Vogel popped up, so I was looking for posts with his name. Sometimes this process works well, sometimes not.

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

For a "history lesson"  on builders, find a copy of Jean Ritchie's book The Dulcimer Book;  also Michael Murphys The Appalachian Dulcimer.  Both books are out of print, but can be found, and both have lists of dulcimer builders that go back into the 1960s.

Are you looking to have a dulcimer built?  Trying to find more information about a specific luthier?  If you have questions we can probably help.

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Tabulature tells you which string needs to be tuned to what note so that the song you are trying to play will sound right.  So yes, changing your tuning to match the tabulature is "part of the deal".  At least until you have enough experience playing and tuning to find where the notes are by ear; or learning to read sheet music (which also requires the dulcimer to be tuned to a specific set of notes).  

Actually, I found a tab -- in DAd -- for Frosty :  

http://dulcimer-autoharp.org/PDF/FrostyMDchords.pdf 

Dusty is right -- you do need the 6+ fret, but most dulcimers seem to have it these days.  Although the tab has some chords, you can simply play the melody line and it sounds just fine.  

Several versions of tab for Silent Night can be found here:

http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/tab/index.php

Since you are so new to things, perhaps you should read the article I wrote a number of years ago called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What?  It's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms, plus instructions of tuning, playing, care and feeding of your instrument.  The article file is attached here.

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The following web site has 2 versions of Frosty The Snowman. I have found several tabs here as well as the Dogwood Dulcimer Assiciation

http://www.gulfweb.net/rlwalker/jamnfolk/jamnfolk.html

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

We don't host a comprehensive list of dulcimer makers here on FOTMD.  However, over on Everythingdulcimer's site there are a couple of things that might help you:

http://everythingdulcimer.com/builders_display.php

http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=23533

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Since Frosty the Snowman is under copyright, you won't find free dulcimer tab online.  Maybe someone has it in a book of tab.  But beware that whether you tune DAd or DAA, you will need the 6+ fret on an A string to get a G# in the B part of the song.  (It's the "put" in "When they put it on his head.")

compendium of makers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Is there a list or compendium of dulcimer makers out there anywhere or in here in the forum?  I'm interested in a list of current makers as well as a list of historic/maybe-not-historic-but-out-of-the-business makers.  Thanks!

Tuning question...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

OK. So changing your tuning to match the tablature is just "part of the deal" then? I was never quite sure. Anything I know or think I know I've picked up by reading, not by being taught or doing. 

Now to find a tab for Frosty the Snowman! LOL! That's my grandson's favorite Christmas song right now...