O.k. I missed a step initially just posting something on my page. Have just tried the Events, Single Instructor page with the plus sign. Sorry for the multiple attempts, but at least none of them generated the dreaded "You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action!"
This is an easy one for me. Mine arrived just last evening. Walnut and Spruce McSpadden dulcimer. I've played Irish music before this, mostly on Flute and Whistle. I play a little Mandolin and Irish Bouzouki. In the past year, I found myself playing more and more old-time and I've always been interested in the MD.
Looking forward to a long journey with it.
Leo, just to follow up on Strumelia's explanation, the Activity Feed is not a space unto itself. It it just a list with hyperlinks to what's been going on anywhere on the site (not just Groups, but the Forum, Events, Videos, etc.) so that people can join hot conversations here or there. When I stop by FOTMD, the first thing I do is check the Activity Feed on the main page (not the one on my home page which only lists MY activity) so that I can see what's new. As your last comment did, when you post somewhere it will show up on the Activity Feed.
If you want to create a listing for a new dulcimer festival such as the Harvest Festival of Dulcimers or the Kindred Gathering, start on your own page, click "Events," choose "Festivals" and then click "+" to add a new festival. When you do that, the activity feed will show that "Leo Kretzner has created a new event" and other people can click on that to see what you've been up to. Once you have a festival listed once, it might be easier the next year to edit it by putting in the new dates, new guest artists, etc., rather than starting a whole new listing. When you do that the Activity Feed will say "Leo Kretzner has updated an Event."
If any of this seems confusing, keep in mind that you asked your question in the right place, so you must know what you're doing, right?
P.S. My apologies to Ken Backer, whose thread here doesn't really have much to do with the activity feed subject.
p.p.s. Leo- I see that you did figure out how to post an Event several months ago, and have now also posted a couple of videos ...also that you found your way to this Site Questions forum. Good on ya! 
Leo and Ken, Thank you for posting this. I can't begin to say how much this has confused me and kept me away. Why do we get the "You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action" message. There must be a purpose, but I, too, am definitely missing it.
Way back when I mentioned it to Strumelia, I was supposed to send in all kinds of documentation. Just didn't have the time back then & just skipped FOTMD instead. If this message hadn't shown up in my Inbox, I'd still be away.
Hi Lois,
I'm hoping my above post to Leo helps clarify a bit on how FOTMD functions and why. Please read it and let me know if there's something you don't understand still.
When you've written me in the past about your site navigation problems, I needed to have clearer descriptions of what you were doing when you got errors. Otherwise I would have been just groping blindly in the dark if I tried to help. Leo's description helped me to figure out what he was doing that resulted in the 'permissions' error, so I was then able to guess what was going on. I hope you'll stick around a while!
If I go to my own page and click on 'latest activity' a text box, just like this one, opens up. So I write my comment - in this case including info about the Kindred Gathering coming up - but when I go to post it, or update I think it says, I get: "FOTMD says: You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action!"
What does this mean? It's extra confusing as it comes after just posting some videos and comments with those.
Do all general posted comments have to be in the context of a group? Or what? Or is it because I included a web address in the comment?
Hi Leo,
Not all social network sites behave the same way, and yes I understand that it can be confusing.
But let me see if I'm correctly understanding your question:
One doesn't 'post a general comment' in order for it to show on the site's Main Page activity feed. Instead, the Main page activity feed simply reflects what's been going on...things that members have posted or commented on elsewhere, all over the site.
I have the site set up so that Admins and Moderators ARE able to post right in their profile page activity feed (and by default that post will appear also in the Main Page activity feed). That is so we can post site notices if needed.
However, I have the set set so that regular members are NOT able post updates into their activity feed (hence your error message when you try). Why do I have it set this way?- because some folks would then start ONLY the feed to add all their content to the site and to have their thoughts appear on the Main page...they would try to hold discussions there in the activity feeds, expecting comments, etc. This 'lite' participation method would not be a good thing. The Feed is not set up to do justice to any meaningful discussion, and also the content would sink down out of sight in the Feed and disappear before you could blink an eye. Todays' posted content would be forgotten tomorrow, and it'd be purged after a few months as all main page Activity Feed entries are. This site is not FB, where all the activity rapidly scrolls by in one place- the feed. Instead, I try to present a place where people can interact in depth, and where members' content can remain in view in an organized way so as to benefit folks joining and looking for help for years to come. FOTMD is already eight years old now, and has a huge amount of richly rewarding and helpful content.
FOTMD is not just an activity feed... it's like a social club where you can explore different areas of interest, and get to know others who share those interests.
To post a video, you click the + button in your Video section on your profile page (and it appears in the main page activity feed). To post an audio clip, you do so from your profile page's Audio section. Post a festival Event by clicking to your Events area. Post a photo by going to your profile page's Photos area. For discussions: To post in the Discussion Forums, you click to the forum area from the Forums link along top of every page. Click to the Groups link to browse or join a specific interest Group and post in that Group.
Every time you participate -by posting a video, a photo, an event, an audio clip, posting in or creating a group or forum discussion, or a comment on someone else's items... your action will appear in the Main Page Activity Feed. But activity feed entries in themselves don't function as participation or action. Try to think about what it is you want to post or add or say- then add it in the site area it should logically go... do you want to add a video? Or an Event, or a photo? Or start a forum discussion? Did you see a video in the activity feed that you'd like to comment on or 'Like'?...then click on it and you'll be taken to the video itself where you can Like it or leave your comment.
Leo, I hope perhaps this helps to clarify a few things for you about how this site works. Let me know if I have not explained it well enough or if you have more questions. I'm glad to help if I can!
I had gone to a dulcimer gathering, but not to play dulcimer. I wanted to play along on my acoustic bass guitar. It was good practice and I also got to hear again a local group I enjoy, Picks 'n' Sticks. The day started with an offer to let people borrow a dulcimer, probably the cardboard body ones, for a year. I said to myself, since I already have way to many instruments, no way.
Never say never. Later that year I was out with my daughter visiting flea markets and antique shops in her area and found what I call "the Orphan." A smallish locally made dulcimer abandoned in a flea market. Decided to try it and, yes, just as I feared earlier, became hooked!
Leo and Ken, Thank you for posting this. I can't begin to say how much this has confused me and kept me away. Why do we get the "You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action" message. There must be a purpose, but I, too, am definitely missing it.
Way back when I mentioned it to Strumelia, I was supposed to send in all kinds of documentation. Just didn't have the time back then & just skipped FOTMD instead. If this message hadn't shown up in my Inbox, I'd still be away.
Leo -- "Latest Activity" is the latest things that you have written, not the latest activity on the site as a whole. From my page I click on Forum, then choose which Discussion I want to add something to There I click the + to start a new thread
Hi Folks,
What do I need to do to post a general comment? (that would come up on 'latest activity')
If I go to my own page and click on 'latest activity' a text box, just like this one, opens up. So I write my comment - in this case including info about the Kindred Gathering coming up - but when I go to post it, or update I think it says, I get: "FOTMD says: You do not have the proper privileges to perform that action!"
What does this mean? It's extra confusing as it comes after just posting some videos and comments with those.
Do all general posted comments have to be in the context of a group? Or what?
Or is it because I included a web address in the comment?
Thanks for the info!
Leo Kretzner
(fretboard is long holds the bridge and the nut,)
The fretboard is all together, head, bridge, nut & end strings pins. Lots of ideas, exciting possibilities. Can't wait to try something. Thanks so much everyone.
john-gribble,
(You may end up building instruments before too long!)
I don't think so but that would be great if it was something I could do. I am always amazed of the beauty of hand made dulcimers
As a noter player I like DAA best. I like the low melody note. I will sometimes set the noter aside and play harmonies of 6ths on the outside strings. Then the 6+ fret is a real asset, because the correct low harmony note is available. If I want lots of chords, I play guitar. 
I have a Feather Wren which I keep tuned in GDG for a couple reasons. I tried it in GDD (DAA up three frets) but it buzzed. It needs either heavier strings, higher action, or a little touch-up to the frets. Also the fretboard is too thin to easily allow noter-style playing. So I play it fingerdance/chord style for a change of pace. It is an excellent travel instrument, small (fits in my carry-on or backpack), lightweight, and quiet enough I don't worry about annoying people on the other side of sometimes-thin walls. In fact, my wife and I are planning a little trip in a couple weeks and I will take it with us.
Don-- it's fine to use your thumb, but you can't really call it "Noter" since there is no separate stick -- it's called Melody & Drone rather than Noter & Drone
I know a couple folks who took cardboard dulcimer fretboards and attached them to an old fiddle case (!!) and made a pretty good sounding dulcimer! You can make all sorts of thin wood boxes with "craft lumber" from Lowes of Home Despot, to make really nice looking box dulcimers
My husband took one of our cardboard dulcimers, removed the fretboard and attached to a box (larger than a cigar box ) and created a wonderful toned box/stick for himself. The most difficult part was removing the glue used to attach the fretboard to the cardboard....many hours of sanding and filing resulted in a perfect usable piece!
Marg, if the fretboard is long holds the bridge and the nut, then it would be easy to take it off the cardboard and find some nice cedar cigar boxes. Glue them together and glue the fretboard on top. It should sound better than the cardboard. But if the bridge is separate and not actually attached to the fretboard, then you have to know what you're doing to match the vibrating string length with the fret spacing.
Any cigar boxes will do, but those made of cedar will sound much better.
The bridge is a piece, usually wood on acoustic instruments, on which strings rest and are sometimes attached. The vibrations of the strings are transferred to the resonating body of the instrument.
A saddle is a bone, ivory, metal, wood, or synthetic piece which is set atop a bridge, usually in a slot or groove. The strings sit on top of it. Traditionally saddles are not glued to the bridge.
Sometimes a second piece of material is glued to the top of a bridge. If it is fitted into a notch or slot, it is called an insert. If it is the top layer of a bridge, it is called a cap.
john-gribble,
(You may end up building instruments before too long!)
I don't think so but that would be great if it was something I could do. I am always amazed of the beauty of hand made dulcimers
Yes. You can do all of those things with the fretboard assembly. Experiment. But be careful! You may end up building instruments before too long!
As a noter player I like DAA best. I like the low melody note. I will sometimes set the noter aside and play harmonies of 6ths on the outside strings. Then the 6+ fret is a real asset, because the correct low harmony note is available. If I want lots of chords, I play guitar.
I have a Feather Wren which I keep tuned in GDG for a couple reasons. I tried it in GDD (DAA up three frets) but it buzzed. It needs either heavier strings, higher action, or a little touch-up to the frets. Also the fretboard is too thin to easily allow noter-style playing. So I play it fingerdance/chord style for a change of pace. It is an excellent travel instrument, small (fits in my carry-on or backpack), lightweight, and quiet enough I don't worry about annoying people on the other side of sometimes-thin walls. In fact, my wife and I are planning a little trip in a couple weeks and I will take it with us.
I like playing Time Has Made A Change In Me, and Red River Valley pops to mind, too.
This one is a doozy but my most fun to play would either be Wildwood Flower or Ode to Joy.
Spent some time this weekend working on "Iola" from 1906 by Charles L. Johnson, who also wrote "Dill Pickle Rag". It's a sweet tune. The chorus was stolen for a more recent (1940) pop song, "Playmates" with the lyric
Say, say, oh playmate,
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three,
Climb up my apple tree.
Shout down my rain barrel,
Slide down my cellar door,
And we'll be jolly friends forevermore.
Me too, so happy to hear this Terry! 
Work? Yikes!!!!!!!
Terry, I'm happy for you!
Wildwood Flower. By far my favorite. Haven't played the dulcimer this whole year, due to health reasons, until yesterday morning. What's the first song I attempt to play? Wildwood Flower. Like I had not missed a beat. In fact, I didn't miss a beat, up and down the fret board, two octaves. I says to myself, "wow, I need to take it easy and get my body and heart back to playing regularly".
Having played (and I use that term loosely) for about a month, the selection is pretty small, but outside of the standard beginner selections I have managed to learn Aragon Mill. Pretty easy to play and lots of versions on You Tube to get a feel for the song. It's interesting to hear the number of arrangements, from full blown string band to folk singers. And many like to tweak the lyrics. You know, if a song contains the word, 'ain't' is it really that big of a deal to sing it that way?
Wonderful, Dana. Thanks for sharing that story.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sweet story, Dana. The animals howls when I play. Nothing peaceful about it, I guess. I've been meaning to learn Larry's wonderful tune.
Piper Lou sure is cute!
Our rescue dog, Ariel-- we got her last Christmas Day-- will come lay in front of me sometimes when I play dulcimer. Ari had been a stray in Columbus OH and was then at the dog pound. The poor creature had some real physical maladies when the rescue pulled her from the pound-- who knows what all she'd been through? In any case, she seems to like dulcimer music. :)
I'm not sure what strings are on the Fluke as I bought it on Craigslist and didn't think to ask the seller. I haven't heard of those type of strings before--I might give them a try.
Aaaannnnddd I just got my fourth (and hopefully last for a while) ukulele. I wanted to add a soprano to the herd. I got another Kala. It is a mahogany longneck, which means it has a soprano body but a concert length neck. Like most Kalas, it is very pretty.
Jim -- glad to hear of someone who isn't 'stuck' in DAd for chords. Merv Rowley (R.I.P.) always said there were many easier to form chords there, and more chords available overall.
I have used DAA as my primary tuning. Since dulcimer is not my primary instrument, I like to stick to one tuning. I have tried DAD, but find DAA better for chords and double stops and I really miss those lower notes on the melody string.
I have talked to those who feel that DAD is better for chording, but since I started on DAA, I have many patterns and shapes memorized.
