New Tax Return Project!
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Nice looking dulcimer! Good luck with the "restoration"...I'm sure it will play and sound great!
Steven
Forum Activity for @steven-berger
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Looking for Information About This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
So I'm guessing this is a one-off? It's kind of sweet; I think I am going to put UKE tuners on it, given the space available. Clean it up, and sell it. I need to clean up the mess at the end-pins, any advice? I just didn't want to mess with it before checking on historical value.
Looking for Information About This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks, Joe. My memory isn't what it used to be (like other parts of me.)
Looking for Information About This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
ihave lived in branson since 1969. i have never seen these instruments around here
New Tax Return Project!
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Ken,
I do believe it to be mahogany, but was a little hesitant due to it being all of the same wood. And was a $50 shop find, I saw no cracks and the body was all solid wood, so I pulled the trigger!
New Tax Return Project!
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Very nice looking dulcimer. You don't see many with staple frets under all the strings. It's hard to tell from the photos, but the wood may be mahogany. There's no label inside? Do you know what kind of tuners it had on it originally?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
New Tax Return Project!
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Found a nice dulcimer that needed a new home! Three string, all solid wood(what kind I'm not sure of...), and needing new tuners and bridge. But should be fun! The weirdest thing, the frets are just wires...
Looking for Information About This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I've seen soundholes like those on some inexpensive instruments which (I think) were made around Branson, MO. I don't remember the maker.
Looking for Information About This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Looks to be all walnut construction. It has a 21" VSL, and a floating bridge. If you have any information about who might have made it, please chime in. There is no signature anywhere on or in the body.
updated by @sheryl-st-clare: 02/10/17 01:11:19PM
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My favorite songs from early childhood were the ones I learned at home. Bill Grogan's Goat, you are my sunshine, hush little baby, summertime, Chattanooga choo choo.
My mother loved to sing. I also had the album "free to be you and me", which I adored.
In school, I remember skip to my lou, oh susanna, pick a bale of cotton, on top of spaghetti, and tons of patriotic and Christmas songs, my favorite of which was, o Tannenbaum, because we learned the German lyrics, which I thought was cool. I also remember learning a lot of old cowboy songs, the names of which escape me now.
Tips sought for dulcimer and (clawhammer) banjo together
Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!
I shouldn't interrupt my own thread but Rick, that is the best clawhammer banjo/mountain dulcimer duet I've heard. Thank you for bringing that gem to my attention.
Tips sought for dulcimer and (clawhammer) banjo together
Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!
Robin Clark and Nick Reece made a CD (The Cadair Idris Sessions) where Robin plays dulcimer (noter/drone) and Nick plays clawhammer. I have a copy and listen all the time. Here is a link http://fotmd.com/robin-clark/uploaded_audio/385/the-cadair-idris-sessions-track-samples to samples on the FOTMD site. I don't know if he has any more for sale, but if he does, I recommend it. Highly.
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I recall a song about the musical instruments: "The clarinet, the clarinet goes doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle det... The violin's singing with lovely ringing... "
My dad used to sing us a song with the lines "Hush, hush, whisper, Who dares? Christopher Robins is saying his prayers." when he was putting us to bed.
In the car, he'd sing The Whiffinpoof Song, St. James Infirmary and Frog Went A Courting. He ended the song with verses I've not heard anywhere else:
They paddled off across the lake uh huh,
They paddled off across the lake uh huh,
They paddled off across the lake
And were swallowed up by a big black snake
Uh huh, Uh huh, Uh huh.
Well that was the end of him and her, uh huh,
That was the end of him and her, uh huh,
That was the end of him and her
Now we won't have tadpoles covered in fur,
Uh huh, Uh huh, Uh huh.
I taught school for thirty some odd years and some of that time was spent teaching music to kindergarten to grade eight students. Some songs that went over very well with kids were Pete Seeger's Abyoyo, Carl Martin's The Vegetable Dance, the old jug band tune Boodle Am Shake, a song I learned in Scouts called The Watermelon Song and Hopalong Peter, a tune I learned from The New Lost City Ramblers.
My first dulcimer, made in about 1970, before I knew much about building instruments, stated in my classroom and kids were welcome to use it. The diatonic scale made it easy for kids to pick out tunes or invent their own. This old dulcimer, made from a the wood from a hollow core mahogany door and model railroad plywood for the top, has a lot of battle scars from kids playing it, but has given a lot of kids a lot of fun.
updated by @jim-yates: 02/09/17 11:12:18AM
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
Jan Potts:
hugssandi, do you realize that every minute you spend reading Younger Next Year, you're getting older? Ironic.
LOL, Jan! ~and it is taking me a while, too~
Feather Mountain Dulcimer Sparrow?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I do have a Wren, which is smaller than the Sparrow, and I love it! I'd be happy to answer any questions.
ETA I did also post a vid that is still on my page.
updated by @hugssandi: 02/09/17 03:43:36PM
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
hugssandi, do you realize that every minute you spend reading Younger Next Year, you're getting older? Ironic.
I'm reading The Birds of Opulence, by Crystal Wilkinson, for book group next week.
Feather Mountain Dulcimer Sparrow?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I think it was member @hugssandi
Feather Mountain Dulcimer Sparrow?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Some time back a member posted a video of them playing one of these I think, can't remember who it was. If anyone knows who it was, or has feedback on these as far as the usual intonation etc. I remember hearing the recording and being fairly surprised by how nice it sounded
Tips sought for dulcimer and (clawhammer) banjo together
Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!
I'd begin by finding a Key that fits both instruments well. The banjo is frequently played in the Key of G (Open G Tuning), so a good tuning for a dulcimer playing with clawhammer banjo would be Reverse Ionian Tuning D-G-D, which has the G major scale beginning at the 3rd fret. The dulcimer player could play background chords to accompany the banjo's melody line. or the dulcimer player could play the melody line accompanied by the banjo's rhythmic playing of chords. To hear both instruments distinctly, the two instruments can play an octave apart.
Two dulcimers playing together can utilize the same techniques as suggested above, one playing melody and the other playing chords. In a local dulcimer club, I used to use a "banjimer" (dulcimer with a banjo head) to back up a friend playing the melody line on the melody string. He flatpicked the melody strings avoiding the drone strings, and I added rhythm and chords with the "banjimer". It was simple yet very effective due to the percussive nature of the "banjimer".
The banjo or banjimer can be overwhelming and drown out the melody, so care must be taken to allow both instruments to be heard.
Of course, the two instruments can also alternate parts with one taking the lead while the other accompanies. Then switching parts the second or third time through the song.
You have the option of not playing the drone strings when playing with an accompanying musician. Let your partner carry the rhythm and harmony while you focus on the melody line.
Finally, listen to Don Pedi. He has several recordings where he plays with fiddlers and banjo players. David Schnauffer also had a recording where he played dulcimer accompanied by mandolin. I think Butch Baldasarri (sp?) was the mandolin player.
Tips sought for dulcimer and (clawhammer) banjo together
Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!
Hi everyone, I'm hoping to bring these two instruments together. Does anybody have any advice or experience in this field? Not strictly from a dulcimer perspective either, but also happy to hear from any banjo players.
The dulcimer is flexible, all tunings on the table.
Tales of Woe or Happiness when dealing with ebay sales
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Decide what price you want to sell for. Add 10% to cover those 'fees', and that's the price you sell at. When selling, you don't really care about the 'outbid' things that some people use, and there's no sense in sitting and watching the last hour -- if it sells Ebay will tell you the details in an email. Then you wait for the winning bidder to contact you.
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ruth -- a hukilau is a hula and song and a beachside ceremony for group fishing using nets edged with ti leaves which help frighten the fish as the nets are hauled ashore.
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Y'all have such great memories! I remember one about building a bungalow and one about stirring stuff in my witch's brew at Halloween.
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
I am still reading _Younger Next Year_ and loving it! Also trying to finish _The Four Agreements_, which I started first....
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
I'm reading a knitting pattern for knitting a pink hat. Haven't picked up my needles in about 10 years(!) and I got inspired. I'm really enjoying taking it up again for a few minutes of relaxation here and there. Love the act of carefully making something with my hands again. I'm finding it's like riding a bike- I need to review the instructions for certain things, but it's coming back to me very quickly.
I'm realizing they now have a million online youtube videos for knitters. The internet didn't even exist when i first learned to knit almost 30 yrs ago. (!) Yay! 
Hi D- if you don't use the 1.5 fret, then you'd not likely use its 'mate' that's one octave higher (the 8.5 fret).
The reason we don't often see such extra frets mentioned in tab is this- the reason for adding them is to enable you to play in a different mode and key without re-tuning. 90% of tabs seem to be written for DAd or DAA tuning... both of which can be played without using the 1.5 or 8.5 frets. Bluesy tunes might use them more often though.
I find the 1.5 and 8.5 frets are handy for me when playing in fiddle tune sessions. One example of where I find it useful is if fiddlers switch to a modal-y sounding tune in the same key and then switch back to a major-y sounding tune in the same key, without much of a pause. Since I don't use capos either, those two extra frets give me more options in weird fiddle session situations. But for folks who play typical pop and/or traditional folk tunes mostly from tab, they might rarely run into instances that call for a 1.5/8.5 fret.
Tales of Woe or Happiness when dealing with ebay sales
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I was wondering what sorts of experiences yall had had when selling dulcimers on ebay. I think I understand the fees are 9 or 10% then you add paypal to that.
Have you mainly had good experiences? Did you add sound files? Did you find yourself sitting with a bag of popcorn watching the last hour?
Is there a software program that allows someone to 'cheat' the system and outbid the last bid? If so, how does that make you feel?
I know, I know...lots of questions, haha!
updated by @d-chitwood: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
"Exploring Genesis" by John Phillips. Wonderful insight into Genesis.
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Singing was important in my primary school. In kindergarten I learned a song about "going to a hooki Lau" and I'm probably mangling the Hawaiian word. But we had to do movements as we sang and our mothers made us hula skirts out of crepe paper. Mine was orange and purple. It was for an end of year concert. I can still remember the words and movements.
Oh we're going to a hooki Lau. Hooki hooki hooki hooki hooki Lau.
Everybody loves a hooki lau, where the bow-wow meets the cau-cau at the big luau.
We'll throw our nets right into the sea, and all the tumerumas come a swimmin to me.
Oh we're going to a hooki Lau. Hooki hooki hooki hooki hooki Lau.
Something like that!
Also I remember singing Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Its a Small World After All, Getting to Know You, The Water Is Wide, Jamaican Farewell, Oh Island In the Sun. There was a teacher who played guitar and taught us these. Being a Catholic school we sang hymns at Mass. We also sang in an annual eisteddford and the music teacher nun would drill us rigorously in the songs. It was a big deal to have to travel to the regional city where the competition was held. We never won but would get third place. I can't remember any of those songs though. Sorry Sr. Jan!
updated by @ruth-lawrence: 02/05/17 09:19:57PM
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree!
I've built fully chromatic dulcimers for folks who wanted to go all the way. You might do the same. You can even string them reverse and play them like a guitar... But be sure to keep a true diatonic model nearby. I played with extra frets and it's just not for me.. It just ain't fitten... Robert...
I have a folkcraft with a 22" VSL which has the 1+, 6+,8+, and 13+. and have had no problem with the fret spacing at the high end. You just get used to it like any other spacing. I suggest you get the higher one if you are getting the 1+ and 6+, you may grow into playing at the higher frets over time. Keep in mind the music you play now and any future changes in your play lists and style of playing.
updated by @skip: 02/04/17 10:44:55PM
Don Pedi says he'd rather have an 8 1/2 than any other 1/2 fret. In fact he says the 1 1/2 gets In his way a lot for making smooth sounding slides. That being said, I agree with Ken. Look at all the great players who didn't or don't use extra frets: Roger Nicholson; Robert Force; Michael Rugg, Dan Evans and many others. I've declared this my year of no extra frets. I'm really finding there is little necessity for a 6 1/2 even. Now I just need a great diatonic instrument. Anyone got one they'd like to donate? 
Someone has to be the con here! 
The voice of reason crying out in the wilderness!
I never recommend any additional frets, not even the 6+ . I think people should learn to re-tune to a proper tuning to get the so-called "missing" notes for a particular song . After all we're only talking one string, in most cases, and everyone should be intimately familiar enough with their instrument to re-tun one string in something less than a minute -- I can, why can't you? That's my humble opinion, and I'm stickin' with it!
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/04/17 09:55:52AM
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I"m a little tea pot
The ants come marching, one by one,
I'm a juvenile delinquent....that's just what I wana be...la la la la...
I was JUST thinking about this very thing the other day and realizing this generation of kidnicks aren't singing things like 'Ring around the rosie' and 'I've been working on the Railroad'. Sad to think these would pass away!
I'd recommend getting the 8 1/2 fret, too. When you go to play tunes higher on the fretboard, it will be confusing if you have a different fret pattern than you have in the first octave, and you may not be able to play the same notes and chords that you've played lower on the fretboard.
I hadn't planned on having an 8 1/2 fret put on my main dulcimer with a 1 1/2 fret, but the person building the dulcimer convinced me that it was a good idea. I am very glad now that I listened and had the extra fret put on. My main dulcimer has a VSL that's slightly over 26 inches, and there's plenty of room for the 8 1/2 fret.