Forum Activity for @strumelia

Thanks Lexie!  I should have included the description I wrote for the video on Youtube, which has the info about the holes as well as other info:

This is a French 'branle'/dance tune composed by Thoinot Arbeau (real name Jehan Tabourot) in the late 1500s.  It's called Branle des Lavandieres, or Washerwoman's Branle. You can easily find sheet music for it online in various keys. Branles (braules, brawls) were simple folk dances each paired with their specific tune.  You can see youtube examples of dancers today who still enjoy them.  I'm finding traditional old branles to be particularly well suited to beginner tabor pipe, because they tend to have a limited range of notes and thus accessible for a beginner.  I also find them to be pretty tunes, from a period in musical history that I enjoy.

At this point I've been learning the pipe and tabor for only about six weeks, so lots of squeaks and notes out of tune- I have no 'technique' at all yet. It's quite a challenge, especially when paired with a drum- feels like a lot going on at the same time.  But I wanted to put up a beginner level example of where i am so far.  If I get better at it, it'll be fun to look back on this video. 

The pipe here is a 17" long Susato brand plastic low G tabor pipe- my first pipe.  Like pennywhistles, most tabor pipes are in higher keys and are shorter- the commonest being in high D, just as the most common tin/penny whistle is in high D.  The longer the pipe, the further apart the holes are, so it does get a bit harder to make the stretches if you have small hands.  There is what's called the 'piper's grip' for low pipes where you alter your hand position to make it easier.

The 'tabor' is a 9" sized two-sided tabor drum easily found online. It's made to be lightweight so as to hang on the arm.

Tabor pipes have only 3 holes- one is a bottom thumb hole, and two others on top.  Your ring and pinky fingers are then used simply to hold the bottom of the pipe so as not to drop it.  To rise to the next higher notes one after you run out of finger holes (which happens pretty quickly), one uses more air pressure to make the next higher jump for more notes.  

The reason for all this is to be able to play a pipe with only one hand, which allows you to also play a drum (a 'tabor') at the same time with your other hand. This pipe and tabor combo was very common in medieval/renaissance times.  After almost disappearing altogether, the pipe and tabor has been revived somewhat in modern times by English Morris dancers and musicians.

I suspect if you are familiar with playing the pennywhistle you can pick up the tabor pipe without too much trouble.  The tabor pipe being the first woodwind/flute/whistle/pipe instrument I've ever tried, I feel like a real beginner.   =8-*  But I'm definitely having fun!

I have the HS Sparrow Hawk in high A and it is easy and nice to play, but it is a little high for my liking.

For my next flute I am considering HS Red Tail Hawk in b. I think either one would work for small hands.

Very good Lisa you did great! I can't quite tell how many finger holes on the whistle???

Seems that one finger covers a couple holes.

Ok, so today I bowed under pressure and forced myself to record a simple tune I've been working on with my pipe & tabor.  I'm not posting it 'officially' or publicly...it makes me cringe...lol.  But it should show up here in this thread and be watchable when you click it.  If not, let me know.

Squeaks and painful intonation and all... here is Washerwoman's Branle, a dance tune from the 1500s:

Both are High Spirits. The larger is the Red Tail Hawk mid-tone in G, spanish cedar. The other is the White Tail Hawk high-tone in B, walnut.

I was talking about playing in what's called first position by harmonica players - playing in the key that the instrument is tuned to. A penny whistle is tuned major while naf's are tuned minor. To my understanding most standard naf's (5 hole) are tuned to the minor pentatonic scale. I'll see if I can make a video about it. Any of these instruments can be tunyed differently than the "standard" flutes.

~giggle~

I found this which may help.

http://www.flutopedia.com/scales.htm

Thanks Jennifer. I'm probably not going to have more than 3 flutes, so it will work good for me.

I play the pennywhistle and I think the difference is that the tinwhistle is the major scale while the american flute is the pentatonic.

Thanks Lexie!

Susie that is very pretty stand with your flutes on the stand. Enjoy! 

John, do you mean in high D? (not low D)

John, can you outline the differences between Native American flutes and pennywhistles, assuming two that are in the same or similar key/size ?

My husband made me a flute stand and I did the finish work and applied the felt. A good place for my flutes to "dry out" after playing and even an extra spot for a third flute. Hmmm....

 IMG_20160817_090303415.jpg - 192KB

Karen and I recently picked up a couple of Sweetheart D whistles from Guy George.  They aren't inexpensive, but they are incredibly awesome.

Then there's the group called DAM (Mothers Against Dyslexia)

Check out Becker Whistles. I bought 2 one alto G and one soprano C. They sound amazing. Made from PVC.  $15.00 each.

Hellooooo.....  Anybody here still active and playing their pennywhistles?  

In Stafford, England, on the High Street is a black cast iron fenced entrance to a property.  The sign on the gate reads

The cixelsyD Institute.  True fact.

Ken Hulme: Slate Creek, not Creek Slate  Dusty  

Indeed. I must be getting dyslexic in my old age.   Speaking of which, did you hear about the dyslexic who walked into a bra? 

Slate Creek, not Creek Slate  Dusty

Bobby is still a member here, though he's been much less active than he used to be.  He goes by Virginia Hogfiddler . You might still be able to find him if you Google Highnoon Hunter or Creek Slate Dulcimers.

Of course, you could try to friend him here and send a personal message.

By the way, any guitar strap will do, and they come in all price ranges and designs.

Folks, I think there are some misconceptions going on here.  Ukuleles are chromatic instruments and are not usually tuned to an open tuning. People sometimes refer to the standard C6 tuning, but that references the chord the open strings are tuned to; it does not refer to a key the instrument must play in.  That is to say, that whereas the dulcimer can be said to be tuned to a key, ukuleles are not.  The ukulele is capable of playing any song in any key.  

As Cynthia says, for a uke to accompany the dulcimer tuned to D, all that is necessary is that the uke player knows the chords of D, G, A and perhaps a few more for more complicated songs.  I simply suggest getting a ukulele chord chart like the one I attached here.

It is also true that the dulcimer can easily play in G and A with a capo at the third or fourth fret and C when tuned down one step.  You will have to decide when you want to play in D and when it might be more appropriate to play in one of the other common keys.  Just keep in mind that it is much easier for uke to accompany the dulcimer than the other way around. 

Hi, I have a tenor and soprano ukulele too. I'm a mountain dulcimer (MD) beginner and am almost coping in transposing a piece from uke. 

Uke C's are usually D in MD; Dm Em;  Bb A in the tune I'm working on,  but as there are such a variety of A's etc it's taking a while! Wish I had music theory to fall back on. Learning the MD though has made me learn tablature though and it's so useful! 

That's the knot I was taught to use in Scouts when I wanted to shorten a rope.  I figured it'd work on a strap as well.

GREAT list!!!  I went through my 12-Tune songbooks and picked out a few more.  I am excited and practicing!  :)

WOW Jim!  ~that's fancy~

Barges, A Ram Sam Sam, Tell Me Why, Please Play for Me, Green Grow the Rushes O, Rattlin' Bog, Streets of Laredo, Molly Malone, Sing Your Way Home, Give Me Oil in My Lamp (aka Give Me Gas for My Ford), The Night Will Never Stay, I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me, Sinner Man, and 'most anything made popular by Peter, Paul, and Mary!

You're welcome!

Maria 

A sheepshank?

 Sheepshank_knot.jpg - 54KB

Thanks for the feedback Maria!

Exactly that what we do here. "Feed each other's obsession!"

😜😝

Good idea!!

Hi Susie. 

I have that exact flute. I bought it on a "whim" at a dulcimer festival in April. I had only been playing. A few weeks. It's very well made however I still struggle to play it. As the lower holes whistle especially the last one. It's like I have to purse my lips and cover all the jokes exact or it whistles. I do like the sound but it's just a bit difficult. If I had to do it again I would get a flute from Ancient Territories or from George Dyson. They both make lower toned flutes that are much easier to play. 

Thats just my two cents. 

Maria 

I thought it was called Dulcimer Aquisition Affliction -for us DAA players! I only have 3, so thanks for removing my guilt. I have a David Lynch student, a Robert Schuler JI, and (new) Ron Gibson. Robert, maybe it should be 'Feed Your Obsession??

The easy way to combat crochet strap-stretch, especially if it is thin, is just to knot it in the middle~like you do with a purse that's too long?  Does that make sense?

Does anyone have a HS Condor Bass, specifically with the 1" bore?

http://highspirits.com/collections/all-flutes/products/missing-condor-bass-d-walnut

If so, impressions?

That is so wonderful of you to say!

and by the way he even made that table when he was 89!!! (A few months after my mom passed in 2015 his glass table broke so I gave him the idea!) He hadn't attempted anything like that in years. As his health and my mom's took turns having issues but Thank God he seems to be in a good spot now. (I just pray it lasts ) but at 91....😔  Well I'm just grateful for every moment like this!!

thank you again 

Maria 

Terry you are very intuitive!! He really was so glad that the liked it! And I think he also was happy at how it came out as well!!

thank you for noticing that!!

Maria 

That's pretty impressive, Maria.  And your dad appears very satisfied, that he made his little girl very happy.