Forum Activity for @ken-hulme

Friction tuners will hold a tuning if they are adjusted correctly using the little screws in the ends of the knobs.

Hello Gary. Glad to hear that you still pop in occasionally. Also happy to hear that you are spreading the news of dulcimer playing. We can't have too many dulcimer players out there. Thanks for posting.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

 My bad. I should have said friction tuners. That's what they have no. The guitar shop said that if I wanted to play the banjo, I should get gear tuners (same as planetary?), but if I wanted to sell it, I should keep the friction tuners.

@userno4, Why would planetary tuners cause a banjo to not hold its tuning?  Most banjo players seem to prefer them, although Pete Seeger did use guitar tuners on his banjo.
I think the planetary tuners on your Lyon & Healy would be add ons.  I believe it would have come with friction tuners.

In my house I have:

Piano: A console piano from my late mother-in-law. I took (half-heartedly) piano lessons as a kid and have enjoyed playing hymns and other songs by ear. I play the melody with one hand and broken chords with the other. So far, I primarily play in C and use the C, F, and G chords.

Electronic keyboard: From my mother. I received this before the piano. It may have a means of recording and mixing sounds since it has all sorts of options. I'd like to use my chart of frequencies for various instruments and play through the range of some of the instruments in the bank, such as violin.

Soprano recorder: It's a $5 Yamaha unit that I bought when I bought one for my daughter's music class at school. I get confused by the fingering.

Alto recorder: It's also a Yamaha. I prefer the depth of the sound over the soprano but don't play it often.

Clark tin whistles in C and D: I definitely prefer these to the soprano recorder, though I play them more "breathy" than I'd like to. I have gotten into the second octave on both.

Spoons: More of a novelty item than anything, but they're in the box.

Slide whistle: Does this count as an instrument? It's good for occasional silliness.

Harmonica: Another piece of plastic. No, I can't play it all that well. Oh, and a kazoo, too.

4-string banjo: I found this when cleaning my late father-in-law's house. It's a 1925 (or so) Lyon and Healy Washburn. I had a great time digging out information on the company and model. It has planetary gears, which means it doesn't hold a tune well. I'd prefer a brighter 5-string model, but I don't know how to play either. I've experimented with scales and a few chords.

you can make ball end strings work by simply threading the end of the string through the ball forming a noose or a snare type

of end.  then......install it.  might require several attempts to tune the string as the noose tightens up on the pin.

Hi everyone. I just had to say to all that I have never left this group. I have been gone, life has been busy, but still pop in and listen and look at all your wonderful playing. I miss you all and just felt impelled to let you know. I still play when I get a chance and spread the news of Dulcimer playing to all my friends. I threaten to return and share some more. ( humbly speaking). Kep up the learning and sharing. Continue to thank all those whose help this site continue. They will help and they have helped me also.               So in ending, thank you for being there for me even though I leave sometimes. Love you all and God Bless.

Gary Major

The ball is a tube, it can be crushed. Pinch it with pliers or vicegrips across the diameter and break it, the pieces are then fairly easy to remove. Don't pinch the string though, just grab a side, you may have to try several times. 

Buy strings from www.juststrings.com.  They have Just Strings dulcimer sets, and individual strings in any gauge you can think of for really little money.  Buy several seta and have them around.  I buy sets for as little as $3 each.

My guitar buddy, Houseboat Jim, and I are working up Love Me Tender/Aura Lee for guitar and dulcimer. Two dulcimers would be even easier.  We alternate Aura and Love Me verses and choruses, each singing in turn.  I do the Aura Lee parts and he does the Love Me Tender bits.

Aura VerseLove Me chorusLove Me VerseAura Chorus

and repeat

Thanks Rob. You're a scholar and a gentleman ... as they say..

Dusty's advice is good and is a great way to start off playing duets.  If I can get the darn thing off my onedrive, I'll send you a copy of a duet arrangement I've done.

Hmmmm....well this just isn't working out at all. I have several traditional string that come with the tiny metal nut with the loop wrapped around. The luthier showed me how to twist that loop a few times to release that nut. Easier said than done! I've twisted and twisted and used two needle nose pliers and taint happening. The wire finally broke. (and yes I was twisting in the correct direction, LOL)  Any idea how to do this since I need the loop and not the nut? I only have access to these types of strings in my area, none with just the loop.

Thanks everyone. Knew you'd come through. Hey Guy, working out Bonnie Sweet Robin from watching your video, so thanks for that. It's working for DAD, but what tuning were you in? I've had no luck finding a copy of Randy's book...

Heidi Muller also has a duet book out called Dulcimer Duos.

You could also just use regular tab with chords and one of you can play the melody while the other chords.  Then you switch around.  If you start adding different voicings of chords (for example, in DAD you play 0-0-2 for D the first verse but then move to 2-3-4 for the second verse and 4-5-7 for the third, etc.) and playing the melody on the bass string for a spell, you can create pretty interesting arrangements that don't take a whole lot of planning.

I'v found nylon picks [I use Herdums] don't make as much of a click as plastic ones.

Sue Carpenter has some in her "Joined In Harmony' book.

Here's how I string: Put the loop[ball] on its pin, pull the string snug to the tuner, clip the string 2-2 1/2 inches past the tuner [longer], bend the string 90* about 1/4" from the cut end. You can then insert the bent end into the hole , apply a little tension and turn the tuner to tighten, maintaining a little tension on the string as needed.

The scroll head is very nice, I have a flat head Mcspadden and It is not as nice but yes easier to change the strings. 

Good luck

You are my hero, haha! I'm kinda kidding but I do hate to do it. My ducilmer has the scroll head and it very much reminds me of the game Operation! where I'm digging around with needle nose pliers. My next dulcimer will for sure have a flat head! (first timer mistake 'oooh the scroll is so pretty!"

I'm planning on 'going in' today and getting the strings on. Pray for me. 

    I hope you get your dulcimer taken care of but on the off chance it is still needing a string by next Wednesday, I will be passing through Atlanta on my way to Asheville. I have changed my own strings but they never look like someone who knows what they are doing has done it, more like a beginner but it works. I will be staying at the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway - if it is anywhere near you, I am surprise Atlanta doesn't have more dulcimer people. I am also amazed Asheville area doesn't have more shops where I can look for a NC dulcimer. Black Mt. seems to have a store but that is all I have found so far and they only seem to carry T K O'Briens and Mcspaddens.

   The image attached is how someone in my group winds his string, I would like to try this as it looks snug and neat. Info. for guitars but work for dulcimers also.

 restringing (1).jpg - 279KB

Hi Anne,

Beth Lassi and Nina Zanetti have done a series of four lovely duet books.  The Dulcimer Association of Albany has played some of them at meetings I have attended.  I recommend them highly.  Check them out at http://www.ninazanetti.com/.  Enjoy!!

I include two duets (Morning Has Broken and Scarborough Fair, and a round, Oh How Lovely is the Evening, in my instruction book, Beyond the Basics .  Details and sample tab at www.cabinhillmusic.com.

Best wishes,

Linda

Consider playing with your thumb and/or finger(s), too. The tone is different and you might like it.

I haven't checked the dulcimer since I got back last Christmas, so I'm not sure if the buzz is still there.  If it is, I will try your suggestion @jan-craig. I was thinking of getting a different travel dulcimer with regular tuning pegs instead of one that requires using a tuner wrench. However, money is tight this year, so I if I can easily fix the problem, I'll give it a try.

Seeing I've recruited a player with whom there exists a possibility of playing dulcimer TOGETHER!!!!

I'm looking for recommendations for tabs for dulcimer duets. We have Dona Nobis Pacem to start with, but all suggestions gratefully received... please...

heavier picks and heavier strings will help.  also moving the mike closer to the peg head away from the pick

Michael, what you are referring to is called pick clack. It is more pronounced with thinner picks, so you might try heavier picks.  Heavier strings, and a softer strum. 

And make sure you are not hitting the fretboard with your pick.  Just strum or pick across the top of the strings.

When you strum you don't want the pick to get down into the strings but merely skim the top of them.  Angle the pick ever so slightly so that the tip points toward you when you strum out and away from you when you strum in.  Also, angle the pick ever so slightly so that it is the edge of the pick that hits the strings. Assuming you are right-handed, the left edge should hit the strings when you strum out and the right edge should do so when you strum in.  These techniques minimize the amount of the pick that comes into contact with the strings.

One final question.  Where was the microphone when you recorded yourself?  Conventional wisdom is that pick clack sounds louder to the performer than it does the listener.  You can test that by putting the mic right in front of the dulcimer and recording yourself, then moving the mic progressively further away and seeing what happens. Presumably, the notes will ring out louder than the pick clack, so that the further from the instrument the listener is the less noticeable is the pick clack.

See "Always tune a vibrating string..." above...

Though this is a bit late for Coleen, I have fixed a buzz with a tiny bit of computer paper in the string slot.  That was after I checked the frets and the string still buzzed.  In the end, it did the job and did not show.

Thank you both!

Just this past weekend, I was retuning from CGC back to DAD and was all puffed up and patting myself on the back from my tuning confidence, my sheer bravery as I tightened the tuner. In fact, IN FACT, I would dare say I was almost cocky as I came to the melody string, amazed that me and both dogs were not only still alive, but the birds were still singing and all. was. right. with. the. world.

It was that last tiny turn towards the straight upright D that did it. That string broke with the ferocity of a precision-guided munition system, and flew over ten feet, seeking eyeballs or wet noses on its trajectory path. Both dogs had to leap out of the way and barely got away with their fuzzy lives.

And there it sits. My cherry Mcspadden. Nary a word and shamefully wearing only two strings. 

If anyone is in the Atlanta area, I'll be happy to meet you for a coffee and some restringing fun. :) :) (just kidding. Not really..no, just kidding. Sorta...)

*happily accepting names of counselors dealing with restringing-phobia* :)

There is nothing "special" about dulcimer strings. They are the same little looped-end beasties that are used on mandolins and banjos and all sorts of other instruments. A really well-equipped shop will stock single strings in various gauges and, in the case of the wound strings, windings. 

The "little nut" on guitar strings is called a ball end. Some dulcimers use them instead of looped end. 

I'll let more experience experimenters suggest gauges. 

A string is a string is a string...  There only a couple of manufacturers in the world who produce "music wire" in a wide range of gauges and types (plain steel and various kinds of wound strings).  They sell this music wire in HUGE (miles long) spools to companies who make and package strings -- both branded (D'Arco, Martin, etc.) and private label (like JustStrings).  These are the people who have machines to put loops in the end or little brass eyelets.  Guitar strings, banjo strings, mandolin strings, dulcimers string and more all come from the same place.  The only thing special about dulcimer strings is the package and perhaps the length (mandolin strings are not as long as guitar or banjo strings).

The appropriate (or favorite) gauges of strings for specific tunings always depends on the VSL of the dulcimer, and the open note to which you will tune that string.

To cure RestringingPhobia and avoid DeathMissile injuries:

When re-stringing, only ever mess with one string at a time.  Off comes the Bad String.  On goes the Good String.   The new Good string has to go around the post the same way the old string did (clockwise or counterclockwise).  It only needs to make a couple turns around the post and through the hole -- trim off the excess string.  Turn the tuning knob until the new Good string makes at least a dull twang.  Tune the new Good string as below.  Rinse and repeat with the other strings.

Always tune a vibrating string.  Grab what you think is the correct tuning knob.  Pluck the string you want to tune.  While the string is 'singing', give the tuning knob a quarter turn one way or the other.  If you do NOT hear a change in the singing string, STOP! (because you have the wrong tuning knob).  If you DO hear a change in pitch, continue, a quarter turn at a time, plucking and turning the knob, while watching your electronic tuner.  The closer you get to the right note, the smaller your knob-turnings should be until you zero in on the right note. 

This weekend I was out and about in the mountains and went by a music shop  I needed some strings. The shop I visited had a huge selection of just about every other stringed instrument's strings but not for dulcimer. 

A very well known luthier told me once that dulcimer strings were just guitar strings without the little nut at the end. 

So my question is...is there anything special about packaged dulcimer strings? I'm wanting to experiment with different gauges but I have RestringingPhobia. :)  I'm all squinting and leaning away, just waiting for the string to break PIIIIINNNG!! and attack me like a death missile. 

What are your favorite gauges for a standard vsl when typically using DAD, CGC, DAA? 

I saw this old post from everything dulcimer discussion, have you seen it:  http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19803

A SHOT IN THE DARK !!

by  billhoward1  » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:01 pm

Just wondering  if anyone knows anything about a luthier in  Australia  by the name of  Morgan McKay . I know that he was still building dulcimers in the  late 70's , and is still living, in Victoria I'm told. Beyond that, I know nothing. I would welcome any information you might have. I have a nice rosewood and redwood dulcimer that he built, and would like to have more background for it. I'll get around to posting a photo soon. 

Take care, 
Bill         

Richard, 

Guess I gave up too soon. I found McKay, the author, but didn't pursue it enough to find "the dulcimer". Thanks for the information. 

Jim, 

Thanks for your information. Good to hear from someone who own another McKay Dulcimer. However, I'm having trouble getting the sound bite to open successfully, but maybe eventually. 

I had a PM from a gentleman in Australia, one of our ED family, who knows McKay, and lives in the same area. He also has a McKay dulcimer. He will be seeing McKay sometime soon, and may try to put him in touch with me. 

Thanks to all, 

Bill :D  :D  :D  :D  :D

I'd like to hear some opinions, as well...

Looking for your take on the TK O'Brien walnut creek dulcimers. Any info or a review of them would be most welcome.

Chuck, first remember that there is a difference between single-instructor events and larger festivals and gatherings.  To add an Event, you start from your home page and click on "Events."

Once you are on your Events page, you click the "+" sign to add a new event.

Then you will get to a screen where you can put in all the information for your event. When you are done, don't forget to click "Create Event."

Hi! Just wanted to get a new event on the "Festivals/Gatherings" page. How do I do that? Thanks!  :)

 Thanks, Brian, for that link to the Great Canadian Tunebook. There are loads of great tunes there.

Kristi, "Four Strong Winds" was written by Ian Tyson in the 1960s and is surely copyrighted, so Ken cannot post his tab here.

You can easily find lyrics and chords for it on the internet, though.  And just noodling around I was able to find the melody pretty easily. In DAA the melody ranges from the open A string to the 6th fret.  You can also play it in DAd on the melody string if you have a 6+ fret.