Forum Activity for @jan-potts

For some reason, if I pick up a dulcimer to just "noodle around", I seem to fall right into "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".  That morphs into "Smiling", "Acres of Clams" (aka "Rosin the Beau") and always has some variations of "Cabbage" thrown into the mix. To change it up, "Spotted Pony" and/or "John Stinson #2"!

I always encourage dulcimer players to keep a list of every song they can play "on the spot" without looking it up, rehearsing, or asking someone, "How does that start?"  There might be only one or two songs on the list at the beginning, but it will grow with some effort.  And it's great to have some songs to pull out at any time.

As a 'beginner' I like your perspective Ken. 

Right on, what K n said.  LOL

There are no missed notes... there are improvizations, or 'making the tune my own'. 

Dusty, that's a brilliant goal to give beginners.  I think a lot of us shortchange ourselves, thinking it'll take forever until we're good enough to have a song ready to play in front of others.  It's a great confidence-booster to know you've got something ready to go.

Simple Gifts was the first song I played on MD.  It's still my pocket song for drone-style.  That or The Cherry Tree Carol depending on the season. 

Southwind is my pocket tune for chord/melody, but when I'm feeling competent I play Si Beag Si Mor (just don't ask me to spell it).

Beulah Land Mississippi John Hurt style is my pocket tune for singing.  Except when it's Slip Sliding Away.  Oh, and April, Come She Will.  I've been playing that one so long, I forget to mention it.

If I need to fill time and have nothing in particular in mind, I can improvise all day in Dorian mode.  I'll noodle around on 12-bar blues until somebody distracts me by offering food... or threatening to kick me out.  The great thing about improv is, there are no wrong notes!

Susie, Rosin the Beau is my pocket tune on recorder!

And I have to say, a little whiskey before breakfast is a sure guarantee I'll be missing notes ;-) Not like I needed the help.

Just last night I gave a private lesson to a brand new player, and towards the end I explained what a "pocket tune" is.  I then gave her some tablature for a version of Beech Spring that I worked up for my dulcimer group. I explained that it stresses certain left-hand techniques such as hammer-ons, but otherwise is pretty accessible, and sounds better the slower it is played. I played it for her and she got really excited. So we have our first goal: to learn Beech Spring as her first pocket tune.

For me, the tune I play most/first when I pull out the dulcimer is either "Old Dubuque" or "West Fork Girls". They're both a lot of fun to play. 

Thanks for sharing that information Ken. I didn't check it as the book came as a gift. I think when I come to the point of replacing my Kindle, I'll get one that is in color. It will certainly help with the pictures. I have not used mine much lately. The few books I have that contain photos seem to have all the photos at the end of the books. Is that usual for e-books? Just wondering.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Nook and Kindle versions are available for $19.95.  I think the CD comes as an MP3 or similar media.  I have it on Interlibrary Loan request, but I'm tempted just to pop for the e-book.

I think we overcome a major hurdle and reach a new, more proficient place in our abilities as a musician when we can make a mistake and keep playing.  I know I saw something similar with my daughter, who used to just stop playing the piano when she made a mistake. But now she has learned how to keep playing--even making something up--until she gets back on course.  It can be a great confidence boost to know we can make a mistake and not fall flat on our face but keep the music moving along. I was recently asked to play something on the dulcimer at the end of a ukulele workshop that I attended, and afterwards a woman commented that it was nice to see someone really enjoy playing.  What she was referring to was the fact that I smiled and even chuckled at one point. But I did that in reaction to a mistake I had made!  Happily, she misinterpreted my amusement entirely, so a liability became an asset.

I now have a list of about 30 "backpack" tunes. I consider these the tunes from which I would choose to put together a set of music.  I am going to make an effort to play through the whole list on a regular basis to keep rust from accumulating.  

My pocket tune is Rosin the Beau. Love the song, and it's a great tune for playing the melody on the bass string, chord/melody style. So, you can switch it up.

Old Joe Clark is my pocket tune and in the backpack are Mississippi Sawyer, Hangedman's Reel, Grey Cat on a Tennessee Farm, Bile Dem Cabbage (of course) and when I feel adventurous I slap on the capo for Huntin' for the Buffalo.  The 'wanna learn' list, still written on stone tablets, is Mes Parents, Going to Boston, June Apple and Ragtime Annie.

Dry and Dusty, and Elk River Blues seem to be on the top of the list right now.  My pocket song seems to shift around some.  In fact, about a week ago I was playing for a friend, and for the life of me I could not remember where I was going in the middle of a song I play nearly every day.  Right now I can't even remember which song it was.  I just remember the feeling of having a total brain cramp.

Even after many years, I still cling to Shady Grove.  It just gets me.....plus it's easy enough that it's hard to become rusty.  

I definitely should be better about keeping a rep going, but my problem is there are only so many hours in the day! I try to keep about 3 or 4 tunes "performance ready" if I can unless I'm too busy working on something new.

I usually do Cripple Creek for finger dancing, Skip to My Lou for noter/drone, and Going Fishin' for flat picking. I mess up the latter sometimes. I like to do Old Joe Clark, but often mess up when switching to a harmony accompaniment. Still working on that transition. I do mess up less when I'm truly concentrating on my playing

Ken

"The dulcimer sing a sweet song."

[quote="Dusty Turtle"]
... I seem to concentrate on a few at any given time and play those pretty often, but not playing the others  just means I get a bit rusty when I do play them.  I've already forgotten songs that I once played well and want to avoid that in the future. /quote]

Mine is Harvest Home, but I completely agree with Dusty, I have to remember to play it or I get rusty. I think I know it, then I get in the middle of it and forget something, and add lib. I know, that's okay, that's Folk, but I'm not where I can do that smoothly yet. 

Glad to know you experienced players mess up. I thought it was just me. 

A simplified version of Pretty Betty Martin, finger dance and thumb strummed. (Messing up only adds to the folk experience!)

I also neglected to mention what you mentioned, Randy.  F'real.  

I tell a friend of mine who is learning dulcimer that I mess-up and it's good she hears me mess-up!  I also tell her the difference between her and me is I have more experience.  

I mess up on every tune at some point Robin!

I neglected to mention I always mess-up on WBB at some point.  :)

My list of tunes is still fairly small, but I always start my playing sessions with a Scottish bagpipe lament that I don't know the name of (I heard it on an LP of bagpipe music many years ago). I know the tune well, but I still tend to goof it up!   

Whiskey Before Breakfast has been the tune in my hip pocket for some years now.  Due to life circumstances, I don't practice it nor play it regularly.  It's always been a good jam tune when I've been in multi-instrument jams. :)

My pocket tune changes pretty regularly -- several times a year at least.

I also keep a backpack list -- about two hundred tunes with melody line tab for the opening (or memorable) measure(s).  Six point type in two columns on a single sheet of paper.   I haul out the list on those 'dark and stormy nights' at the boat when I'm entertaining myself because the wifi link is snafu.

I've also got an open mic book of around 40 or so songs that I play regularly at the Monday night open mic at a restaurant near the marina. New tunes added when I work them up.

How many of you have a "pocket" tune?  You known, the one song you know well that you can pull out whenever someone says, "Oh, you play the dulcimer?  Well let's hear a song!"

When I was a kid playing guitar, my uncle asked me to play him something, and when he saw that I only had pieces of tunes he taught me the four chords to "Rocky Raccoon," which is something you can sing even if you can't sing, if you know what I mean.  That was my pocket tune for years until I was a bit older and more proficient and that tune got replaced with a Cat Stevens tune.

On the dulcimer, the first song I learned was "Rosin the Bow."  Even before I laid my hands on my first dulcimer I had watched Bing Futch's video demo of that song so much that I pretty much knew how to play the song already.  For a long time that was my "pocket song," the song I would play when someone asked for something and eventually the first song I would play if I had to play several, since I knew it well and it put me at ease.

Do any of you have a pocket tune?  What is it?

As my dulcimer repertoire has grown, I now have not only a pocket tune, but a long list of tunes that I supposedly know.  I am calling these my backpack tunes, songs that I supposedly know and should be able to perform at any given moment.  However, I seem to concentrate on a few at any given time and play those pretty often, but not playing the others  just means I get a bit rusty when I do play them.  I've already forgotten songs that I once played well and want to avoid that in the future.  

Do any of you keep lists of songs that you know?  Do you practice them regularly? How do you keep up-to-speed on all of them?

I have built 4 "banjammers" or as I call mine, banjo-dulcimer. A practice drum head in 6 or 8" diameter  either set on a dulcimer shaped 1/2" thick board or suspended in a round based dulcimer body. Yes they are loud and alone they are fine. In a group sometimes I put a 1" wide piece of sponge rubber under the head before putting tension on it. then usually rest  pinkie and ring fingers on the head to further mute it. The dulcimer group s that I jam with seem to welcome the addition. The only complaint I have is that above the 11th fret it loses a  little ring and clarity

Bill Robison

 banjo dulci.jpg - 191KB

Bing Futch used one of these for small gigs.  Actually sounded pretty good, I thought.  Now, it's not a Fender Acoustisonic, but it don't cost as much either  LOL.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio2000S-AWP6040-Portable-Rechargeable-System/dp/B001DN6REG

I, also, have one of Maxwell's dulcimers also made in 1976 and had never been played prior to a few weeks ago.  Mine only has one base string, middle string, and two melody strings; see the photo in my profile on the left. I am starting to learn..... slowly....       

Sidenote: the  Upper CumberlandCraft Center in Cookeville and the  Tennessee Tech's  Appalachian Center  for  Crafts   are not the same.  Maxwell's Craft center was privately owned and preceded the Appalachian Center for Crafts.

Bob, that sounds like an excellent idea. Play the banjo! And, you're welcome.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

A marine band harmonica tuned to D works for me. Blow into first hole for low D or forth hole for high D. My ears do the rest. And I can play along with myself too... Can't do that with a clip on... Robert.

Play books has a 60 page free sample. I read most of it this evening. Very through to say the least. If anyone wants to know how all this great music came about this book is an excellent place to start. As for me after reading on a tiny phone screen I think I'll just rest my eyes and play some banjo. Thanks Ken.... Robert...

There is a pretty good article on this idea on Wikipedia under Pythagorean tuning with some sound samples..................if you can figure it out let me know....way to much for this boy...whew!  I'll stick with 440...though I have to wonder how some of those medieval tune that Jessica Coumeau plays would sound...as for me and my house Old Joe Clark is about as wild as it gets.   Might just drop her a note and see what she thinks............if anyone would know she would be at the top of my list as her wizardry on a dulcimer is something to behold.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_tuning

 Hey Al, question for you: "Have you tried tuning with a tuner set at 432 mhz vice 440?   Checking some video near the link you posted above.........I've used it before and thought it was a bit odd....how about you?

I think you'll like it Robin. My only complaint is the layout. I dislike the little boxes that provide additional information which either break up the narrative if you stop to read them while you are on that page or force you to go back and read them all after you've finished the chapter.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I ordered a walnut capo from Ron just last week, using Paypal, and everything went through like a charm.  I received it only 3 days later.  I don't know how to use one yet, but have one just in case.    

Yea I was following the one on eBay (someone got a deal). I also corresponded with Mike Clemmer about learning on one. Decided I better stick to a stock dulcimer then move on to variants. The Ban Jammer is stung with 4 strings all in different tune to better simulate a banjo sound. Mike said I could leave one string off and tune as a Dulcimer. It seemed like the spacing on the sound board would be strange with 3 strings and as a newbie player I don't need any more excuses for having problems.

I stopped at a music store to see what it would cost to have my Hondo fixed up and they said around $50 but they were 2 weeks behind on work. So I will play it the way it is for now and maybe buy a slightly better one if I find one I like.

Thanks for all the help.

Jim...

Thanks, dan - I know when the tab has it printed for a capo at the top. I was looking for the info, without a tab just to know the mode or tuning when using a capo. 

      lisa,

      Thank you, this is what I was looking for - something like the chart for associated tunings and the starting frets listed in    

           ( jcdulcimer.com/CapoesInstructions.pdf ) 

Great information in the two links provided by Lisa.  Thanks for sharing Lisa.

Here are a couple of references on where to put a capo, and what happens to the key and mode when you do it:

http://www.jcdulcimer.com/CapoesInstructions.pdf

http://www.sksmithmusic.com/virtual_classroom/modes.html

I just realized I missed a great pun opportunity:  ...way up there where the aire is thin.