Hi Noah - I'm a little late coming to this thread! It looks like you have sorted out the issue. On a lot of older dulcimers the 'trick' is to work out how the maker set up the instrument initially and for what tuning and what style of playing. Sometimes nuts, bridges and string gauges have been altered and it can be a devil of a job to work out how to get an instrument playing well 
So my Gallier is 28", my McSpadden is 28.5" and my FolkRoots is 29". I got to play a hickory Folk Craft yesterday with a 27" scale length. When I see the words Scale and vibrating string length, I'm wondering how these differ...or are they the same?
The Folk Craft did seem shorter than what I'm used to and I have to admit I liked...no, I LOVED the ease of the shorter scale/vsl (?). Again, not sure which is the correct term.
I'm wondering if I should trade in my standard McSpadden for one of their 26" scale models. Can someone school me on these terms and how they interchange. And I'm curious if anyone here started with a standard 28"+ and move down an inch or two after some time.
Thank you, as always, for your insights and input!
A Hughes hourglass I bought in the late '80's. I still play it occasionally. Solid walnut back and sides, solid spruce or cedar top (it's darkened considerably over the years). I knew both Virgil and Norman Hughes when I lived in Denver. I was still somewhat active in Civil War re-enacting with my infantry unit back in NJ and I was thinking about joining an artillery unit (run by Virgil). I ended up not joining although I did participate in a couple of events with them. I remember their shop where they made a number of different folk instruments...they played them too (quite well!).
My Hughes dulcimer was well made with a laminated headstock, floating bone bridge, and a 3-piece inlay strip in the back of different woods, and heart-shaped soundholes...an attractive and nice sounding instrument.
What a great thread topic! My pocket tune is most definitely Lee's Waltz. I was blessed to finally meet Lee at Unicoi this year. She was a dear! I shared how much I love 'her' song.
The one other song I can play without half a thought is Nothing but the Blood.
I want to learn many more but I find memorization a challenge. Right now working on Celtic Air.
I'm cutting back on all sweets and watching portions. Trying to eat super nutritious things that fill me up. For breakfast, after my coffee of course, I had a whey protein smoothie made with plain greek yogurt, frozen banana, raw cocoa, almond milk and powdered peanut butter.
I used to lift weights every other day but once that habit stops, it's SO hard to get it back. I loved having firmer arms and all so I need to do it. Going 3x per week is fantastic Strumelia!
My first love was a little kit purchased from a man at a Georgia arts and crafts festival back in 1984-87ish. I never played it. It doesn't have too good of a tone but it was good enough it got my interest some years later and I took it to a group and learned to play. Never looked back.
My first love was a little kit purchased from a man at a Georgia arts and crafts festival back in 1984-87ish. I never played it. It doesn't have too good of a tone but it was good enough it got my interest some years later and I took it to a group and learned to play. Never looked back.
My first was/is a Bill Taylor. My grandmother left me some money after she passed away so I figured the dulcimer was best purchase to make. To this day I can remember standing there at Bardstown contemplating which one to buy. Ron Turner came over and stood beside me then pointed to one and said "That is the one you need." Great choice - small holes in the top so I could not drop picks inside - and a sweet sound. Sad to say Ron passed away not long after that, but I'm forever grateful for his assistance.
Try CGG for the tuning -- same tab as DAA since both are 1-5-5 tunings.
I have the DAD tab. I'll try it in DAA. I've tried several keys right now I like CGC ,but still not the same as the recording. My voice is just not cut out for DAD. Thanks
I have the tab in my files but haven't printed it or tried playing. John Blosser did it in DAA on his "Coyote Speaks" CD with a young lady with a lovely Irish voice singing it.
Thanks Dan I've done that still waiting. I know he will get to it eventually. Just thought I might speed up the process.
Why don't you contact Tull through his website. I'm sure he would be glad to help you with this question.
Does any one know what key Twilight Eyes on Davids Dulcimers is played? Its performed by Molly and Tull, Tull has the tab in the key of D I'm pretty sure it's not the same on the CD. Thanks Glenda
Hope this is the correct forum
Wayne, I love the podcasts you guys have produced and I hope they keep coming.
If I remember correctly, and earlier version of Hearts of the Dulcimer included a clip of the video I posted above when Joni mentions the "dynamite gal from California" who made her dulcimer. I think it was on a small TV and you used it as an intro to talk with Joellen.
In case you haven't our podcast. we have an episode telling the story how Joni got her first dulcimer from Joellen at the Big Sur music festival. Here's the link.
Hey Blissness, I don't use Finale personally, but I do use Tabledit. It is incredibly powerful but also not very intuitive. I have gotten to the point where I can tab out an arrangement pretty quickly, but when I try to create multiple endings to songs or indicate chords above the tab or use a capo, it is not obvious how to do all that. I have stopped trying to figure it out on my own and just go online for help. Several of us have begun to use the Arranging for Dulcimers Group to ask questions about that kind of thing. There is a free trial version of Tabledit that allows you to arrange pieces up to 16 or 24 measures. You might try it out and see how you like it.
Hi Dusty,
We all adore Joni and I was thrilled when I found Lapidus on Dulcimer 2.
I have her Song book with favorite Joni tunes, so now I'd like to make some of the chords more simple to play. Have you ever used Finale?
My teacher simplifies tunes using Finale. I'm looking into it and was wondering if you knew anything about using note pad Finale or their
other programs ?
What a nice surprise ..... will do.
You are welcome! If you have time, track me down so we can meet at the event.
Oh thanks so much Shawn. Between what you and Ken said, I'm anxious to see who's teaching, etc. Wish they'd get the details up on the web site ... :). Actually looking forward to driving thru Blue Ridge Mtns. & visiting the Scots/Irish settler museum I believe is on campus. Your thoughts are great and thank you so much. Barb
I highly recommend staying in the dorm. Most of the classes are in the same building, and there are a lot of things that go on outside of classes that you would not have access to if you stay offsite. It's the best run dulcimer event I've been to. Concerts are wonderful, all of them including the "intimate concerts" that you sign up for when you arrive.
A week ago today I was on the way to Asheville and we stopped in Black Mountain,as planned.
What a cool little town! Delicious Thai food in a restaurant there, plus lots of little shops and coffee places.
Went to Song of the Wood, where Jo Ann Smith was most welcoming! Got to play both a Folkcraft and a MCSpadden. I didn't stay too long, as was with other people, and the place was BUSY! People in the Appalachian dulcimer corner, playing when I arrived, and another lady took over my chair as soon as I finished. If I could do it over, I 'd take advantage of the chance to play more McSpaddens in different wood combinations. (duh). Lots of hammered dulcimers and psaltries, too.
Did visit Acoustic Corner, but they only had a display dulcimer made with 4 different woods. Tom Fellenbaum, they told me, only builds custom at this time.
Anyway, it was a great time. Thanks to all for your help.
Mid-winter cold and grey...craving some fresh grown greenery but certainly no early gardening possible yet.
A few years ago I had been doing a lot of growing edible sprouts in my kitchen, and last month I started back up doing it again. It's both fun and uplifting in the middle of winter to see the jars and containers of little sprouts growing. Compared to buying lettuce and greens (or even sprouts) at the supermarket, home grown sprouts are not only way more nutritious, but incredibly cheap- I find that a one pound, $12 package of alfalfa seed will produce around 100-150 cups of sprouts.
It's actually enjoyable to 'tend' them twice a day with a fresh water rinse/drain right in their jars, like having miniature greenhouses growing on your kitchen counters. 
After about 4 or 5 days they are ready to rinse in a large bowl to skim off the empty hulls, and put into the refrigerator for eating! Sometimes they don't even make it to the fridge... Brian has to be scolded about eating an entire batch at one time as a big salad...hey, leave some for me! For the past several weeks I have about 5 jars going at a time with different seeds at various stages. A mere 2 tablespoons of alfalfa seed will produce 4 cups of yummy fresh sprouts... !
I made a capo for a small dulcimer I have, but it also works on the travel dulcimer I have which was built by a lady who used to work for Folkcraft and is identical. Richard Ash just came out with the new capo for this dulcimer which should work fine.
Hmmm, the Snowball looks good too..... food for thought ...Thanks again, You're always very helpful...
This week long event is coming up & I wondered if anyone has gone who can suggest whether to stay at the university or at a nearby town? Haven't found anyone who can give suggestions based on experience. Janita Baker will be teaching all week and I've got one of her Blue Lions so I want to go. Any thoughts? Thanks ahead of time. Barb
I'll second Dusty's suggestion of the Blue Snowflake. I have not used it, but a friend has one and he really likes it. I use Blue microphones for our dulcimer club when we play out. They are very good. Here a like to the Snowflake: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Snowflake.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Yes. The FolkRoots travel dulcimer capo may be the one that will work for you. If in doubt, give Richard Ash (owner of Folkcraft) a call tomorrow and discuss it with him before buying one. He's very friendly and helpful.
Thanks for that info. i'll have a look....You are such a helpful lot...
Anne, I am not sure what "reasonably priced" means. I used a Blue Snowflake mic for a long time. It worked great with my PC. I think it cost about $50 new, but you might be able to find it on Ebay for less than that. A quick internet search showed me that the slightly larger Blue Snowball is now selling for about that same price.
I also used a Samson Go Mic which is a bit more versatile, since you can change the setting from unidirectional to omnidirectional (in case you want to record a group playing) as well a setting that dampens the sound a bit for when it is directly in front of you. I think that retails for just under $40. Either of those choices will work a lot better than the mic built into your computer or webcam. The Samson Go can clip onto the top of your monitor but it also comes with a little case. It is remarkably small for its recording power. (I no longer use it for recording music, but I use it at work when we have to broadcast meetings over the internet. I just put it in the middle of the table and it picks up soft-spoken people 20 feet away.)
I found and read those articles and what they seems to be the case. The frets are flat to accommodate for a noter.
http://www.folkcraft.com/p_1482_cat_7000234_hdr_7000292_sort_cattitle_pg_1.html
You will probably want the one for the travel dulcimer.
Believe it or not, a pencil and rubber band works well as a capo until you can find a suitable one.
My 1978 Folkroots dulcimer has a fretboard about half as thick as the McSpadden
.My capo just isn't working. I've seen folks talking about a Folkroots 'travel' dulcimer and there was a capo built for that, but I don't think that is what I have. Mine looks just like a normal dulcimer.
At first I was thinking my capo was having a 'fail' but then realized we were dealing with a size issue. Anyone found a capo to get around this? Thank you!
Ant advice on a reasonably priced microphone that I can use with my Apple Mac to record nicely? The inbuilt is particularly good at removing the sounds of any sustain, and making things sound harsh... Don't think it's all due to my playing...
Looks like one of those Korean Hondo dulcimers, under a different name. Not great, but not bad. Worth maybe $50 total -- you can find them for that on Ebay. Better than the rest listed there.
Global was, I believe, a Korean company known for their cheap knock-offs of Gibson guitars in the 60s. What you may have found is a pretty good dulcimer. Is it hourglass or teardrop? I've got one of those Korean teardrop knock-offs of the Magic Mountains that sounds really good and plays nice as well.
A pic or url would help us advise. :)
