In need of someone in the Nashville/Mt. Juliet Tn. Area for mountain dulcimer repair.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thank you Lora, I will drop by to see him this week. Have a great Memorial Day.
Forum Activity for @victory-martin
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
In need of someone in the Nashville/Mt. Juliet Tn. Area for mountain dulcimer repair.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Lora said:
Thom Abell is right in Mt. Juliet.
String Theory Guitar Repair
603 Georgian Way
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
615-415-5681
In need of someone in the Nashville/Mt. Juliet Tn. Area for mountain dulcimer repair.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thom Abell is right in Mt. Juliet.
String Theory Guitar Repair
603 Georgian Way
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
615-415-5681
In need of someone in the Nashville/Mt. Juliet Tn. Area for mountain dulcimer repair.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thank you Dan, don't know why I did not think of that. Another Senior Moment I guess. Have a great day. Thanks again.
In need of someone in the Nashville/Mt. Juliet Tn. Area for mountain dulcimer repair.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Does anyone have any information on someone that does mountain dulcimer repairs in the Nashville Tn. Area. I have a very special dulcimer that has a downward bow of 1/8 of an inch or more in the middle. The neck has a fret board overlay on top which also has some cupping or low spots on outer edge around 3rd, 5th frets . Fret board is to thin to be planed down. The neck will need planning down an 1/8 inch or so and new fret board overlay glued in place, 18 frets, no Strum Hollow on either. no Nut Slot either on board. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
updated by @victory-martin: 06/08/16 09:24:05PM
Autumn Leaves Festival? Question fromChatroom
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you, Lisa. I should have thought to do that.
Autumn Leaves Festival? Question fromChatroom
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Well, here is a website for it, hope that helps: http://www.autumnleavesfestival.com/
Looks like a fun event! Seems like it may be largely about crafts but with music entertainment as well.
Autumn Leaves Festival? Question fromChatroom
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I saw a question from Kevin Oltsmanns in the Chatroom requesting information on the Autumn Leaves Festival being held in Mt Airy, NC in October. I checked the events lists both here at FOTMD and on the Everything Dulcimer site and that festival wasn't listed on either. It's probably a general folk music/old time music festival similar the the Vandalia Gathering being held in Charleston, WV this weekend. If any of our members have any info about the Autumn Leaves event, please let us know.
updated by @dan-goad: 06/11/15 07:43:29AM
Hi Ron, go here and you'll find it:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/forum/topics/roanoke-valley-dulcimers-inaugural-meeting-and-workshop
Richard and Pamela Wilson. They built many dulcimers. There are several discussions on here about him. Here is a link to one. He is also on FB http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/photo/img-20130326-083334?commentId=3745489%3AComment%3A445093&xg_source=activity
updated by @kevin-messenger: 02/14/16 06:40:21AM
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
After Hangman's Reel, I'd play Jesus an original tune or two that Mark & I put together. So I wouldn't have to change tuning to change keys, I'd offer our Quittin' Time at Essex Mine since it's also in the key of A and tell Jesus how each of Mark's grandfathers worked at Essex Mine at one time or another.PS- Not that I think our original tunes are so great-- it'd just be fun to play them for Jesus! :)
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'm going to change it to if "so and so" came to dinner as while I do play songs out of the hymnal, I am more spiritual then religious, if that makes sense. Mine would be Ode to Joy, In The Sweet Bye and Bye and Wildwood Flower.
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'd be playing Jesus some fiddle tunes! Likely, I'd tune to the key of A and play Hangman's Reel for starters-- it's such a fun tune and I like the AABBCCDD structure.
So if Jesus came to dinner, what would you play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
There are certain songs that are just good. Always good, everyone seems to love them and you never get tired of hearing their pretty melodies.
For me, one of those would be Lee's Waltz. If I was demonstrating the beauty of the dulcimer for a new listener, I'm pretty certain that'd be what I'd play.
What are some songs you play that never seem to grow old and make you smile when you hear them?
(I'm definitely going to check out any and all songs listed!) :)
updated by @d-chitwood: 06/11/15 07:43:25AM
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks everyone. My new dulcimer is coming down as I type. I have mixed feelings about it, but having the new dulcimer made will allow it to sing in the years to come.
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
If you manage to have some dried lumber from the tree I might be able to help. Most of my dulcimers are kind of unique in a number of ways, but if they are of interest to you, I would be willing to work with customer supplied lumber that was properly dried. I am used to breaking down larger pieces into pieces suitable for instrument parts.
My instruments are non traditional in a number of ways and most of them are travel oriented. If that interests you you might have a look at:
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Yeah.... you could probably make a couple of dulcimers out of a 4 ft diameter walnut log....<grin>
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks for the insights. We live near Amish country and many families run sawmills, so we would be able to get that part done, too. The tree is easily that big around, probably closer to four feet diameter.
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
There are certainly builders who will work with your wood, but it needs to be cut and cured (dried) properly. Your "tree cutters" can cut the trunk into logs about 3-4 ft long. Hopefull the good parts of the tree are 8"-10" in diameter. But unless the "cutters' work for a sawmill, they won't have any idea of what to do beyond that. A local sawmill, or someone with a large band saw, can then slice the logs into planks of varying widths and ideally about 1/4" or 1/2" thick. These planks are then stacked together with spacers to allow air in between the planks, and allowed to air dry slowly (out of the sun) for 6 months or so before they can be used for building instruments or anything.
Are there luthiers who will build with your wood?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
We have a black walnut tree that has to come down, and I'd like to have a dulcimer made with some of the wood. So...are there builders I the US who might do this? I 'd like to find out how to prepare the wood properly, and if the tree cutters need any specific instructions? Thanks.
updated by @gwyn-calvetti: 08/04/23 06:43:45AM
Yes, Everythingdulcimer.com is a great site altogether, for both mountain dulcimers and hammered dulcimers!... They've had a terrific members Forum since long before our site here ever existed, and they also have a wonderful free collection of dulcimer tab!:
http://everythingdulcimer.com/tab/index.php
O'Mara's, thank you for mentioning fake books. I'm not a big fan of bluegrass, but saw your comment in the daily list & a light bulb went on over my brain just like in a cartoon! My 1st instrument was the piano & I really need SMN there. Never could manage a fake book. As a result I ruled them out for me for any instrument.
Thanks for widening my thinking. (Can't get tablet to stop underlining, but that's o.k. as this is such an expanding idea.)
Judy, most bluegrass tunes are the same tunes played in dulcimer circles or old timey groups, but they are simply played much faster in bluegrass groups. The most comprehensive collections of those tunes in dulcimer tab are Stephen Seifert's Join the Jam books. You might pick up the first of those books and then do an online search for common bluegrass tunes to see which ones are played in both circles.
One thing to look out for, though, is that while dulcimer players play nearly every tune in D, in bluegrass circles, other keys such as C, G, and A are also common. Blackberry Blossom is always in G, Billy in the Lowground is always in C, Red-Haired Boy is always in A, St. Anne's Reel is always in D, and so forth. If you are going to play with bluegrass folks you will want to learn the keys for common songs.
When I was learning mandolin, I used a book/CD set called Steve Kaufman's Bluegrass Workout which has music for a whole bunch of common bluegrass tunes, with a CD that plays each tune once very slowly and then once at bluegrass speed. But each rendition has the full song once and then two versions with just the back-up instruments, and you are supposed to play the melody. It was really good practice. The book does not include dulcimer tab, though, but if you can learn by ear or get the basic melody off the standard music notation it could work pretty well.
Looks like your song list is mostly in the key of G with a few songs in C. I would tune a dulcimer to GDG (the key-of-G equivalent of DAD). Learn the basic chords in G (G, C, D, Em and Am). When the song is in C, put a capo on the 3rd fret and use the same fingerings to play the chords C, F, G, Am and Dm. That covers almost everything you'll need. Remember to smile, sing, and skip the chords you don't know!G and C are popular keys among uke players. Thus, uke-playing friends are an excellent reason to buy a Ginger or baritone dulcimer. ;-)If you don't have a dulcimer that can comfortably tune to GDG then try the reverse Ionian tuning DGD. That puts you in the key of G (with the scale starting on the 3rd fret). And I guess a capo on the 3rd fret will put you in C.Yet another option is to tune a DAD dulcimer down to CGC, which puts you in the key of C. And then for the key of G you could capo on the 4th fret. I haven't tried this, but in theory it should work.If none of this makes sense, give a holler and I'll break it down. Do you have a good chord book? Mel Bay's giant encyclopedia can get you through pretty much anything a uke player will throw at you. http://www.melbay.com/Products/93858/dulcimer-chord-encyclopedia.aspx Of course, your last-ditch option is to borrow a uke and make your friend show you how to play it!
I think easier is for you to have a book with dulcimer tab and chords, and she can play along as you play the chord/melody. To me this would be a giant headache to do this list. I play uke, and basically can play on sight the chords for any song anyone hands me. I cannot do this on dulcimer. It's difficult to find tab for modern songs for dulcimer as they are under copyright. This may not be what you wanted to hear though...
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Very nice song Gregg, oh it is lovely that you give us a different instrument and sound.
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
My latest Bowed Psaltery video, "Water is Wide"... hope you folks like it.
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
My YouTube channel's name is "Gregg E. Schneeman", surprisingly enough there are quite a few Greg Schneeman's and at least two Gregg E. Schneemans, one is a realtor in Minn. and the other is a rugby coach in NY state!
Geekling said:
Absolutely lovely, Gregg! By the way, this link will take people directly to your YouTube page: Psalteryman's YouTube channel . I subscribed!
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Hi Lexie- You can buy string in coils and then tie off the strings in a certain way but most people use ball end just like a Dulcimer, .010, .011, .012, and for the longest lowest strings sometimes .013, and wound get used for cello sized BP's. White strings on one side and black key strings on the other side but arranged like a harp with your high strings close to you and the low notes further away, however some people hold the the pointy end and play them backwards! A lot of Bp's come with letters or get letters put on them just on the white key side, they help find your way around and tuning. On a well built and taken care of Bowed Psaltery the strings last for years.
Lexie R Oakley said:
Yes Gregg I understand, the computer thing is why I posted the wrong one the first time.
I enjoy your bowed psaltry videos.
I have a question about the strings and setup of the psaltry; Are the strings piano wires?
Also, is the right side of the instrument like playing the white keys of the piano?
Then the left side when you are bowing it the black keys of the piano?
Thanks.....Lexie
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Yes Gregg I understand, the computer thing is why I posted the wrong one the first time.
I enjoy your bowed psaltry videos.
I have a question about the strings and setup of the psaltry; Are the strings piano wires?
Also, is the right side of the instrument like playing the white keys of the piano?
Then the left side when you are bowing it the black keys of the piano?
Thanks.....Lexie
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Thank you for your help Lexie, I'm still very new to this whole computer thing, so much I don"t know how to do.
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Here is the link to your you tube subscription Gregg;
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=greg+schneeman
It is very nice to listen too. Thanks for promoting such a fine instrument.
Gregg if you copy the URL to the LINK in top left corner in the bar just above where you write your message it should post.
Sorry I posted the prior link, but it is a beautiful song.
Schneeman's bowed psaltery YouTube Channel
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Maybe this will work.