Marilyn, I just want to say you are wonderful!!!!!
Music soothes the soul - and what you are doing for these folks- this is just so heartwarming and touching!
I don't play a lot of DAA - so I am not being much help with your question, but I am so touched by what you are doing that I had to respond!
Keep strumming and smiling 
Cindy
You'll find a few hundred more at the Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective tab page. They're all arranged for both DAd and DAA, playable with chords or just on the melody string. You can listen to a variety of versions of each online, too. That helps, I think, since I usually look for tunes I've never heard before for the newsletter!
- Steve
You are doing good things, Marilyn. You may like Bill Schilling's book "Dulci-More Folk & Traditional Musicians Public Domain Songbook" This book has about 250 old time and traditional tunes (nearly all in DAA) and about 45 Christmas carols and tunes also mostly DAA. You can get a copy from Elderly Instruments or from Bill's website.
http://elderly.com/welcome.htm
Keep up the good work.
Delete it NOW, LOL. I saw that on FB. I almost made a comment but refrained hoping it would go away and now you posted it here. I'll get you for this
Terry Duggins posted this photo on Facebook. I thought maybe Patty and some other folks here on FOTMD would enjoy it. I am leaving tomorrow for a dulcimer festival and will delete this on Sunday when I get home.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song." 
We have two Folkcraft hickory dulcimers in the house (Folkroots custom models)...they pretty much rock!
I bought an all-hickory Folkcraft FSH model teardrop a bit over a year ago. I love it! The build quality is top-notch. To me, the sound is clear and even. I play noter/drone style with a nylon pick and I find the instrument to be very responsive and fairly loud.
I think that if you are planning on getting one, you won't be disappointed. Folkcraft is a fine company to work with. I also have not seen hickory dulcimers from other builders (I'm sure there are others out there, but I haven't found them).
Good luck!
Got a question: Does anyone have a Hickory Folkcraft? What do you think of the sound, etc? Any thoughts/insights would be greatly appreciated.
James, I think you've mentioned that parlor guitar before. It sounds like a really nice instrument. I was in no way trying to disparage Oscar Schmidt instruments. It just seems that if you have to buy an instrument without playing it, it would make sense to stick with brands known for that instrument.
Babs, I've never really played the ukulele seriously, so I've never tried anyone's arrangements. And I don't think I could approach Jake Shumabukuro level even while dreaming. Since I played guitar for most of my life I can figure out ukulele chords and melodies pretty quickly, but I have no right-hand technique at all.
And yes, filipinouker, I have a pink ukulele that I bought my daughter a few years ago for her birthday. She has never shown any interest, but once or twice a year I pull it out and fiddle a bit.
However, at the risk of hijacking James's thread . . . I just bought a Riptide concert uke. It is not the one in the picture I linked to above, which has an acacia top, but one with a spruce top. Here's my new baby in its cozy cradle:
It only has three strings in the picture because it came with a low G string but I put on the more traditional high G, and the picture was taken in the middle of that exchange. There is another sound hole on the side facing up when you play so that supposedly what you hear is closer to what others hear. Now I just have to learn to play the darn thing.
I organized a ukulele workshop and concert by Butch Ross here in Sacramento the day after the Berkeley Dulcimer Gathering and I wanted a decent instrument to use. Well, that's my excuse anyway. But if we call our instruments "tools" instead of "toys" don't they sound more justifiable as purchases?
This is so funny that this thread has scene a new life
I ultimately have put the idea of getting a ukulele on hold for the time being. Dusty, I wound up with an Oscar Schmidt parlor guitar, which is like the old Stella guitars they made through the 1920's and 1930's. I had a nice full sound to it, not "tinny" sound if you know what I mean. Sounds well in the Maybelle Carter scratch, fingerstyle, and basic rhythm strumming.
What a coincidence, Cynthia! You know what they say about great minds . . .
Cynthia Wigington said:
Dusty, I'm looking at that one too...
Dusty Turtle said:For the record, within the next week or two I hope to buy this Riptide concert uke from a local music store that also hosts my local dulcimer group meetings.
Dusty, I'm looking at that one too...
Dusty Turtle said:
James, perhaps I'm too late to this conversation. Interestingly, I am in the same boat in that I want to buy a decent ukulele but I can't afford the really fancy ones. I Have a few ukuleles that I consider more toys than instruments.
But my gut tells me to stick with Oscar Schmidt for autoharps and get a ukulele by a one of the companies that specializes in ukuleles, such as the brands filipinouker lists.
For the record, within the next week or two I hope to buy this Riptide concert uke from a local music store that also hosts my local dulcimer group meetings.
James, perhaps I'm too late to this conversation. Interestingly, I am in the same boat in that I want to buy a decent ukulele but I can't afford the really fancy ones. I Have a few ukuleles that I consider more toys than instruments.
But my gut tells me to stick with Oscar Schmidt for autoharps and get a ukulele by a one of the companies that specializes in ukuleles, such as the brands filipinouker lists.
For the record, within the next week or two I hope to buy this Riptide concert uke from a local music store that also hosts my local dulcimer group meetings.
As you know James, I own this one, and it is my best uke. Uke friend Ron also thinks it's my best one. I like it, nice to play, nice sound, and I can be heard in uke club. My others get drowned out in the buzzing...
For a while, I have been toying with getting a ukulele to learn to play, to add to my list of instruments I play. (I also can play acoustical guitar, autoharp, and can fake my way on the electric bass.)
At any rate, I was wondering who all plays the ukulele, and what they think of this package that I am eye-balling on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Schmidt-OU5-Instructional-Polishing/dp/B005ETZN72/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1420763277&sr=1-1&keywords=oscar+schmidt+ou5+concert+ukulele
If it isn't that good a ukulele, I would like to know, then maybe get pointed in a right direction. My budget won't stretch for a fancy handmade $1000 type LOL but I want one that is a quality instrument that will bring joy, not defeat, when learning.
I have an 1989 and 1995 McSpadden and they both have those "pores" the teardrop more that the hourglass. Mine are walnut and both play beautifully. I haven't seen any problems with them.
James, you are 'calling the tune', so please do it by starting a new thread for each tune in our "Call The Tune Group" located here for that very purpose: http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/callthetune
This will keep the tune discussions organized and easy to find for folks in the future.
Thanks!
Shenandoah, eh? Good tune. Looking forward to it.
Hay Lynn, I have the same problem. I am just going to try to video from my camera and upload from the camera card.
I hope this works, but for now I am just playing and really enjoy it. It was great to hear everyone play their own unique style. Love this idea.
Lynn austin said:
I think it is a great idea. I can't figure out how to post but enjoyed listening to everyone's rendition of Amazing Grace.
This is a terrific idea James....we have too much fun.
I will try to get me setup to post and try to do the challenge song. It may not be my unique version, but my goal would be just to play it.
I really enjoyed all who posted "Amazing Grace", you all are so creative and made your MD sing sweetly.
I want to thank everyone who decided to have a go on Amazing Grace. Well done!
As a follow up, I was asked, what's up for next month? A continuation of a once a month "challenge" seems like a good idea if it seems like a good idea for others. I'll throw a song out there for people to work on for the month to get ready for posting the first Sunday of the month. A song that came to my mind is the traditional O Shenandoah. I think it is one most folks know and can work on a version of for the coming month.
I'll make it a point to bump this thread up when we have a week to go.
Best,
Joe, it takes a while to get used to the 1-1/2 fret. But eventually it doesn't pose any problem. I can understand people who want to keep the integrity of the diatonic fretboard, but now that I'm used to the 1-1/2 fret I wouldn't want a dulcimer without one. I love having that flatted third and seventh so easily available by the nut.
Incidentally, notice that used the term "flatted" to mean a note lowered by half a step regardless of whether it is technically a flat note. For example, the F natural in the key of D is called a flatted third because it is a half note lower than the "normal" or "major" third of F#. It is in that sense that we say a diatonic fretboard has no sharps or flats. We mean simply that only the notes of the major scale are available.
Joe, you can't " move " the fret because then it wouldn't work for music traditionally played on the dulcimer. You would still need the third scale position (F#) and it wouldn't be there. But you could add a 1-1/2 fret to get F natural on a string tuned to D. That 1-1/2 fret is getting pretty popular partly for that reason.
Edit: Woops! I just realized that Skip already responded with a comment on the 1-1/2 fret. Please excuse the duplication.
Joe Robison said:
Thanks to Skip, Ken and Linda for their replies. I think it's a little more clear now. What happens if you move the fret to produce F instead of F#? Probably a dumb question. Could this be why some of the old dulcimers don't play well with other instruments?
Hi Joe,
"Diatonic" refers to any scale that consists of a combination of whole steps and half steps . (The large spaces and smaller spaces on a dulcimer fretboard, for e.g.) This is as compared to "chromatic," which is all half steps . (The spaces between frets on a guitar or mandolin, for e.g.) The term "diatonic" really isn't about sharps or flats - it's about the size of the interval between successive notes in a scale. A diatonic scale can be major, minor or modal; any scale with a mixture of whole steps and half steps can be called diatonic.
A dulcimer is a diatonic instrument because it is NOT chromatic - it does not consist of half step intervals between each of its frets. It doesn't have all the notes.
Linda
Hi, Joe. When the melody string is tuned to "d" and the melody string is tuned to "A" and the bass string is tuned to "D," you have the dulcimer tuned to the key of D. This key has two sharps in the scale, A# and F#. On a diatonic fret board those sharps will occur at the proper place in the scale. If the book was written for the CGG, there would be no sharps or flats because then you are tuned to the key of C. A diatonic fret board is defined by the spacing of the frets: long, long, short, long, long, long, short. When the 6 1/2 fret is added you are beginning to move toward a chromatic scale which is all short giving a full twelve not scale while the diatonic is only 7 notes. I think part of the confusing comes from trying to explain that the dulcimer is a simple instrument to play. I hope this helps.
Ken
"the dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Probably because they are basing their discussion on the notes available in the key of C. A diatonic fretboard basically means that not all notes are present on the fretboard for one string, those are the wide spaces. If you tune the middle string string on your MD down to G, the third fret will be C. Checking all the notes on that string on the whole number frets will show that there are no sharps or flats.
When you base the discussion on the notes of the key D [G on the 3rd fret], the diatonic fret spacing produces an F#, the key of 'A' [D on the 3rd fret] produces a C# and F#. You only consider one string at a time.
inexpensive geared guitar tuners may actually slip right into the existing holes provided for the wood tuners.
this would by far be the best bet for fixing this problem for a few bucks.
another problem i can see here is there is no slotted piece behind the zero fret. the first fret has slots filed
in it to hopefully keep the strings in position. this looks to me to be problematic. the zero fret could be replaced
with a nut......a job for a skilled luthier
Those look like nicely made pegs. I'd guess the wood is osage orange. Have you tried applying "peg dope" to help them stick better? It's something that all wooden peg instruments like violins, need to have added periodically. A couple drops usually does the trick. I've seldom had problems tuning my Thomas replica with wooden pegs, but I apply a couple drops of 'peg dope' every few months. You can get dope from any shop that sells violins/parts, or from online sources like Musicians Friend. Just google-search "violin peg dope". It sells for under $10 a bottle, which will last a looooonggg time.
Not all peg holes are created equal. And they are tapered, narrower inside than out. So are the pegs, of course, and the tapers must needs match. If you don't like the color of the wooden pegs, you could always dye (not paint or stain) them black, which is more or less the standard color.
If I were you, the first things I would do is contact Scott Wilson. I don't have his contact information handy, but someone may be able to help. You could ask if he has other color pegs he would sell you. At the very least you could find out the size and taper of his pegs/holes and a recommendation for replacement pegs.
If you want to be rid of wooden pegs entirely you could look for "planetary" tuners, of several makes, which will fit in the existing holes but have internal gears and work like conventional geared tuners. The ultimate planetary tuners are the Knilling or Perfection brands, which look exactly like a black ebony peg, but have internal gears. Planetary tuners run about $70 per set of four.
I don't yet, but i will. I do play diatonic
Hello,
I was just wondering if there are any tremolo harmonica players out there. The tremolo is a lovely instrument to play along with a dulcimer. Basic good quality tremolos can be bought for as little as $20.00 to your door in all keys. Keys of D & A sound the best with dulcimers. Just my two cents.
If you're interested, there is a new web site dedicated to the tremolo:
http://thetremolo.ponderworthy.com/forum
