Forum Activity for @christina-murrie

I should point out that I do not play for long periods of time and I never leave the non-slip pads with the dulcimer when storing. I must say though that I like the idea of Kristi's chamois. Sounds good to me and will certainly give that one a try.

I use two pieces of the non-slip material used under rugs, etc one on each knee. Doug Curran, who as a lot of you will know is a long-time MDulcimer player and luthier, suggested this to me. I don't use a strap at all but this material (I use a light colour) stops the slide. I haven't noticed any adverse effect on the surface. I hope this is useful.

I play naked. (Just kidding)

I sometimes use one of those rubberized pads, but I do worry about the possible effects on the finish.

The best solution I have found is to use a chair or stool low enough that my thighs are parallel to the floor, so that there's no slope for the dulcimer to slide down.

I use pieces of soft but somewhat rough leather about as thick as shelf liner. Mine are from a 30+ year old calendar, but we've bought other pieces from the scrap bins at craft stores. With them, we've never had to use straps. I put one over my left knee and place the dulcimer with its first fret above it. The other goes where the dulcimer crosses my right leg, near my hip.

Dustin, read my blog post on fingertip fretting:

http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2012/07/lazy-fingers.html

Many people these days are fretting angled as though they are typing on their keyboard- it won't give you as clear a sound.

Julia, the Arranging Group here at FOTM D is the place to ask TablEdit questions. Join that group and start a discussion with the title representing the question. I've done that myself and gotten specific answers within a day.

Julia Poor said:

Does this group answer questions about TablEdit?

If so, I've been on Everything Dulcimer with someone who is having trouble with it, and I'll refer him here.

Julia

Does this group answer questions about TablEdit?

If so, I've been on Everything Dulcimer with someone who is having trouble with it, and I'll refer him here.

Julia

Laura and others, I didn't notice this discussion or I would have pointed this out earlier, but a while back I discussed with Strumelia and the other Moderators the possibility of a group devoted to the various tab software questions, and we decided to use the Arranging for Dulcimers Group . If you visit there you will see some other discussions where people (such as myself) ask Tabledit questions. In the future, try to use that group for this stuff so we can keep it all in one place. (I would move this discussion there but I don't seem to be able to do so.)

Thanks! And happy tablediting!

It's great when things come together.

Thanks for the tip.

Try using the 2 modules, the 1st with the lead and the 2nd the chords. Hide the tab for the lead and the notation for the chords. You may need to adjust spacing if the get too far apart. I don't know of any other way, although someone else may. You might contact the developer and see if the grouping you're looking for is can be done. He is very helpful. There may be a way using the Text Manager, the chord #'s would be horizontal, 200, 013, etc. The text can be positioned above or below the tab or notation.

I'm not sure what you're after. The notation can be turned off [hidden] or the tab can be turned off, leaving the other on. If you're looking to have the chords as a separate work piece, you'll probably have to use an additional module and copy/re-enter them from the 1st module.

You can add a module from 'Score > instrument' selection just like the 1st module. This will give you another notation/tab set [module] in the score that is independent of, but in sync with, the 1st module. You can then turn off [hide] the notation/tab of either module as needed. The hide function is in 'Options >multitrack'. Just clear the check mark from the appropriate box[es]. This is how multi-part scores are on done also.

I don't know that I can help you with vocals, I've never done one.

MSI = MicroSoft Installer package.

1 - File > options > display > check mark 'Effects in notation' box.

2 - File > options > advanced > check in 'Extend bends/slides' box.

3 - Enter first note, eg., C in key of G > tab to move cursor > 2 note, C# [cursor on tab entry] 6 [same number as 1st note] and the plus sign. This makes the note sharp in the correct position on the staff. Using the sharp symbol or Alt D moves the note down a position and it must be moved back to the correct position.

4- Put the cursor on the 1st note, the one you want to bend, and click the 'simple bend effects' button. If you don't have that tool bar up you will find the radio button under 'Note > special effects'. The bend will be indicated as a bracket below the 2 notes in the notation and a curved line with the duration on tab.

I think I have it all there.

Note: I have a Musedit msi that may be usable.

My experiences on eBay have been mostly good ones, and I buy a lot of different types of things on eBay. I have met many delightful, caring people who really value their reputations as members of the human race, not just as sellers on eBay. But I would certainly think twice, now, about buying an expensive instrument on eBay if I didn't know the seller or know someone who had dealt with them in the past.

Kenneth W. Longfield said:

Looks like you are reading this correctly Jan. As usual, buyer beware! It pays to know with whom you are dealing in these transactions. One of the reasons I have stopped buying off of eBay.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

They do have a 'pay after receipt' program now. I don't know the details, but it may help.

Looks like you are reading this correctly Jan. As usual, buyer beware! It pays to know with whom you are dealing in these transactions. One of the reasons I have stopped buying off of eBay.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

eBay has just changed their refund policy to read:

Local Pick-up or Freighted Items. We updated the policy to clarify that items damaged during pick-up or shipping, or not delivered when the buyer has arranged pick-up or freight, are not covered under the eBay Money Back Guarantee. We refer buyers to work with the freight company in such instances.

Now, at first glance that might make sense .....but in the world of buying and selling dulcimers, if the instrument arrives crushed because it wasn't packed adequately by the seller, then it's too bad for the buyer--because the freight company may say it wasn't their fault; it was a poor packing job, and the seller has your money and unless they just happen to be really great people (which most dulcimer people are), then you're out of luck. Up until now, the seller has had great motivation to spend the extra money on sturdy shipping cartons, adequate bubble wrap, etc. But now they can do minimal packing and then say, "Hey, if it was broken when you got it, that's not my fault."

If I'm somehow reading this incorrectly, let me know. But it REALLY offends me that the seller wouldn't be held responsible for their packing of these fragile, expensive instruments!

Has anyone had any contact recently with this dulcimer maker?
I have tried emails and phone calls with no success.
Was thinking about ordering one of her mini dulcimers.
Also, if you have any feedback on the mini please let me know.
Thanks

No problem, Val - and no confusion!

Sorry John, I mentioned NC in a different thread, where I should have said Marion, Virginia. Hope I did not cause any confusion.

I've already posted discussion threads about this on the Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina Groups, but not everyone here has joined their local FOTMD group, so I thought it might be worthwhile to start a thread about this here. It's only directly relevant to those within striking distance of Marion, Virginia!

FOTMD member Amanda Boyd and myself, both from the UK, will be in Marion VA between September 23 and October 7 as artists in residence at the Lincoln Theatre. At 7pm on Saturday September 27 we will be presenting our show "Those Were The Days, My Friends!" there.The third member of the team, also from the UK, is Trevor Bailey, presenter and curator of old professional and amateur films, both sound and silent. The show mixes archive film footage, mainly about rural life in the early to mid twentieth century in the South-West of England, with traditional English folk songs and tunes from the same region. (This region includes the county of Somerset, where Cecil Sharp began his life's work as a collector of folk songs.) Amanda is the main singer in the show; I accompany her on MD and do some singing. If you're interested you can get some idea of what we sound like from our respective FOTMD pages.

On Saturday October 4 we will take part in an edition of the "Song of the Mountains" television show, filmed at the theatre. The theatre's director will be arranging some other performances for us during our stay. In some of these we hope to explore the links between our traditional songs and music in the South-West of England and those from this part of the Appalachians.

It would be great to meet up with some other FOTMD members while we are over with you. We'd be particularly keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in putting on a house concert. I'm sure we could fit one of those in!

Unfortunately I left my copy at home after I went off to university and in the fulness of time they binned it along with everything else I'd left there. Including the stave dulcimer. At least I took my proper dulcimer with me...

I rate the shortish 'Play' section of that book as one of the best absolute beginner scripts I have ever come across, simple and uncluttered, with some very useful illustrations.

I still have a copy of that somewhere.

Didn't get hold of it until a year or two after I got my first dulcimer. It was my first introduction to all this mode stuff

I found it all very simple and easy to follow.

I've been buying John Pearse dulcimers for years and have had about 5 through my hands since. Great little things, I love 'em.

Well i've been wondering what the first tune I ever played was and now you've answered it for me. I watched that TV series and made myself a `stave' dulcimer just like they said. And bought the book. Now you've jogged my memory i remember playing Au Claire de Lune from it. So that's it.

John Henry said:

Even tho' it was a very long time ago I have no trouble 'naming that tune'. It was "AU CLAIR DE LUNE" ! How can I be so precise ? 'Cos I'm looking at the book I learnt it from, "Make and Play the Dulcimer" by John Pearse (copyright 1970) Ignoring the 'Make' content, I rate the shortish 'Play' section of that book as one of the best absolute beginner scripts I have ever come across, simple and uncluttered, with some very useful illustrations. Must admit to some bias here tho', the book has sections on using a 'noter', and 'feathering' four ways, no less , including 'beating' (as you see, I have been playing on the 'dark side' for a very long time, lol) The availability of the book coincided with a weekly TV series "How To Make and Play The Dulcimer", and the emergence of a Folk/Rock Group named 'SteelEye Span', which included one 'Tim Hart', who sometimes played ..........Mountain Dulcimer !

JohnH

When I first received my first dulcimer, a David Lynch Student Model, I strummed a crude, but recognizable version of "Sweet Hour of Prayer." I was like a kid in a candy shop--so thrilled! After only a coupla months, my playing is still bumpy and crude, but I'm having more fun than a 72 year old should be allowed!

First tune was "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" then maybe "Aunt Rhodie" and "Streets of Laredo"

Initially I learned a few simple tunes all around the same time. They were "Boil Them Cabbage Down", "Mairi's Wedding", "The Southwind" and "Rosin the Beau/Bow". I believe the one I actually learned first was "Mairi's Wedding", but it might have been "Boil Them Cabbage Down". In one sense it seems like so long ago, and yet in another it feels like yesterday. :)

Even tho' it was a very long time ago I have no trouble 'naming that tune'. It was "AU CLAIR DE LUNE" ! How can I be so precise ? 'Cos I'm looking at the book I learnt it from, "Make and Play the Dulcimer" by John Pearse (copyright 1970) Ignoring the 'Make' content, I rate the shortish 'Play' section of that book as one of the best absolute beginner scripts I have ever come across, simple and uncluttered, with some very useful illustrations. Must admit to some bias here tho', the book has sections on using a 'noter', and 'feathering'four ways, no less , including 'beating' (as you see, I have been playing on the 'dark side' for a very long time, lol) The availability of the book coincided with a weekly TV series "How To Make and Play The Dulcimer", and the emergence of a Folk/Rock Group named 'SteelEye Span', which included one 'Tim Hart', who sometimes played ..........Mountain Dulcimer !

JohnH

My first song was Rosin the Beau, which I learned from the Bing Futch video on YouTube . I became obsessed with the dulcimer about 4 months before actually buying one, and over those four months I watched that video so much that when I finally got my dulcimer, I pulled over to the side of the road, and played about half of that tune from memory. By the end of the day I had the rest of the tune as well. Oh, my playing wasn't that great, but it was a nice start!

First song was Verdant Braes of Skreen which I got from More Irish Street Ballads by Colm O' Lochlann, first tunes were Petrie's Polka and Murphy's Polka I learnt from the group Na Fil.

Lord Lovel and Shady Grove from Larkin Bryant's book. One fingerpicked, one strummed, both in different tunings...and as I told people before, I felt fulfilled and just played those 2 songs for almost 10 years and had never seen or heard another dulcimer player in that time.

It would have been one of 'Red River Valley' , 'You are my Sunshine' , 'Good bye Girls I'm Going to Boston' or Bonepart Crossing the Rhine'. Probably Red River Valley.

These were the first few tunes I was taught and they got played to death until the fateful day when I was playing GBGIGTB and it morphed into 'The Dorset Four Hand Reel'. That was when I discovered I could play by ear and didn't need to remember fret orders or anything like that. There was no stopping after that and suddenly I could play hundreds of tunes.

Thinking back to those days(early 70s) a couple of songs I remember as very popular were 'Willie Moore' and 'Pretty Polly', neither seems to get much of a mention nowadays.

I don't remember for certain, but I would have to say either Bile dem cabbage down or Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Neither song do I play on a consistent basis now.

Blow the Candles Out arranged by Randy Wilkinson

Greensleaves from the Mel Bay book Introduction to the Apalachian Dulcimer.

It still knocks people out when demonstrating the dulcimer.

Go Tell Aunt Rhody

Can't really remember that far back, when I'se a youngun, but it was probably "Amazing Grace". It was the mid-seventies, and dulcimers were beginning to get more popular, but were played mostly Jean Ritchie-style.

Little Rosewood Casket.