As Rob mentioned, I use both techniques. It all depends upon the song. Some I find myself using a one finger barre and on others I use my pinky, ring and middle fingers to hold down each string. My thumb can then move up and down the fret board. It does take some practice.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks Rob, it is a quandry for sure!
Julie, you're using a technique that requires a lot of practice to get right. I barre with a finger across the fretboard since, as a guitarist, I have used to doing it that way. Sometimes I use my little finger, other times I use my ring finger. An easier way might be to use 3 fingers, probably index, middle and ring, to make the barre. That allows the thumb to be free to move up the fretboard. Give that a whirl and see how it works for you.
Ok hopefully this comes out right; I have been trying to play a couple of songs, but in the songs there is a note when all three (or four) strings need to be depressed on the same fret. For instance, it would be 3 3 3 My problem is, when I put my finger down, the strings fall where the crease in my finger is, so I get a dead sound, or something that sounds very off key. I'm not sure how to compensate for this issue. Any ideas?
Thank you John! Thank you for looking and comparing, and for your input! I am so excited about trying to figure this out!!!
Cindy,
Looking at the new photos of the side of the head and the knob glued on the end, I'd say it's very consistent with early Folkcraft dulcimer design. They've changed designs over the years. The tail end is different than what I'd expect, but the peghead looks very familiar to me.
John, you have no idea how exciting this isfor me. I was really close to my dad, and with him being gone so long and topossibly figure this out means SO MUCH to me!!!
I can't thank you enough for your help!!!
John Henry said:
Cindy, the vid is taking forever to load, and I need to get to bed (will no doubt be up a few times In the night ) but I have just looked at your latest pics and I would be prepared to bet folding money on yours being a 'kissin cozin' to mine, almost certainly a hand made kit job !!! I don't know where Folkcraft are now, but they were in Winstead CT in '85, if they have moved then records may not have moved with them ?Will review things in the morning, if you think it worthwhile, contact me with a pm ? Exciting, ain't it !
John
Cindy Stammich said:
Hi Frank,
Do you still have the dulcimer? Just wondering if we could compare photos.
Thank you!
Frank Ross said:back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.
Mine is an hour glass shaped one - I'm not sure what models sold - will post a picture later
Cindy, the vid is taking forever to load, and I need to get to bed (will no doubt be up a few times In the night ) but I have just looked at your latest pics and I would be prepared to bet folding money on yours being a 'kissin cozin' to mine, almost certainly a hand made kit job !!! I don't know where Folkcraft are now, but they were in Winstead CT in '85, if they have moved then records may not have moved with them ?Will review things in the morning, if you think it worthwhile, contact me with a pm ? Exciting, ain't it !
John
Attached are a few more close up pictures of my treasure!
Attached are some close up pictures of my treasure!
Cindy, its late here, I am in my pj's, and my wife is asleep, so I am not working at my limited best ,lol, but am in the process of posting a terrible vid, if it works , i will leave it until you indicate that you have seen it, then delete. I will then endevour to take better pics which I will send to you via email, if you provide the necessary ?
John
Cindy Stammich said:
Hi John,
WELL! I am getting excited - I will post pictures shortly! The small slot underneath the head(scroll) and at the heel end are EXACTLY as you described! Also, the head/scroll and the fretboard are all one piece, and the head/scroll is a very shallow housing for the tuners.
Hmmmmmm
Thank you so much for the details!!!!!
I will post the pictures - please tell me what you think!
Cindy
John Henry said:
Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?
Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?
I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!
On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?
I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?
one of the other 'Johns'
Hi John,
WELL! I am getting excited - I will post pictures shortly! The small slot underneath the head(scroll) and at the heel end are EXACTLY as you described! Also, the head/scroll and the fretboard are all one piece, and the head/scroll is a very shallow housing for the tuners.
Hmmmmmm
Thank you so much for the details!!!!!
I will post the pictures - please tell me what you think!
Cindy
John Henry said:
Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?
Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?
I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!
On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?
I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?
one of the other 'Johns'
Hi John,
Well,a couple of others have said the same thing. I emailed some pictures to Folkcraft but they didn't seem to think that this was the case. I do have to wonder if maybe they didn't have picturesor info going back that far, as I know the company has changed hands.
I am still thinking this may be a Folkcraft.
Thank you for your input!
Cindy
John C. Knopf said:
Cindy, it could be a Folkcraft teardrop dulcimer kit.
Hi Frank,
Do you still have the dulcimer? Just wondering if we could compare photos.
Thank you!
Frank Ross said:
back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.
Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?
Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?
I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!
On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?
I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?
one of the other 'Johns'
Cindy, it could be a Folkcraft teardrop dulcimer kit.
back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.
I have a dulcimer that my dad built from a kit sometime between the mid-1970's and early 1980's. I don't know where the kit came from and I am not sure we could ever really figure out just when he built it, but I would love tofigure out where it came from. If anyone has any ideas about who may have sold kits I would really appreciate it. My dad passed away in 1991, so this dulcimer is truly a treasure.
Thank you 
It's a beauty. Please post a video so we can hear you playit! I agree that those sound holes may be sending a message.
Phil, it sure is pretty!!! I hope you can post a sound clip soon
Phil that is so wonderful, makes the heart all fuzzy thinking about it.
It is beautiful Phil and your right know one like dulcimer player as friends. I love baritones and can't wait to hear a vid to see how it sings.
This really is pretty, Phil (can I say that about a guy's dulcimer?)...and I hope the sound is just as lovely. I like the combination of the wood used. And, yes, the soundholes say, "Give Florida a try!".
Wow that is beautiful!
Keep strumming and smiling!!!
I don't think I can take another winter here in Indiana. Ken all I have to do now is get my wife to load up the car and I am there.
That's a nice looking instrument Phil. I am sure it sounds just like it looks. Thanks for sharing it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
There are a couple nice liveaboard boats availble just down the dock from me, guys...
Wow, that is a real beauty, Phil. Who made it? Yeah, I'm thinking of moving to FL myself.
I know some of you have been waiting to see what I got in the mail. Been having trouble with my SD card taking to my lap top or I would have had this up sooner. I tell I still can't believe it even though I have been playing on it everyday. One Baritone Dulcimer. I love the way she sings. she made of maple and walnut. think the two sound holes are trying to tell me its time to move south. I know there are a few dulcimer players in FL. hope these didn't come out to big..I am not promising anything. But I might try and post a video later so ya'll can hear it, I have been working on a song of my own. It just seemed to come out of this dulcimer. Just remember I tend not to do well in front of video camreas.
There are two versions of tab for "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" in DAd at the Everything Dulcimer Tab Archive .
But you can also do it in DAA. I just found it plucking around. Start 0-1-3-3 for "will the circle" and 5-4-3-5 for "be unbroken." The entire melody is found between the open A string and the 7th fret.
"tuners placed in a slot of neck"... ????? Are you taking about on a scroll head or a flat guitar-style head? Can you post a picture of an example?
Truly, most of the geared guitar-type tuners will fit "a slot in neck", and are available from Folkcraft, Stew Mac and most string instrument parts dealers.
