What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I sure am enjoying this thread. Hope it has a long and productive life, and many thanks to all who have posted so far.
Forum Activity for @flint-hill
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I sure am enjoying this thread. Hope it has a long and productive life, and many thanks to all who have posted so far.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dancing At Whitsun is a favorite of mine. Had a chance a few years ago to see the Hedge Row Crown in the Tower display of the English Crown Jewels. This year it wasn't there. When I asked a Gentleman Warder what happened to it, he was surprised that I even knew what a Hedge Row was and why they were important enough to be the base for a crown designed for the Queen.
Tim Hart's rendition of the song is just beautiful.
john p said:
Sad - Well, folowing Paul's suggestion above, the tune of 'The Week Before Easter' was used for a song called 'Dancing at Whitsun' and tells of the ladies left without their husbands and sweethearts who never returned from the Great War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9bH1XsWHgY
Spooky - Well Childe #6 is very 'Wierd', usually known as 'Willie's Lady', 'The Nine Witch Knots' or 'The Loaf of Wax'. This has it all, the cruelty of the Step Mother, the torment of the Bride, the resolutness of the Husband, the resourcefullness of the Faithfull Retainer ...
The Nine Witch Knots refers to the binding of one of the most terrible curses that could be laid on any woman.
Oddly, the tune usually used for this ballad(due to Ray Fisher) is a somewhat raucous and slightly maudlin cider drinking song from Brittainy.
john p
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sad - Well, folowing Paul's suggestion above, the tune of 'The Week Before Easter' was used for a song called 'Dancing at Whitsun' and tells of the ladies left without their husbands and sweethearts who never returned from the Great War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9bH1XsWHgY
Spooky - Well Childe #6 is very 'Wierd', usually known as 'Willie's Lady', 'The Nine Witch Knots' or 'The Loaf of Wax'. This has it all, the cruelty of the Step Mother, the torment of the Bride, the resolutness of the Husband, the resourcefullness of the Faithfull Retainer ...
The Nine Witch Knots refers to the binding of one of the most terrible curses that could be laid on any woman.
Oddly, the tune usually used for this ballad(due to Ray Fisher) is a somewhat raucous and slightly maudlin cider drinking song from Brittainy.
john p
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Beth, I just got another version of The Rolling of the Stones, the lyrics are a bit different than those I know but the tune is the same. In this version the pretty Susie doesn't charm the young man from his grave, because after receiving his fatal wound, no one buries him. They just take him to the woods and lay him on the ground. YUCK.
It's sung by Oscar Brand on the album recorded by Jean Ritchie, Oscar Brand and David Sear, title "A Folk Concert In Town Hall, New York". I got it from iTunes.
folkfan said:
I'm working on a tab for it, but my tabs are simple melody lines with the lyrics with no chords. At the moment I'm working from two slightly different SMN melodies and trying to get them to fit the music I have playing from a third source. Usually after going through the process of adding and subtracting notes I end up with a final tab. When I get there, I'll put it up.
Beth Hansen-Buth said:
I love unusual ballads! Would you happen to have TAB or lyrics with chords that you'd care to share for this one?I'm intrigued...
folkfan said:The Rolling of the Stones. An unusual ballad in that it actual deals with magic and spelling.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'm working on a tab for it, but my tabs are simple melody lines with the lyrics with no chords. At the moment I'm working from two slightly different SMN melodies and trying to get them to fit the music I have playing from a third source. Usually after going through the process of adding and subtracting notes I end up with a final tab. When I get there, I'll put it up.
Beth Hansen-Buth said:
I love unusual ballads! Would you happen to have TAB or lyrics with chords that you'd care to share for this one?
folkfan said:The Rolling of the Stones. An unusual ballad in that it actual deals with magic and spelling.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I love unusual ballads! Would you happen to have TAB or lyrics with chords that you'd care to share for this one?
I'm intrigued...folkfan said:
The Rolling of the Stones. An unusual ballad in that it actual deals with magic and spelling.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Every song I play is mournful and spooky, at least according to my wife. :-)
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Pretty Polly -- Dock Boggs .
Wife of Usher's Well, either by Hedy West or M&E Carthy . Two different songs, really.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
The Rolling of the Stones. An unusual ballad in that it actual deals with magic and spelling.
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
"The Week Before Easter" which I picked up from the first Robin and Barry Dransfield album, The Rout of the Blues, which I got in 1971. I started working on it when I got my dulcimer in 1974. It's about unrequited love - what else? The last Verse goes (here's the beginning and ending), "Go dig me my grave ... and that's the best way to forget her."
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dacre's Gone to the War - originally the 1820 lyrics called The Laird of Gilsland - tune by Maddy Prior
Peace on the Border by Rick Kemp
Both are on the album Fyre & Sworde - songs of the Border Reivers by Fellside Recordings and friends...
What's your favorite mournful, spooky, or lonesome song to play?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
It's October. The days are growing shorter, leaves are falling, pumpkin's on the vine, and the chilly winds are kickin' up, so....
Of all the sad, lonesome, spooky, mournful, ominous, plaintive, or mysterious songs and tunes that get played on dulcimers....which is your favorite one, and why?
(Limiting answers to between 1-3 songs at most will keep it more interesting- I'm not really looking for people to post long lists of all the ones they like- just tell us your real favorites!)
updated by @strumelia: 02/09/25 10:37:40PM
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Someone else suggested I could make her into a clock...but I'm not ready to start the Frankenstein process on her.
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
That's a lovely idea! I might pull it out from time to time to remind myself as well.
Strumelia said:
I think you should write a little note that tells of the joy she brought to you and fold it up and put it inside the autoharp. Not only would it honor the instrument, but someone might find it 50 years from now, who knows? and that would be really lovely. I once wrote a message inside the closet of an apartment I left, on the old wallpaper way in a corner, saying how some of the happiest times of my life were spent there in that apartment. I like to think someone will find it there one day and read it.
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
I think you should write a little note that tells of the joy she brought to you and fold it up and put it inside the autoharp. Not only would it honor the instrument, but someone might find it 50 years from now, who knows? and that would be really lovely. I once wrote a message inside the closet of an apartment I left, on the old wallpaper way in a corner, saying how some of the happiest times of my life were spent there in that apartment. I like to think someone will find it there one day and read it.
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Thanks Strumelia, I just needed to share what has happened with other musicians, who have that same bond with their instrument. She sits on the stand that I just bought for her a couple of months ago in my office/music room. I'm normally the type to get rid of broken things, but she's my first Autoharp so I will keep her. She holds an honored place in my life and so will be on display as a reminder of all that I've learned and the wonderful experiences music has brought to me over the past two years.
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Beth I like that story. Often we gush about buying new instruments, but we seldom talk about the instruments that either 'died' or linger in our closets. Everything and everyone has a lifespan, and coming to terms with that can help us appreciate what we are doing today.
Autoharp Adventures...Life & Death of an Instrument
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Once upon a time I bought an autoharp. I was inspired to do so after seeing my friend Becca play one in a gig at a small coffee house. She told me to look for one with fine tuners, and so my quest began. I found one on Ebay, and Oscar Schmidt Appalachian model, and I bought it. I was so excited to get my Autoharp, I couldn't have been happier when I got home and saw the package waiting for me. It was the middle of July 2009, I named her Becca after my friend who so inspired me.
A couple of months laterI took it in to have strap pegs put in at Homestead Pickin' Parlor , they noticed that 1) the instrument was hot from sitting in my car, and 2) the sound board had sunken underneath the chord bars. The supports had given way because of the heat. Whether that happened on that day, or when the instrument was sitting on the steps waiting for me to come home I do not know. I did know it would be more than the cost of the instrument to try and fix the problem.
So I went ahead and played her for the next two years, keeping her in tune and out of hot cars. During that time I began a tradition of having Music Circle Parties in my home each Spring and Autumn, and we've had wonderful times together, my Becca and I. Butthese past few monthsit has been going out of tune more and more until finally I cannot get it in tune at all. Upon close examination I found cracks at the corner of the High C fine tuner, with the soundboard caved sharply in. It finally gave way, may she rest in peace.
I purchased my mountain dulcimer this past May after becoming obsessed with the little instrument due to YouTube. I'm very careful with her indeed. I will get another Autoharp one day, but not for a while. I have my lovely Ginger...my mountain dulcimer...to get to know and share with my friends in my music parties.
updated by @beth-hansen: 01/15/16 12:04:30PM
It's possible the strings aren't putting enough tension against the head. The angle they make from the bridge to the tailpiece where thy mount has to be steep enough to provide a certain amount of tension. This also applies to any other stringed instrument as well as banjammers. A taller bridge might do the job, if it doesn't make the strings too high to play well.
Paul
Nice looking instrument! Hmmmm. If it's dead sounding I would suspect something pressing up against the head from the inside. You didn't leave a sock inside there before your screwed the head down; did you? Is the tension on the head adjustable? If so you may have it too loose. Just a couple thoughts on a Sunday afternoon....
CD,
I got my Cripple Creek dulcimer in '07. It has a strum hollow. It's a kit, butI don'tthink that would be different from the others they make, because it is a kit?
CD said:
Emails have been sent to the appropriate parties. The proverbial horses mouth will tell all. With that said the Cripple Creek does not have a strum hollow as you know it in say a McSpadden or most dulcimers. Can you post a picture? The Cripple Creeks I have had all were the same height as the fretboard throughout the strum hollow.
CD
The two never were the same as far as I know. Bud & Donna Ford started Cripple Creek - in Manitou Springs, CO - long before I first visited their shop and fell in love with dulcimers in the early 70s. I believe at one time though, they made "private label" dulcimers that were sold in Branson.
Ask Bud & Donna - they're still in Manitou Springs, CO. Drop them a note at
I know that Cedar Creek makes the T.K. O'Brien dulcimers. I know absolutely nothing about Cripple Creek. Walnut Creek=Walnut Classic...same instrument, however the last time I looked, the "TK" version listed on the Craggy Mountain website actually sells for a tad cheaper. Call Troy Heard at Cedar Creek...he's a great guy and will be more than happy (I'm sure) to solve your unsolved mystery. Hope this helps a little.
updated by @john-keane: 02/15/16 02:19:03AM
Whit, glad to hear you enjoy those dulcimers and play them every day.
As for your equal-tempered friends- I like to tell my Brian this: "I'm really glad you're not perfect, 'cause if you were you'd make me look bad!"
Whit Whitfield said:
P.S.-Most ofmy friends don't notice we are not quite in tune, but one are two lately have mentioned it which led to to my question.
Whit, those two luthiers are experts in placing frets at the proper intervals. Both have built dulcimers using 'Just temerament' for placing the frets, as Ken said- which means they were designed to sound best when not played chord style, and when tuned in ionian mode, which for the key of D would be DAA, not DAd. Try playing retuning them to DAA, and then play them using a noter and fretting the melody string(s) only- then tell us if they sound out of tune that way.
If they sound nice that way, then that's official- they'd be 'just temperament'-fretted dulcimers. you could sell them as 'traditional' just-tempered dulcimers and buy a dulcimer that is better suited for you. There are folks out there who'd like buying a just-tempered traditional dulcimer, and I think it'd be a better solution than sending them to have all their frets pulled and a new fingerboard installed with equal-tempered fret placement. Dulcimers by those two makers are sought after so you'd get a fair price I'm sure- with which you could buy a real nice custom new dulcimer made just the way you'd like it! :)
Both of those builders used Just Temperament, not Equal Temperament, although Keith today will make you an instrument whichever way you want. I do not believe that Keith Young ever made and sold an instrument which was not as perfectly fretted as he could possibly make it.
I would suggest to you that there is absolutely nothing wrong with those dulcimers. It's just that they were never made to play with other instruments or be tuned and compared with a hyper-accurate electronic tuner.
IMHO you should not try to "fix" anything, as there is nothing to fix. To "fix" what you see as a problem would require replacing all of the frets, preferably by replacing the entire fretboard.
IMHO if you do not care for the sound of those dulcimers, you should sell them as Just Temperament instruments, or simply not play them with other instruments and enjoy them as they were intended to be played.
Both good makers from what I know, and not really that old, so sounds like something needs to be done about the action, as Ken said.
The Nickel and Dime test is to check the height of the strings over the frets.
You should be able to just slide a Nickel under the string at the 7th fret, and a Dime should just slide under the string next to the 1st fret.
You will need to check the fretboard has stayed flat before going any further, but it could be easilly fixable.
john p
Whit, yes it's totally ok to sell instruments here on FOTMD- you must do it in our For Sale Forum howver- just start a new discussion/thread for an item you wish to sell. You can freely give pricing and all details in that thread. I recommend that you fully describe any problems the instrument might have and offer detailed photos if possible.
Are the bridges in the right place(or movable). The distance from nut to 7th fret should be very close to half the VSL.
There is an old guitar makers fret spacing based on 'The Rule of 18' that produces a slightly flattened scale.
I have a calculator somewhere that generates such scales if you want to check (requires a lot of measuring).
It will also do Equal and Just temperament if you want to check those as well.
Otherwise, it's probably what Ken says, or some combination of problems.
john p
"Not spaced properly" - if they are old dulcimers they might be intonated with just temperament spacing not equal temperament fret spacing, which was very common in the Olde Dayes.
How old is "old"?
Are the actions higher than "nickel-dime" That is a common cause of going flat as you walk up the fretboard, and was also common with older dulcimers...
Can you tell us who were the builders of these "old dulcimers". Even some more modern builders used just temperament into the 1980s.
Yes it's OK to post instruments for trade or sale - as long as you do it in the Instruments for Sale forum...
Muscle Memory?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but for me, a waist is a terrible thing to mind!
Paul
Muscle Memory?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
See!!! I even got the DRD wrong. I just happend to see that. And replied to that on Friday. See that? CRS or DRD is a terrible thing.
Muscle Memory?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
DDR, I like that one. Guess it means all the same thing. Just put a different way. And it's always best to listen to your mother...
folkfan said:
Heck I've always suffered from CRS then. One of my high school teachers told me I had a Swiss cheese for a brain. This particular instructor couldn't ever figure out what I could or would be able to remember. I knew what I could learn, I just couldn't remember what it was. But back then I called it DRD or Don't Remember Diddlysquat.
My mother would never have let me use that "other" word. ;-)
Jim Fawcett said:CRS occurs for me just about everyday, folkfan. It's an on going thing and I just have to deal with it. I know that alot of people have it and don't want to admit to it. It's "Can't Remember Sh--".
So if you have it, it's best to come out of the closet and admit it. You'll feel so much better.