Forum Activity for @folkfan

New instrument from OVG

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I just bought the sweetest little 21 inch long dulcimer. It's a 3 string cherry with a 17 inch VSL. The sound box is a trapezoid sort of shape with the bottom width being only 3 1/2 inches across and the top is the width of the fret board. There's no makers label so I can tell you who made it. I just tuned it down from DAA to CGG to see how the sound changes and it really sounds sweeter in C. It has all unwound strings, probably 16 on the bass and 12/or 14 for middle and melody

And the best thing of all is that it fits in my carry on bag, so when I go to the UK, I will have a dulcimer with me. With zither pin tuners, I'm going to have to invest in some spare clock keys in case I lose my goose neck. And the prototype possum board that Dave made years ago, is just the right size for this little baby.

Hoping to get some photos of it posted soon. Now I have to go make a carry bag for it. I think I'll use a quilted plaid I have. That some how seem appropriate.

I'm thinking of calling her "Candy" as she's a sweet little bit and really bounces through songs like "Coulter's Candy".

updated by @folkfan: 02/27/19 07:58:32PM

Dusty Turtle said:

There is a group here at FOTMD entitled "I have extra frets," which sounds like the opening line of a 12-step group: "Hello, my name is Dulci and I have extra frets. I knew I had a serious problem when after getting a 1-1/2 fret one day I was banging on my luthier's door at 4:00 AMbegging for more."

I got a good laugh out of that

john p

Hi Tony,

John P has this right. I believe the 6-1/2 or 6+ fret became common in the 70s and is almost standard now, to the point that a dulcimer that does not have that extra fret will usually be labeled explicitly asa "true diatonic."

The 1-1/2 or 1+ fret is the next most common "extra" fret. It is useful for blues, as John P states, because it gives you the lowered third, the most important of the so-called "blue" notes. But it has other uses as well, most notably the ability to play the 7th chord of the I and IV and also a wider variety of minor chords.

Two of Bing Futch's recent Dulcimerica videos examine the 1-1/2 fret in depth, so if you want to see what can be done with that extra fret, give those videos a look.

I've seen some folks who have added a 4-1/2 fret, and Ron Ewing convinced me to put not only a 1-1/2 but also a 1/2 (0+?)fret on my dulcimette, the logic being the greater number of chords that could be played. I'll be honest, though, although I use the 1-1/2 fret often, I have not yet begun to explore the .5 fret (or however you designate it).

Traditionalists will argue with some pursuasiveness that once you begin adding extra frets, the dulcimer ceases to be a dulcimer and becomes something closer to a guitar or mandolin.

There is a group here at FOTMD entitled "I have extra frets," which sounds like the opening line of a 12-step group: "Hello, my name is Dulci and I have extra frets. I knew I had a serious problem when after getting a 1-1/2 fret one day I was banging on my luthier's door at 4:00 AMbegging for more."

These extra frets have been added to increase the flexability of the instrument when it's in the hands of more modern players.

The pure diatonic scale is a bit restrictive if you play outside of the older traditional style, but that's not to say you can't play in the traditional manner if they have been fitted.

Most common is the 6+ fret, one of it's immediate effects is to allow you to play the Major scale starting at the open string as well as the more normal 3rd fret you would be restricted to on a pure diatonic instument.

In fact many makers now add the 6+ as a matter of course, and only supply a pure diaonic scale to order, used to be the other way about.

The other common extra is the 1+, used by blues players I believe.

After that I think most players would go to a fully chromatic fretboard.

john p

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Should have added Sea Chanteys to my list.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I play mostly hymns now, they're just easier for me to play for some reason.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I love Appalachian fiddle tunes!

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like to play primarily original and improvisational stuff.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Favourite would be folk ballads I guess, anything that tells a story.
I like a good dance tune as well but my playing style is not always up to speed on some of them.
I often have current favourites too, something I've just discovered and can't leave alone for a while.

Or I'll get into a particular mode and find a few favourites that get played to death until I retune. I'm on Aeolian at the moment and playing 'Son Ar Chistr' a lot(Breton cider drinking song), also part of some Spanish tune that's really well known but can't remember the name of.

john p

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My favorite is John Stinson's # 2

But I just found the words to Harrison Town and I am currently mesmerized by that tune too. :)

Best wishes,

Mary Z. Cox

www.maryzcox.com

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like to play most anything on my MD. I have very eclectic tastes in music. Everywhere from Celtic to Hard Rock, but Celtic and very old time Appalachian music is what sounds "right" to me on the dulcimer. Good thread!

Scott

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Scottish, Irish, and English folk songs. Especially the old ballads and songs of historical uprisings etc.

If it mentions Bonnie Prince Charlie, it is probably in my TAB or on my to be tabbed list.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Folk music, both US and British Isles. Modern folk styles tunes. Shape note and Shaker hymns. Celtic music. Grateful Dead songs.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Celtic, Olde Tyme, English & American Folk

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like a large variety, but more old time and fiddle tunes than any other kind. I prefer to sing, so a lot of other stuff turns up. I've been known to play bluegrass, Hawaiian or rock as well.

Paul

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Appalachian old-time fiddle tunes for me! Hope I'll be able to play 'em 'til the day I die!

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I love to play the old-time tunes and fiddle tunes, with a little bluegrass thrown in. I like the tunes my dad played such as Evelina, Seeing Nellie Home, Home Sweet Home, Cripple Creek, Cluck Old Hen. I have written several tunes that I like to play too....and... I love old gospel hymns. I guess I tend to like the older melodies rather than the modern ones.

Dulcerina-

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well ... since I don't actually play, I have substantial limitations. I can strum the melody to a few tunes and so that's where I am. I like older folk tunes. I guess the standards are what I most want to play ... Shady Grove, Old Joe Clark, things like that.

I enjoy listening to almost everything and really hope to improve to the point that I'll be able to actually play a few songs all the way through.

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm not talking about what playing styles people use, but rather what kinds of tunes and songs you like to play most on your mountain dulcimer....?

What do you like to play most often?-

jazz, old English/Appalachian ballads, countrywestern, blues, traditional hymns, modern popular music, American folk songs from the 1940's-60's, original compositions, fiddle tunes, childrens songs, classical music, rock music, trad Irish/Celtic music, medieval, or some other kind of tunes....?

Tell us what kind of music you mostly like to play! I'd love to hear what people are most into on their dulcimers these days.

You can list your several favorite types, too. But if you say you like to play them ALL, ...then that's not really listing your 'favorites', is it?- so please, tell us your favorite types of music to play- maybe pick between 1-4 types maximum if possible.

updated by @strumelia: 08/03/23 03:26:40AM

Carol I'm very happy to hear that. Every time i have wooden pegs on an instrument and they refuse to work well for me, I have found that Peg Drops makes the pegs behave very nicely- just one drop does the trick every time for me!

If only more folks would try that rather than immediately changing the wooden pegs out for mechanical at the first sign of trouble.

Paul- all the old-time fiddlers I know have fine tuners on their fiddles...and I do know many fiddlers.

Violins with steel strings usually have fine tuners, those with nylon or gut strings seem to do just fine with the friction pegs. Nylon/gut seem more forgiving than steel, since steel has very little stretch. A slight turn and steel jumps from flat to sharp. But a big part of the tuning problem is experience-we get good at what we practice. In time, I believe any player can get the feel for friction tuners. I eventually got pretty good with the 5th string peg on my first banjo, but over time it would loosen and need the screw tightened. After a number of years I had had enough of not knowing when it would jump out of tune and had it replaced with a geared peg. Violin pegs are tapered to fit a tapered hole, 5th string pegs on a banjo are straight, and require tension on the knob to stay in place. They are a lot less stable than tapered pegs, in my experience. Try the peg compound and see if that helps.

I can't recall seeing fine tuners on a fiddle, just on school violins. Any fiddlers care to comment?

Paul

I fully agree with Maestro Pedi (Hi Don!). I would not convert a Mize dulcimer from wooden pegs to other tuners. Converting that dulcimer will seriously impact it's resale value. Buy another dulcimer instead.

It's a simple matter to adjust wooden peg holding ability as Don & Lisa have said. I own a vintage 3 string with violin pegs, and it tunes at least as accurately as my mechanical pegged dulcimer, and just about as quickly once I learned how to properly tune with them. As Don said - if wooden pegs are such bad tuners, why do violins continue to be made with them.

Yep i have used a tiny dab of crumbled or powdered rosin on pegs that slip too much too. Just a tiny bit! But nowadays I like to use one drop of "Peg Drops" (google the brand name)- which is a liquid that I believe contains rosin as well. That works really well for me!

Thanks, Strumelia, I'll look around as much as I can without joining. Right now I want my focus on dulcimer and guitar and bass guitar. As my reply in the multiple instruments discussion shows it's too easy to "go off in all directions."

Strumelia said:

Lois, their seems to be a group for beginners over there, called Pstudents:

http://psalterystrings.ning.com/groups

Maybe that's the group for beginner psaltery players that Grace referred to.

Lois, their seems to be a group for beginners over there, called Pstudents:

http://psalterystrings.ning.com/groups

Maybe that's the group for beginner psaltery players that Grace referred to.

Hi Grace, I don't see any other conversation -- a lot of photos, but not an actual group on the bowed psaltery. Maybe everybody just went over to the group dedicated to psalteries?

I haven't played mine in an age and don't really want to while I immerse myself in learning the dulcimer. I do feel guilty, though, at leaving it unloved. There's another reason I'm ignoring it. Maybe you and any other psaltery folks can help me. I broke a string and need to replace it, but know it will mean tuning all those strings! I have an electronic tuner, but found it is affected by where I place it on the psaltery. It will be a long slow time with the skate key style tuner. May even need to replace a few more strings. Sure hope not.

Any words of wisdom? Nagging me to get it done? Whatever.

...and here is a link to the online community just for bowed psaltery players!:

http://psalterystrings.ning.com/
updated by @strumelia: 02/16/16 09:10:39AM

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That looks like so much fun! (I've only watched the first video and will watch the second one some other time-- line speed tonight's not all that great.) It was impressive that so many people knew what they were doing-- and if they didn't they made it look good.

It'd be neat to learn to dance. I was raised in a church where dancing was a no-no. I learned lots of great hymns, though. And I wish I could dance. Maybe someday!

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

... tried it though, d'in ya ? ?

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Just what I need Sam, a cheap high (hey those days are over for me!)...like I didn't get dizzy enough out there on the dance floor!

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

heheh heh ... wanna cheap high??? Click 'play' on the first video ... wait 20 seconds and click 'play' on the second video ..... MUWAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH . ! ! !

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I once saw Mr. Doug Kershaw perform "Lousiana Man" on the Ed Sullivan show. His unique style with his 'fiddle', his mellow voice (capable of reaching wonderful AAYYYYYY - EEEEEEEEEEEE's when called upon) and the rhythmic time kept by his feet were memorable. I have looked for that video particulary to revisit the accompanying beat he kept with his feet. I cannot emphasize enough how much it enhanced that performance.

Instruments? Yes in this case, I think so.

Wonderful perspective Lisa.

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Here is what I was doing all this past Saturday, at the Dance Flurry in Saratoga NY, 2011.

(I actually was amongst the dancers in both these two videos, but I'm not really visible.)

I had a heck of a good time, but as expected, I was sore for 3 days after arriving there at 10am and leaving after midnight, dancing most of that time. I must have danced for about 10-12 hours Saturday. I took classes in Norwegian, Swedish, and Italian village dances, but mostly did contra dancing in between, like the two contra dances shown here. The second clip shows a really cool two-person band with digiridoo, the first band is more typical.

talk about your major exercise ! My poor feet the next day...

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Well I guess dancing falls within percussion instruments in this 'other instruments' forum.

updated by @strumelia: 02/25/20 04:19:33PM

How to Write a Love Song (humor)

OFF TOPIC discussions

These guys do for love songs what a documentary of bologna-making would do for eating bologna! lol

How to Write a Love Song (humor)

OFF TOPIC discussions

I thought this was really funny.

(Warning: lyrics contain the 'sh' word, but nothing worse.)

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5f0cf25368/how-to-write-a-love-song
updated by @strumelia: 01/13/19 05:09:18PM

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Oh no...he would surely bend the rules in his favor! He's a crafty sort (and one to keep an eye on) for sure.

Robin Thompson said:

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John,

I'm afraid you're on your own with this one! Perhaps you & John K should arm wrestle to settle this.
John Henry said:

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WHO..... ME ? What have I done? (except use a noter !) I try to help people where possible......... sometimes complement them on their dress sense......... always apologise for my inept use of the computer, and yet get landed with the troublemaker label !!! I really must find out who the moderators on this site are.........!

JohnH

updated by @john-henry: 07/26/15 01:53:09PM

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Ann, it's a joy to see folks learning about and making homemade music!