Forum Activity for @foggers

The mountain dulcimer is a late comer to my musical arsenal. I currently have two dulcimers: a four-string made by Johnie of Unicorn Woodworks out of mahogany and spruce, and a 6-string baritone dulcimette made by Ron Ewing out of walnut and western red cedar. I've also ordered an octave dulcimer from David Beede, ostensibly for my daughter to play.

I've played guitar for decades and currently have a Guild 6-string and a Seagull 12-string. I also have a mandolin, aviolin (which I don't play), several ukuleles (including two banjo-ukes), and two autoharps (a chromatic Oscar Schmidt and a diatonic Pawprint made by my uncle). There is a wide a variety of pennywhistles, recorders, and harmonicas lying around the house. I also have a limberjack and hope to get or make several more.

Hanging on our living roomwall is a rababa which I do not play but which was given to me by my daughter's pre-school teacher in appreciation for my many visits to the school with many of the instruments listed above. On the other side of the chimney hangs a dulci-gurdy, a hybrid dulcimer and hurdy-gurdy made by some luthier in Austin and given to me recently by an uncle. The dulci-gurdy is not really in playing condition, but maybe if I get some free time . . .

Finally, over the holidays I purchased an electric pianoso that my daughter can take piano lessons.

"That's enough!" my wife says. I smile andignore her.

Oh, and sometimes I sing, which causes the dogs in the neighborhood to howl in pain and my wife to scratch the blackboard to drown out my voice, which sounds like a combination of Bob Dylan and Mr. Magoo.

MD and its relatives

Lyre (pentatonic and diatonic)

Baltic Winged Psaltery (pentatonic and diatonic)

Pennywhistle

Scottish Bass Drum

Dumbek

I

Pauln addition to mt.dulcimer,I play guitar, 5 string banjo, harmonica, and ukulele. And sing.

Hmm...the Cassette is by Clarke, but the whistles that I have are a C and a D that have a logo that says Generation, and they are Brittish Made. Tin whistles with blue plastic for the mouthpiece.

I have a pair of tin whistles that I never learned to play. I think I picked up a flute at about the same time and I was concentrating on that for a summer. I still have the Clarke cassette tape, and the book must be around here somewhere, but I never see them both at the same time. 

I always put the whistles out for anyone to play when I have a music party, and my friend Stephanie always picks one up and starts with it. She can't practice at home because it drives her beloved bulldog, Mabel, totally nuts.

Perhaps I should just put in the cassette and grab one of the whistles and start playing.

Hello Kyle. I am originally from West Virginia (St Albans). I moved to Alabama in 2005 In pursuit of employment. I started playing the mountain dulcimer about 4 months ago. I'm finding it quite addictive. I've purchased two so far; a Bill Berg student model (DAD) and a Keith Young "youngster" (DAA). I have every intention of adding to that in the near future. I'm not very good yet but Improving. I hope to have audio/video recording capability in the very near future. Please keep me informed of your discoveries with your project.

Kyle,

I'd be interested in learning what you find in your research if you have opportunity to post any of it in future.

Good luck-- hope you learn lots!

Kyle,

A point I neglected to include in my earlier posting:

Lily McGee Ward Swick's (Kendra Ward's grandmother) dulcimer had been made for her about 1895. To quote from the Grimes Collection work: "So John Wright may have been the earliest known maker in this tradition." (61)

Here's a link to a 1955 photo of Mrs. Swick holding her dulcimer (posted by Kendra on EverythingDulcimer) that's included in the Grimes book:

http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14334&p=183850&hilit=Kenneth+Ward#p183850

Welcome, Kyle!

Although I am not not particularly knowledgeable about dulcimer history, the best source of information I know of on WV dulcimer history (and one with which you're likely familiar) is Gerry Milnes's Play of a Fiddle.

FOTMD member Kendra Ward's family has lived in Gallia County OH, an Ohio county bordering the river near Huntington, and she may be able to point you to some helpful source(s). On a related note, in Stories from the Anne Grimes Collection of American Folk Music, two southern Ohio makers are mentioned in a chapter that includes information on Kendra's father and grandmother-- the makers are a man named George Butcher who modeled his dulcimers after those of an earlier maker from Eno OH named John Wright.

Good luck and it's good to have you here, Kyle!

Hi Paul;

MERRY CHRISTMAS ... hope she's a plum good'un!

Folks got me a subscription to Outdoor Life when I was 9 years old. First stop was the last page. McManus had a gift that I doubt will ever be challenged... certainly not by me.

Thanks for the kind words.

Paul Certo said:

Between McManus & Zern, it's not your fault. You were destined to write this way, I gar-on-tee!There's 3 of my favorites already.

Paul

Between McManus & Zern, it's not your fault. You were destined to write this way, I gar-on-tee!There's 3 of my favorites already.

Paul

Morning Dana;

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

I remember Jerry Clower and Justin Wilson too. Read a lot of Pat McManus, Ed Zern and Will Rogers while growing up too. So you see ... this is not totally all my fault .......

... that's my story an' I'm stickin' to it ..............

Dana R. McCall said:

That was to funny! Better than Jerry Clower and I love his Ledbetter stories.

... weeeeel then I reckon I orta caution you to keep a close eye on yer tweezers ... Cousin Scooter's took to borrowin' Aunt Holly's to catch grampuses with an' they don't always get wiped off too good ... just thought you'd want to know ...

Evenin' Ma'am... ;)

Robin Thompson said:

Sam,

When I got to the part about Foo Foo being, uh, born breach, I laughed so loudly it caught my husband's attention. And it's still funny! And don't be making too much fun of Aunt Holly's moustache-- I'm working on growing a fine one. ;)

Like Paul said, a yarn can go on. . . :)

Have a good one, fellas!

Sam,

When I got to the part about Foo Foo being, uh, born breach, I laughed so loudly it caught my husband's attention. And it's still funny! And don't be making too much fun of Aunt Holly's moustache-- I'm working on growing a fine one. ;)

Like Paul said, a yarn can go on. . . :)

Have a good one, fellas!

My thanks to YOU Paul;

Just knowing that a couple of you have gotten a little chuckle from Uncle Burley or Turnup's Christmas has brightened mine considerably.

Blessings

Sam

Paul Certo said:

A good dinner only lasts until breakfast next morning, but a good YARN can go on fer years, and get better every time! Thanks, Sam.

Paul

A good dinner only lasts until breakfast next morning, but a good YARN can go on fer years, and get better every time! Thanks, Sam.

Paul

Thanks Mizz Robin ...

Uncle Burley, Th' Dame Grimmandower, Scooter and the whole gang from Posey wish you and everyone at FOTMD a very Merry Christmas.

(Oh ... and Aunt Holly was just fine once they got the giblets outta her moustache .................. )

( Robin Thompson said:

"Foo Foo was a breach!!!" LOL

Sam, I enjoyed the tale-- thanks for the posting. An entertaining Christmas dinner is a treat!

"Foo Foo was a breach!!!" LOL

Sam, I enjoyed the tale-- thanks for the posting. An entertaining Christmas dinner is a treat!

Guess Whos Coming To Christmas Dinner?

Yep Uncle Burley, now how did yall know?

Once Cousin Scooter had got big enough to run, hed took to runnin a right smart with Uncle Burley. After all, theys a lot a young feller could look up to in a well seasoned genaman like Uncle
Burley. (Even if the seasonin was closer to pickled!). Why Burley knowed ever
den tree on Hickry Flats and could spit durn near 20 foot without even a
runnin start.

These self same talents, however was lost on Ol Lady Grimmandower, Scooters prim but stern mother. She had little use for Burley Gillin or his bad habits
until th weasels came.

Aunt Holly Grimmandower had waged many a battle over th years to protect her fine coop of domineckers, not the least of which was that hushed up incident with Cousin Scooter that never quite got
hushed up. Shed whacked possums with hoe handles, snatched up black snakes by
th tail an bullwhipped their heads off an once even stared down a polecat
(an he aint never come back!). Weasels was differnt. They stalked th hen
house, come an went an the only trace was a few neck feathers. They come in
th night like hobos er Baptists an left with a fat hen. Aunt Hollys stock
of fryin pullets an layin hens was sufferin somthin fierce.

She tried to catch em stayed up many a night, just to have em come the one night she didnt. Shed fair wore the end off all th paper hulled 00 loads fer
Paps ol double from a loadin an unloadin the venerable side by side 12
guage. Finally Cousin Scooter put into words what Aunt Holly had known for some
weeks now.

Maw we gonna have to git Uncle Burley to trap them weasels.

I know son. I know siiiiiiiigh you skitter on over to that rascals shack an invite him up fer Christmas dinner. Reckon Ill roast yall a turkey. Ill have
a little crow to swaller mself. You tell him what I want him fer, an that th
dinners hissin yea er nay but if I know Burley Gillin, hed tackle a grizl
bear with a switch fer a slice of punkin pie. Aunt Holly was right, Burley
sent word back that hed be there an after dinner hed have a little parlay
with her over pie an coffee about them weasels.

As is fittin when in need, Dame Grimmandower met Uncle Burley at th door. Her watery eyed, French ankle biter Foo Foo peeped from beneath her full skirt and yapped
and yapped and yapped

It was right much of a struggle, but finally Scooters pack of coon hounds were swarped, kicked and otherwise persuaded to stay outside while Uncle Burley was ushered in an Foo Foo had him. Right by
the ankle.

grr, grr, grr, grr

no-no Foo Foo bad girl stop that!

Foo Foo was in heat an Burleys wooden leg smelled a lot like Spruceperrrrrrfect place to leave a little er invite

FOO FOO go to your box !

Well, good day Mr. Gillian. How good of you to come. Step into the dining room and take a seat whilst I fetch your supper.

Lands a Goshen, maam, hit shore smells good in hyear. Burleys mouth was waterin already.

Uncle Burley an Scooter pulled up to th dinner table an Aunt Holly went to th kitchen to bring in th turkey. Burley couldnt help but notice th fine table Aunt Holly had laid out particular
the large shiny spoons

Now Uncle Burley was right partial to spoons specially if they was played right an he considered hisself fair to middlin er maybe a might better specially if hed had a nip which he had

Folks the biggest difference in spoons marked Made in Japan an spoons marked German silver is probably bout seven dollars a spoon, but smacked agin Burleys
wooden leg boy did they ring! They sounded so good that as a broad smile broke
across Burleys scraggly jaw, he broke into an impromptu an highly animated,
rendition of Jambalaya.

As Burley found his rhythm with his good leg Scooter commenced a ifen into his fist.

eef a ife eefa eefa ife eefa eefa ife a ife.

Slobbers not withstandin th boy was purty durn good!!! As he whopped the big leg of his bibs with his free hand, the two of em let the music take em. Burley was almost to shoofly pie an that was
his favorite part them spoons was fair hummin,

trrrrrrrrrr ricky tic tic, tika, rickety, tic, tic, tika,tika,tika, trrrrrrrrrrrr tik

Burley was a keepin time with his good toe and jookin his head at the same time.

Foo Foo seen her chance.

The hairy lil fuzz ball sneaked across Aunt Hollys newly braided rug, sidled up to Burleys wooden leg an squatted. As the trickle turned into a stream down the side of Uncle Burleys brogan an
began to puddle on the rug Aunt Holly come through th door with th (German
silver) turkey platter!

What she seen was Scooter (did I tell yall what a fine boy hes a turnin out to be?) uh what she seen was Scooter head drawed plumb back twixt his boney shoulder blades, shakin all over, spittin
an a slobberin at th mouth bouncin on his chair and beatin hisself
alternately about the legs and chest

eef a ife eefa eefa ife eefa eefa eefa eefa EEEFA iiiiiiiiiiiiife

By now Burley was in that other place the place where Jim Ed Brown, Maxine an Bonnie strived to go th place Hank Sr. was a headin when his liver played out th place Elvis seen once at the end
of Love Me Tender eyes rolled up in his head ears laid back an them
fine German silver spoons Aunt Hollys granpa brung over on th boat was now
all but in-a-visible as Burley jooked an headed into the finale.

Jambo-lie, shoofly pie an nanner puddin.

DEEEEEMONS

Aunt Holly screeched, as th platter fell to th floor soundin like the symbols from the VFW Marchin Band. Th turkey splatted to the floor, and ricocheted toward the wall gathering speed and Foo Foo enroute.

Uncle Burley stopped playin right away he needed both hands to hang on to the German silver chandelier above the table.

Scooters chair turnt straight over backridge an alls you could see of him was bony ankle bones an tenner shoes sticking up over th table.

All this took place whilst Aunt Holly was a fallin to a swoon..

Doc Stokes place was at the mouth of the holler, so it didnt take him long to get there. Onct hed examined Aunt Holly an found nothin more serious than th vapors he popped open his little bottle
of smellin salts an she started to come around first thing that met Aunt
Hollys blurred vision was the beautifully browned an basted Christmas turkey
over in the corner. It was on its back, legs spread and appeared to be giving
birth Foo Foo was a breach! ! !

DEEEEEEEEEEMONS ! ! !

uh, here Dame Grimmandower take another snort, an Doc stuck th bottle under her nose agin.

Uncle Burley could see that shed probably had enough entertainment for th night an quickly climbed down from the chandelier an excused hisself. He figgered thingsd quiet down a might quicker
if he wasnt there when Aunt Holly was finally at herself. Probably was a good
idee too cept Uncle Burley stepped out on th porch amongst 13 ornry
coonhounds with fresh Foo Foo all over his leg.

.. folks they was a ruckus in th holler that night

Uncle Burley should have a new leg whittled out an harnessed up come spring Aunt Holly had Granny Wren in fer a day er two to roust out th DEEEMONS an Doc got the end of
Scooters tongue, what hed bit off laughin sewed back on purty neat

hope your Christmas dinner turns out a might better.

http://www.gilamountaindulcimers.com/clubs.htm

Try checking here for clubs in your area. Ukulele turn up at dulcimer jams, and at least from what I've seen, they are welcomed. Our club has a fiddle, guitar and sometimes a banjo. You can also talk to players and builders for ideas and see what the different playing styles are. Reading about it on here is OK, but seeing and hearing first hand is better.

Paul

Great advice from everyone!

Yes I agree with CD and Robin that it would be a great idea for you to buy an inexpensive student or cardboard dulcimer and get a little bit familiar with playing before you make decisions on how to build your first dulcimer.

Decent cardboard dulcimers can be less than $100 and good student wooden ones can be less than $200. Other members here can recommend excellent sources that are made with care and not just junk.

There will always be many little but important things you just don't think of at first if you've never played a particular instrument before.

Dear Dennis;

I'm only about a half step ahead of you in the learning process. Maybe not that much as you will most likely learn a lot faster than I have. I think CD has given some very good advice. I'm finding (in my experience) music theory AND mountain dulcimer theory. Like CD, in reflection, I would start with a little of the latter. A good student or quality cardboard dulcimer will not only give you a basic instrument to actually feel and hear it will also give you tons of knowledge about construction, construction methods, structural requirements and some insight on what you will need in tools and/or equipment to make a functioning fretboard/tuning head.

I was impulsive and wanted to whittle. I'm paying for that in lost time now. You'll get very good advice here. Read through everything you can. Weigh each response and try to be objective about the content and author. I'm finding that , for me, I wish I had started strumming with a good 3 string instrument with NO extra frets. I think starting there would have let me learn the tradition, the music, the instrument and the appreciation of all.

Most of all, enjoy the journey.

Hi Dennis,

Strumelia and Paul have offered some excellent advice, and from the sound of the music you like and your previous musical experience on uke then playing chord/melody and building a dulcimer with extra frets beyond pure diatonic is your most likely final outcome.

However, CD brings home a good point too. At present your decision making for your self-build is being based on just abstract theory and coedified knowledge. There is nothing wrong in that as a starting point but it will not give youthe complete picture or all the information you really need. I see from your profile that you have only just joined us and it looks like you do not presently have a dulcimer? So I would also suggest that you get hold of a very cheap student model, second hand or cardboard dulcimer and get a little "hands on" time. I think that such personal active experience and experimentation combined with the advice from here would really help you find a very comprehensive answer to your questions. Just a little time playing would give you invaluable additional knowledge to put toward the design and build of your own instrument.

I agree with Paul in that for the type of music Dennis wants to play, then 6 1/2 and a 1 1/2 frets would be extremely helpful. (and don't forget to include their counterparts in the next higher octave up, the 8 1/2 and 13 1/2 frets!).

Two thoughts come to mind from your post. You are mostly playing songs that require a certain amount of chords from outside the basic key the songs are written in. On a diatonic instrument, this requires a certain amount of alternate tuning to get the notes to make these chords, and also to play all the melody notes. Since you have these notes and chords available on your ukulele, you may want to go in a totally different direction with the dulcimer. Try playing more traditional dulcimer repertoire. You can use a true diatonic dulcimer, or go with extra frets. Much of this will be old folk songs. You can still play chords, or go to the real traditional styles using drones instead of chords.

On the other hand, since your tastes do run toward jazz and standards, you may want to look into some of the other tunings, and maybe a couple of extra frets. Th e6+ helps , but you will really want the 1+. You will also probably want to add the equivalent of both in the next octave, ie the 8+ and 13+. Players who like jazz and pop tunes often use a tuning such as DAC, or a four string tuning.

Here's more on the subject from a previous discussion, on another web site:

http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=25420

This can also be done on a diatonic dulcimer, you just need to find tunings that give you what you need. But you may have a few issues with finding keys you can sing in. I suggest finding keys on your ukulele, then decide what most common key you can sing in would be the best for your dulcimer, since the gauge of the strings will dictate that certain tunings/keys may not be compatible with certain gauges.

Paul

Hi Dennis, excellent question!

It must be confusing to see so much info of all kinds here and not knowing where/how to start.

Given the type of music you like to play (which likely includes jazz-based, stringband, & tinpanalley stuff), and your uke experience, it sounds to me like you'd do well getting started in playing the dulcimer in chord style, with some melody lines incorporated into that. This happens to also be the most common method of playing dulcimer these days, and thus there is a LOT of tab and chording materials out there available for you to explore.

Most people these days also seem to get started in the tuning of DAd... the first lower D being the heavy bass string. Sometimes it is written DAdd if you have double melody strings. The melody string(s) are tuned to the d an octave above the bass string, and the A on the middle string is tuned between the two d's.

When you are tuned DAd you will begin by playing in the key of D. You will thus need to learn the 3 basic chords for that key and how to finger them on your dulcimer. The chords are D (easy enough, all open strings strummed), G, and A. D, G, and A are your I, IV, V chords for the key of D.

Perhaps others have more or different suggestions, and maybe someone can point you to some online chord charts or simple chord style tabs to look over?

's about time ye got better, John!! A' the best!

Wow, John Henry, what a relief that you're home.

Welcome back and glad to hear that all is well, John.

John Henry said:

To all at FOTMD

I am home, after an exciting early morning ambulance ride nearly three weeks ago to the ccu in our local hospital, where, after due deliberation, and much prodding and poking, it was decided that my old ticker needed a couple of modifications and a bit of a tune-up. Not the best way to avoid doing the Christmas Shopping, but I am assured that I shall be as good as new now, I hope that someone has told my wife, LOL.

My grand daughter has tried to keep me informed of happenings on this site, and I was surprised and gratified to hear of the comments made by my friends, thank you, I will be in touch as some as I get back in the swing, just feel a bit drained as of now.

Its good to be back tho'

JohnHenry

Is it good to see you, John Henry! I confess to being jealous that you've been made good as new. :)

Take care and heal well, friend.

John Henry!!! So glad to see you are on the road to recovery. Really miss talking to you. I always look forward to our little banters back and forth. Rest up and take it easy for now. Your friend, Dana

John Henry said:

To all at FOTMD

I am home, after an exciting early morning ambulance ride nearly three weeks ago to the ccu in our local hospital, where, after due deliberation, and much prodding and poking, it was decided that my old ticker needed a couple of modifications and a bit of a tune-up. Not the best way to avoid doing the Christmas Shopping, but I am assured that I shall be as good as new now, I hope that someone has told my wife, LOL.

My grand daughter has tried to keep me informed of happenings on this site, and I was surprised and gratified to hear of the comments made by my friends, thank you, I will be in touch as some as I get back in the swing, just feel a bit drained as of now.

Its good to be back tho'

JohnHenry

Hi John,

I've heard that a little malt whisky is very good for thinning the blood after such a trauma - for purely medicinal purposes of course!

I hope you are back on your feet soon!!!

Welcome home, John. I don't mean to your house, I mean to FOTMD!

Yay! Welcome back John Henry!!!!