FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Strumelia, that is not really you is it? Tho' I suppose the hunk of pie might just be a link!! And party time is nearly with us................John
Forum Activity for @john-henry
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Strumelia, that is not really you is it? Tho' I suppose the hunk of pie might just be a link!! And party time is nearly with us................John
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Hey you guys are starting to embarrass me! 
(but thanks!)Remember, FOTMD stands for friends (plural) of the mountain dulcimer. It's not about me- this place would be pretty dull with just me here! 
We should all pat ourselves on the back for making this place special. It's so great to have this little shack where any of us can just stop in anytime, sit on the porch to cool our heels, swap stories, work out some tunes, show some snapshots, and cut ourselves a hunk o' 1 year anniversary pie in the kitchen...
updated by @strumelia: 07/23/19 07:43:33PM
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Dusty Turtle: . . .I assume we have simply taken on the personality of our beloved founder, Strumelia. . .I haven't felt quite like myself for the past several months so this would explain a lot. . .
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Dusty Turtle said:
Yes, Strumelia is a sweetheart!Thanks, Strums for all you do for us.Happy Anniversary.Michael Vickey www.goodfornuthin.com. . . I assume we have simply taken on the personality of our beloved founder, Strumelia, who continues to nurture us with her knowledge and love of traditional music and those who like playing it.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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I know many of you can't believe FOTMD is already one-year-old, but I can't believe it is only one year old! I just assumed when I joined that you folks had been discussing dulcimer-related issues for years and I was crashing a long-standing party. It is amazing how quickly a sharing and considerate online community has been formed. There is so much anger and venom on discussion boards all over the Internet that it is a joy to come to FOTMD to find kind-hearted, friendly, and encouraging people with whom to share a musical passion.I assume we have simply taken on the personality of our beloved founder, Strumelia, who continues to nurture us with her knowledge and love of traditional music and those who like playing it.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Ditto for me on all expressions of congratulations on your hard work and excellent contribution to the dulcimer world, Lisa. joe zankowitz said:
Thanks Lisa for all you great work, you are special.
Joe
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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I'm really greatful to be a part of this movement. THANKS Lisa.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Thank you Lisa, and self sufficient for a year to boot!JohnH
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Lisa, you've really created a good thing in your efforts here at FOTMD.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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rah rah... yeah.. way to go.. does that mean it's PARTY time again..
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Yup, Ken!FOTMD is the place to come for cool dulcimer music on the internet. Ken Hulme said:
Ya done GOOD, girl!
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Coming up on July 29th 2010.....Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY .
How can it be ?? Seems like just a few short months ago.
And as if that weren't exciting enough....
likely in August a week or two right after that, we will reach 1000 MEMBERS . Amazing! 
updated by @strumelia: 05/21/24 07:59:39PM
love the idea
Diane in Chicago said:
I know this thread has gone quiet, but thought I'd chime in late. I mark my fretboards with a 1/4" punch from a medium weight guitar pick. They come in lots of colors and you make the punch with the old office hole puncher you have laying around. The newer punchers are often made of softer metal and can easily be bent out of shape.
I drill the 1/4" hole in the fingerboard with a Forstner bit so it is nice and flat on the bottom. A drop of gel super glue holds in in place. I use a credit card or a business card to tap it flush with the surface of the fingerboard. Do not use your fingers, you'll never get it in straight and even that way.
This is an admittedly down-scale material, but my instruments are made from discarded tobacco containers, so they match, aesthetically and price-wise.
Bill
I have always inlaid mine and set them in an epoxy putty. I always do inlays before frets so that the board can be truly leveled. I usually use a M.O.P. dot, ocasionally Paua shell or box wood, or other contrast hard wood and once for fun some tiny pearl shirt buttons.
I have seen old coins with appropriate dates used and cut coins such as the irish hare, the farthing wren etc.
It is up to you, whatever floats your boat! 
Beginning violinists are often given fret markings, in the form of bright colored 1/8" wide tape. Check with a music store that rents student level instruments for the tape. A lot of household tapes may be hard to remove, or leave glue behind. Masking tape is designed to be removed easily, as long as it doesn't stay on too long. Over time, it becomes very hard to remove cleanly, and leaves glue behind. If you use masking tape, remove it every few days and put a fresh piece next time you play. Stay away from duct tape, cellophane tape, electrical tape friction tape, etc. You might try the plastic static clings people use to decorate windows. I never tried it, but it might stick well enough. There's no glue on it to cause trouble.
Paul
Paul
Thanks Robert. I agree as to developing a mental image of the fretboard. I'm just temporarily thrown off with the addition of that 1 1/2 fret and I hoped a marker on the 2nd fret would help me get accustomed to that new fret until my mind automatically 'saw' it. That's why I only wanted something temporary. As it is now, I had no markers put on my Blue Lion because I didn't want to be dependent on them as you wrote. I just need something temporary that won't damage my beautiful fret board. Thanks again Robert .......... Barb
I add markers at the 3,7,10 position. And I place a marker at the 6fret on 6.5 instruments. I find markers look nice some can be quite artyfarty but having too many becomes a distraction. If you play a traditional diatonic dulcimer you develop a mental image of the fretboard and don't need markers.... To each his own... Bob.
I had a 1 1/2 fret installed recently and I'm getting thrown seeing it when I play and it makes me hesitate when finding frets 2 & 3. I know I'll get used to it eventually but, for now, it's really throwing me off. Until I can wrap my eyes/mind around this new addition, I'd like to put a few fret markers in place. Can anyone suggest something temporary that I can use to do that without damaging my fretboard? Thanks for any suggestions.
I think that with chromatically fretted instruments (guitar, mandolin, banjo, chromatic dulcimer, etc) position dots are very useful.But they become less needed on dulcimers that have diatonic (or semi-diatonic) long/short fret spacing patterns. The diatonic fret spaces become 'markers' themselves. One easily gets accustomed to getting their visual bearings from the fret spacings.Which is not to say that people can't enjoy having fret markers anyway, for whatever reasons both practical and/or aesthetic.
There is no standard for position dots on dulcimers. But there are good reasons to put dots in certain places:Frets 3 and 10 - mark the start and end of the DAA octaveFret 4 marks where you fret the bass string to tune the As for DAAFret 7 marks end and start of the DAd octave.Since most builders these days only install 14 frets, you don't really need to mark the end of the second DAd octave.I don't know why you would mark the 5th fret. It's not the start/end of a Mode scale or a tuning mark that I can think of.
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/14/16 07:40:57PM
Neat, Diane-- I'd love to see the exhibit! And I'd like to grab a bow and play the "Hybrid Dulcimer" just for fun.
updated by @robin-thompson: 02/16/16 12:30:20AM
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Two more possibles just for fun DdAA and DdAd
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks ken. That's what I thought too or DDDD ,I love that Galax tuning also thought about DADD with one of the bass strings being D and one an A. Ken Hulme said:
If there is no 6+ fret, I would tune DAA and play melody-drone or noter & drone style.
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
If there is no 6+ fret, I would tune DAA and play melody-drone or noter & drone style.
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks greg. Rod sent me thie articleand that is the exact one I got. Intonation was reAally bad. Asked Ralph lee smith about fixing it and he said that since it wasn't older than 50 yrs old it would be ok. I will keep it for playing traditional style. It is 4 equal string with the outer two strings on the bass side being bass strings. Don pedi said they often were on the older traditional dulcimers. Forgot to ask about the tuning. It came in a custom wooden box built in 76 and never touched. Got it for $50. What a find. Great craftsmanship, wonderful design and voice. It's at mcspaddens now trying to get it a little closer to right on intonation . Greg Gunner said:
Linda,
You may want to refer your friend to the following website. It has some background information on John Maxwell, including an estimate of the current value of one of his dulcimers.
http://www.planetdulcimer.com/vintage/john_maxwell.html
Greg
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Linda,You may want to refer your friend to the following website. It has some background information on John Maxwell, including an estimate of the current value of one of his dulcimers. http://www.planetdulcimer.com/vintage/john_maxwell.html Greg
Anybody know this builder? John Maxwell
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I got a call yesterday from a lady in my area who saidshe had a dulcimer bought in 1976 and never playedSo i checked it put and it is a wonderful instrumentbuilt by a John maxwell at the Upper CumberlandCraft Center in Cookeville , Tenn. It is in a finelycrafted wooden box and has been stored there since1976. Beautiful instrument with lively carved tuning pegsand is set up with 4 equal distant stings, 2 of whichare base strings. Will try to post a picture on my home pageas I'm sending this from an iPhone and don't know howto do it . If you know any history please let me know.
updated by @linda-jo-brockinton: 07/31/23 09:36:22PM
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Linda,The first tune is "Frosty Morning". There are at least two tunes by this name. The one we played is a lament written after the Battle of Culloden 1745. Two of my sons were born at Raigmore Hospital which now overlooks the battle ground just outside Inverness.The tune is regularly played a dance speed but I have also heard it played more slowy with great effect.Robin Linda Bowshier said:
Just listened to the first song...what fun! Can you tell me the name of it? I would love to learn it.
Linda
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sounds as if you found a good 'un there Dusty, and the word 'speed' still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I still remember the utter panic I felt the first time I said that I would lead off (with a tune called Nonsuch) only to find that they all knew it, but played at three times the tempo I was used to, thank the Lord that there were the usual four or five squeeze boxes in the session!!! Another thing that irritated me when playing in places 'where the sherbert flowed' was that often very 'friendly' folk with a pint in their fist tended to lean over your instrument and shout " I love all that hillbilly stuff, play Duelling Banjo's for us, I'll buy you a pint", by which time I had most of their pint over the multiple strings of my Ham Dulc!!!I never did learn that tune!my regardsJohnH Dusty Turtle said:
Good point, John, especially in the context of a discussion specifically about a "beginner" jam. I, too, have attended a couple of those hardcore Irish jams where everyone knew every song and what order they would be played in. Those jams are indeed not welcoming to beginners or even intermediate players.
But jams sometimes evolve. I used to frequent a bluegrass jam in the Bay Area (with a guitar and mandolin, for I had no idea what a dulcimer was back then) that was held weekly in a small fish taco joint. There was a small group of hardcore folks who played really tight music, with precise harmonies and stellar solos. It was hard to join in. I was just happy to play chords to back 'em up and never dared take a solo. But then that core group started their own band (and still play around SF, I believe) and left the jam behind. That opened it up for those of us who were not quite up to their speed.
We couldn't get Guiness on tap (my favorite, too, Robin) at that fish taco joint, but we had plenty of Bohemia and tequila, and the Mexican seafood was spicy enough to light the wicks on our picks and get some happy music going. Some customers seemed surprised to find bluegrass and old timey music in a taqueria, but everyone seemed to have a good time. The jam was good for business, so the owner loved having us around.
Of course, that was years ago. For all I know that space is a Starbucks now.
John Henry said:Hi Dusty, a nice thought, but a better statement might be "many British pubs.............." I live in a fairly big city, and would be hard pressed to find a folk based music session every night, and even when one does, they are not always welcoming. Ever tried joining a hard core Irish session? You need to know every note and play em in exactly the right way to suit that group. So most of us know that special pub where the session accepts just about anyone ( in my case, a hammered dulcimer) Having said all that, some of the happiest most memorable times of by later life were sitting in with others and playing whatever as it arrives!
my regards,
JohnH
Dusty Turtle said:OK, I have to confess that I have a large, flat-screen TV in my house and indeed watch sports and grill food, sometimes at the same time. But chez moi you can also find several guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle, two ukuleles, two banjo ukes, a dulcimer, two autoharps, numerous pennywhistles, a limberjack . . . and no amplifiers!
A sports bar is obviously not the best place to gather for an acoustic jam. But any British pub is (unless a World Cup match is in session)! In general, the more Bud Light served the less likely acoustic folk music will be welcome, but the more Guiness or IPA around, the more the patrons might enjoy Billy in the Lowground or Blackberry Blossom or Flowers of Edinburgh or . . .
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Good point, John, especially in the context of a discussion specifically about a "beginner" jam. I, too, have attended a couple of those hardcore Irish jams where everyone knew every song and what order they would be played in. Those jams are indeed not welcoming to beginners or even intermediate players.But jams sometimes evolve. I used to frequent a bluegrass jam in the Bay Area (with a guitar and mandolin, for I had no idea what a dulcimer was back then) that was held weekly in a small fish taco joint. There was a small group of hardcore folks who played really tight music, with precise harmonies and stellar solos. It was hard to join in. I was just happy to play chords to back 'em up and never dared take a solo. But then that core group started their own band (and still play around SF, I believe) and left the jam behind. That opened it up for those of us who were not quite up to their speed.We couldn't get Guiness on tap (my favorite, too, Robin) at that fish taco joint, but we had plenty of Bohemia and tequila, and the Mexican seafood was spicy enough to light the wicks on our picks and get some happy music going. Some customers seemed surprised to find bluegrass and old timey music in a taqueria, but everyone seemed to have a good time. The jam was good for business, so the owner loved having us around.Of course, that was years ago. For all I know that space is a Starbucks now. John Henry said:
Hi Dusty, a nice thought, but a better statement might be "many British pubs.............." I live in a fairly big city, and would be hard pressed to find a folk based music session every night, and even when one does, they are not always welcoming. Ever tried joining a hard core Irish session? You need to know every note and play em in exactly the right way to suit that group. So most of us know that special pub where the session accepts just about anyone ( in my case, a hammered dulcimer) Having said all that, some of the happiest most memorable times of by later life were sitting in with others and playing whatever as it arrives!
my regards,
JohnH
Dusty Turtle said:OK, I have to confess that I have a large, flat-screen TV in my house and indeed watch sports and grill food, sometimes at the same time. But chez moi you can also find several guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle, two ukuleles, two banjo ukes, a dulcimer, two autoharps, numerous pennywhistles, a limberjack . . . and no amplifiers!
A sports bar is obviously not the best place to gather for an acoustic jam. But any British pub is (unless a World Cup match is in session)! In general, the more Bud Light served the less likely acoustic folk music will be welcome, but the more Guiness or IPA around, the more the patrons might enjoy Billy in the Lowground or Blackberry Blossom or Flowers of Edinburgh or . . .
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
In our area we don't have bars that have patrons that would put up with the TV remote being "nicked". The only bar in the town that had a bar type of set up, rather than a restaurant that serves alcohol which is the most common situation, had 5 big screen TVs in it. But it closed down a while ago, couldn't afford the rent.Most places in this area are primarily restaurants, and they want you to eat dinner and go, thus freeing up a table for the next person eating. If the restaurant does have a bar, it's off to one side and isn't set up like a pub. I'm thinking of restaurants like Appleby's and Northwoods which are chain operations. Not at all the sort of place that would encourage musicians to come in and have a session. Robin Clark said:
Forget the food - I'd go straight for the draft Guiness!!!!
It is good to hear you have a welcoming music scene in your town Strumelia.
I think that we should make the effort to reclaim our bars and other public spaces for live music. We have had to fight a number of battles over here. And the musicians' political lobby has stopped draconian licencing regulations and amended by-laws on music in bars and other venues. We can now play "incidental music" without the venue needing a music licence. This basically means that you can get paid for a gig and as long as the venue is not selling tickets specifically for your gig then they don't need a licence. Pub landlords have become far more welcoming since this law change.
We do have flat screen TVs in pubs over here (but we nick the TV remote from behind the bar at the George when we arrive so we can swich it off). Carrying one of those universal remotes in your MD case should solve that issue in most bars
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Robin - nice photo of the aqueduct! I've crossed on a few; but none so large as that! I'd bring my own canoe - as carry-on baggage. I have a 14 ft, 30# folding canoe that fits in carry-on sized nylon bag complete with paddle. Winters would get a bit chill camped on the tow-path though....
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Robin Clark said:
I totally agree! We've migrated towards playing at our town's farmer's market instead of the pub. We do it for free as our way of giving to the community. I like the scene at the market, and we can hear ourselves better and sit in the pleasant outdoors amongst good food. We do some charity and community events for free. Other gigs we get paid for.I think that we should make the effort to reclaim our bars and other public spaces for live music.
