Forum Activity for @razyn
I have a ten-string one, but it's not large. About 20" long. It's very nicely made, by Edward and Anne Damm of Bar Harbor, ME, in 1977. Soundhole cutout is a fairy. It has a case, tuning wrench, some extra strings, and a couple pages of instructions. If anybody wants it, I could be talked out of it -- I never play the thing. Bought it on a whim, some years ago.I used to hang out with Finns a lot more than I do now. But I still wear the purple on St. Urho's Day!Dick
I may have gotten my museum replica plans from the guy you're talking about there in Indianapolis - or his friend! Building one is not hard and you don't need many tools. A tableop drill press and Forstner bits makes hollowing out the plank easy. A scrollsaw or bandsaw to cut out the wing shape. A hand saw to cut away the thickness under the 'wing tip". And if you know someone who has those tools it's even easier!The two pictured started as a 2" thick plank of Birch, the small one 8" wide and the bigger one 12" wide, if memory serves. First you cut out the wing shape, and the "horseshoe" that holds the string bar. Then use a hand saw to cut away under the wing tip so it's not so heavy there. Use a Forstner bit in a drill press to hollow out the body. Buy the soundboard already made 1/8" thin, cut it out and drill the soundholes. Glue it on. The drill out the horseshoe and glue and peg it into place.Less work than building a dulcimer!
I've built and played other wingd Baltic Psalteries, but no the kantele. The ones I've done are Estonian Kannel - basically the same though... The ones I built were of the "hollowed plank" persuasion, not the 'build a box" type. The 12-stringed one I tuned to the same notes as the first twelve frets of my DAA dulcimer!
Hi Judy, i'am in the process of building one now. I found out about them and thought they were neat because my wife is part Finnish. It's Finland's national instrument if you didn't know that. So i ordered the plans.Bill
updated by @bill-lewis: 02/14/16 03:02:00AM
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
I used to belong to an internet group (now defunct) called "SeniorCom", for folks 50 years and older. We had a great time with live chat, got to know one another well and had several "bashes", I organized the first one in Orlando (I lived near Orlando...) and people came from as far away as Norway to join in this bash. My husband and I traveled to New Hampshire for another one. What a great idea for us to get together for dinner... could happen!
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
I've got a 20 gallon pot of Whatchagot Fish Chowder heating up out on the Lanai, and there are biscuits in the oven; y'all come on over an' we'll celebrate!
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
Roger.. I'll get some ultra's for you the are the toughest....
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
WOW....100 strong.... guess I need to go to the dulcimer shop...I'm going to need a lot more wheat picks....
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
I think the 100 member should get the Spider Bite. LOLBill
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
We are getting closer to having 100 members. What a cool milestone to reach so soon
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
Well we know Dennis is bringing the Raspberries...LOL
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
90 Whoo HooPretenders - (Rasberrries to you)Thanks Strumelia for your dilegence
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
No, we all all cooking! (wouldn't that be nice though.)Number 91 this morning was a spammer, our first.She (he) was silently escorted to the door within about 5 minutes, before he could even take off his hat and post anything. LOLWe should do something special at the 100 mark?
90 members in the Family
OFF TOPIC discussions
WOW... 90 members... way to go Strumelia... great idea.. and what a family you have started... almost feels like time to all gather for supper...
updated by @rod-westerfield: 01/13/19 05:09:18PM
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Send them in my direction, I'd rather have brussel sprouts, which I love than wine which I can't drink. My hubby does the grocery shopping a lot and will come home with bags of sprouts, so proud that he was able to find them. hehehheeee Stephanie Stuckwisch said:
Brussels sprouts?! That guest isn't getting through the door.
Mary Z. Cox said:Well--this is not dulcimer related, but I just read a piece of real stinkaroo advice in today's local paper.
It was a short article telling folks that instead of bringing flowers or wine to dinner as a guest--we should consider bringing a stalk of brussels sprouts instead of flowers. Evidently they are in season and can be put in a vase--then taken out and eaten the next day for dinner. (yuk!)
Sure hope no one I know decides to take that advice--I'd mush rather have flowers and wine. :)
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Brussels sprouts?! That guest isn't getting through the door. Mary Z. Cox said:
Well--this is not dulcimer related, but I just read a piece of real stinkaroo advice in today's local paper.
It was a short article telling folks that instead of bringing flowers or wine to dinner as a guest--we should consider bringing a stalk of brussels sprouts instead of flowers. Evidently they are in season and can be put in a vase--then taken out and eaten the next day for dinner. (yuk!)
Sure hope no one I know decides to take that advice--I'd mush rather have flowers and wine. :)
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Well--this is not dulcimer related, but I just read a piece of real stinkaroo advice in today's local paper.It was a short article telling folks that instead of bringing flowers or wine to dinner as a guest--we should consider bringing a stalk of brussels sprouts instead of flowers. Evidently they are in season and can be put in a vase--then taken out and eaten the next day for dinner. (yuk!)Sure hope no one I know decides to take that advice--I'd mush rather have flowers and wine. :)
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
As a singing teacher myself, I consider giving children false ideas about their singing voice to be a form of "abuse." Strong word, maybe, but that's how I feel. BTW, I know Brett Manning. I, myself, have studied with his teacher, Seth Riggs for well over a decade. Foggers said:
I have only just realised in this year that the worst piece of musical misinformation EVER given to me in my teens was from the school music teacher. When I auditioned to join the school choir she told me I had a low pitched voice and that I should always since alto parts. (It was an all girls school and the choir usually sang 3 part arrangements for soprano, mezzo soprano and alto). She also told girls who appeared to naturally have a wide vocal range that they would damage their voices if they continued to do so and that they should choose the range they sang best and stick to that.
So I always considered myself to have a lower vocal range and never ventured further up the scales. Then when my OH started to have singing lessons a couple of years ago, we also bought a voice training package on line (Brett Manning - a bit cheesy but good sound exercises and info). Doing the exercises made me realise that I do have a clear upper register too. I will never sing with a crystal clear soprano, but now have a 3 octave range and can cover a much more versatile collection of styles too, whilst still sounding like ME rather than some "X Factor wannabe". I think that is a result!
I have several friends who were told as children that they "could not sing" and it has taken years to take the risk and overcome that big psychological hurdle to sing in public. My OH is one of them. Now when we sing in public he is overwhelmed by the warmth of response he receives (and flattered to be told he does Johnny Cash numbers really well because of his fine baritone voice!)
So if you think you can't sing, think again about where you got that message.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have only just realised in this year that the worst piece of musical misinformation EVER given to me in my teens was from the school music teacher. When I auditioned to join the school choir she told me I had a low pitched voice and that I should always since alto parts. (It was an all girls school and the choir usually sang 3 part arrangements for soprano, mezzo soprano and alto). She also told girls who appeared to naturally have a wide vocal range that they would damage their voices if they continued to do so and that they should choose the range they sang best and stick to that.So I always considered myself to have a lower vocal range and never ventured further up the scales. Then when my OH started to have singing lessons a couple of years ago, we also bought a voice training package on line (Brett Manning - a bit cheesy but good sound exercises and info). Doing the exercises made me realise that I do have a clear upper register too. I will never sing with a crystal clear soprano, but now have a 3 octave range and can cover a much more versatile collection of styles too, whilst still sounding like ME rather than some "X Factor wannabe". I think that is a result!I have several friends who were told as children that they "could not sing" and it has taken years to take the risk and overcome that big psychological hurdle to sing in public. My OH is one of them. Now when we sing in public he is overwhelmed by the warmth of response he receives (and flattered to be told he does Johnny Cash numbers really well because of his fine baritone voice!)So if you think you can't sing, think again about where you got that message.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ayup! That would count as Stinkerooo advice in my book!"I was advised to put geared tuners on my Edd Presnell dulcimer."
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Not sure if this counts, but I was advised to put geared tuners on my Edd Presnell dulcimer.And before anyone asks, I didn't do it.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lois Hornbostel said:
Oh my gosh Lois, can you imagine some guitar player complaining to Bruce about his playing? I can just picture it!... LOL!! =8-0Nowadays, it's "in" for old-time musicians to play very dronally, as Bruce Greene does - and it sounds good. Guitarists play their chord progressions along with his dronal style and have learned not to complain. One of the reasons he and Don sound so nice together (and authentic) on old-time music is they are dronal.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'm so not bound to the DAA/DAd thing. I play in C which is better for my voice. If I want to play something like Old Joe Clark, I tune my C up one note to a D. DGG with any lower note played on the bass string. I also tune Aeolian and DorianAs for the speed bump of a 6+ fret, they don't bother me as I finger dance. Since I hop around on the melody line no fret ever gets in the way.But I really found it annoying to be told when I did play with a group that a person couldn't possibly play DAA Ionian with DAd Ionian. Never could convince one member that we were actually playing the same major pattern, WW 1/2 WWW 1/2 for certain songs. She'd just keep coming back to Old Joe Clark and I kept agreeing with her that yes I had to tune DAd for that one. Arrrggghhhhh And to err is human, to arrgghhhh is pirate. ;-) Roger L. Huffmaster said:
Carson, I love your attitude!!!!
I'm not bound to DAd, or DAA....any tuning that allows making a pleasing sound is a good tuning.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
If mine didn't have a 6+ I would not have one, it's just a speed bump for me. Re: the bike shop, steel works just fine, always has, always will, so long as it isn't gaspipe. I just hope the three or four steel mills in the entire world that make bicycle-grade steel tubing continue to do so. Andy Huffman said:
get that pesky 6 1/2 fret. Arrrrgh... I hate the pesky 6 1/2 fret. Always in the way and I never use it.
Oh, and bike shops... and anyone else who tells me something that has worked for 100 years no longer works. One of my friends the other day was upset because he heard my tv was from 1997. When asked why I still had it I said, "it hasn't broke yet."
so instead I go with If it ain't broke don't fix it and question anyone who says otherwise. Oh, and never trust any enterprise that requires new clothes.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Guy, you're right, they're wonderful but, I agree with you. My thumb is an integral part of my playing... perhaps it's because of playing keyboards... but, my thumb is my problem digit with callouses and blisters, and a nail that grows very weird now.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Well, so many of the techniques that work so well for many players don't work for me. David Schnauffer and Steven Seifert are legendary players obviously, but their no-thumb technique just doesn't work for me. I'm sure that if I kept at it I could eventually make it work, but my thumb just naturally wants to play, so I just gave up trying to play like Schnauffer and Seifert.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Barbara... Moms can be so insensitive, sometimes... I know, I am one. My daughters sometimes shock me with some of the remarks I've come up with. These are usually meant to be supportive but, get lost in the mother/daughter translation. I apologize for your Mom... she didn't mean anything ugly. barbara kelly said:
Today there was an update, she (my mom) said: " I haven't heard you practice lately, does that mean you think you can play now without practicing?"
I love my mom dearly, but sometimes.......... I've just gotta laugh!
barbara kelly said:Oh, here's my Stinkaroo advice,
My mother, no matter what I play, or how good, always says, "if you keep practicing you will get better" end quote. She will offer no other comments.
I've learned to ignore it, altho it used to hurt... still does when I've played a tune perfectly.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Someone should say to your mother- "If you keep listening you'll hear better." ;D
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Suzanne... this again gets around to the "right" way of playing dulcimer... seems there is no "right" way! Just find what works for you and enjoy!
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
OK, guess I'll jump in here too...How's about strumming? Many folks think that "bum-diddy" is the only way. UGH! With Don Pedi's DVD Workshop, I learned that almost anything goes, as long as you hold the beat/rhythm. He recommends (along with other things) to strum with the words. Sometimes tunes change length of words and syllables in each verse and playing (even without those words) with those inflections makes a really nice diversion in the overall sound.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
<<I've been getting used to just nodding and smiling when confronted with much "helpful advice" from others. When I went to get the strings I'm using now I was told at the music store that four .010 banjo strings wouldn't work on a dulcimer. Nod and smile.'>>Me too. Same things happens at the bicycle store when they tell me 'nobody rides steel bikes anymore...nobody uses 9 speed anymore...nobody uses bar-end shifters anymore."....nod and smile, nod and smile... LOL
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I agree also, use different tuning to get the sound you want... after all as I tell my students and anyone that asks... that's why they call'em tuners, not fine tuners.. to many people use them to just fine tune to DAd or DAA...
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Roger;You DON'T HAVE to play in DAd to play with others! In DAA you play the same NOTES, just not on the same FRETS as a DAd. So a DAd player trying to follow you - or you trying to follow a DAd player won't work, that's all. Just ADD 3 to the DAd melody line tab numbers - 5 becomes eight, 6 1/2 becomes 9 (the exception) and 7 becomes 10, etc.
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
"That stick (noter) is no good for real dulcimer playing"."You can't play with us, because you can't play our music in DAA."
STINKAROO advice...
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ok, a fun thread now-Did you ever get a piece of dulcimer playing or music playing advice that totally STUNK, didn't work for you and actually messed you up in some way? (no naming names though please, this is all in fun!) =8-o ;D
updated by @strumelia: 01/05/19 04:36:36AM
The Dulcimer Book by Jean Ritchie
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
My second favorite to Jean's classic is The Appalachian Dulcimer Book by Michael Murphy, another long out of print but available on-line volume.
The Dulcimer Book by Jean Ritchie
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
I have a book titled Play the Dulcimer by Ear and Other Easy Ways. The authors give instructions on how to tune Ionian, Bagpipe and Aeolian, then they list "Exotic Tunings" under which are Mixolydian, Dorian, Lydian, and Phrygian. A few songs are listed for each, except for Lydian. The authors ask the readers to find a Lydian tune and if they do to please let the authors know what it is. And Locrian simply isn't mentioned at all. Jean Ritchie is quoted as saying that the tunings listed as exotic "Are not used much any more." And all the tunings are given with C as the do note. Publication date 1969-1970 Strumelia said:
Yes that book might not really be that hard to write....it might only have 2 or 3 tunes in it! ;D
I have always been meaning to get that Homespun set of Jean's too....one of those 1000 things on my 'list' to do...