My guess---and it is that---is some sort of change due to being in the presence of other metals for the multitude of strings in your bucket. They should be fine to clean them and use them if they are not rusted or corroded to the point of risking breakage.
I've had these silver plated classical guitar strings sitting in their paper envelopes in a bucket of spare strings for probably 3 years now. Finally decided to sort through it a bit and I found two separate strings which had each turned rainbow colored! The variety of colors is crazy and I was wondering if anyone knows more about this. Ive heard of strings getting a duller color over time, but these look like a full on art project. Thanks in advance,
Nate
Dusty, blame it on spell check. When I typed in "Cotten," spell check immediately changed it to "Cotton."
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
In the early 1940s, Cotten had moved to Washington, D.C., where (as a domestic) she began working for the legendary Charles Seeger family and caring for children Pete, Peggy, and Mike.
(also we should note that her name is spelled Cotten)
I'm obviously better with tab than with spelling. D'oh! 
Mike Seeger most likely learned Georgia Buck from Elizabeth Cotten:
In the early 1940s, Cotten had moved to Washington, D.C., where (as a domestic) she began working for the legendary Charles Seeger family and caring for children Pete, Peggy, and Mike.
(also we should note that her name is spelled Cotten)
The first time I heard Georgia Buck was Neal Walters' recording of it on his CD My Pathway Leads to Pennsylvania. His version had more verses than Ms. Cotton's, and was more like Doc Watson's rendition, which I just found a few days ago. Thanks again, Dusty!
Wow, Dusty! Thanks so much for the link and the tab! Really appreciate it!
Thanks for the tab Dusty. And the link to Libba playing it. I'm trying to think of the first person I ever heard playing that song. It might have been Mike Seeger. I just can't remember.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dusty, how nice that you whipped that together so beautifully!
Are you thinking of the trad banjo tune that goes
Georgia Buck is dead.
Last word he said:
"Don't want no shortnin' in my bread."
Here's Elizabeth Cotton playing it: https://youtu.be/IobSpMzmjQY?t=30
Is that the tune you want to learn?
There's not a whole lot to tab. It's only 8 measures long, and the last note is two whole notes tied together for measures 7 and 8.
In DAA it ranges from the 5th fret to the open string. In DAd, with the melody moving from the melody to the middle string, it's even easier since you never have to go above the 2nd fret.
I have looked on the new Everything Dulcimer, my download of the tab from the old ED, and various and sundry other places, but I can't find tab for Georgia Buck. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Michael Willey
Total agreement that David has recognized this is what he needs. I commend him on his decision and wish him nothing but a bright future.
I agree with both of you. Black Mountain Dulcimers has provided quality instruments and will continue to do so, just not on as a large a scale as in the past. Building custom instruments for individuals in different from making large quantities of the one design for wholesale purchase. I wish David the best as he transitions to building one dulcimer at a time.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Forty years is long enough to do anything. Instead of lamenting that it's ending, we should congratulate David for such a fine run. I think we can all understand the desire to switch things up.
After providing a service for many years, sometimes you just need a break.
Gosh -- I'd forgotten about Sweet Music listserv!! Those were the days!
Thanks for honoring Tom and Missy here, Ken. From way back in the Sweet Music listserv days....
Thanks for posting this Ben. Probably should be a separate discussion. I enjoyed visiting with Jeremy at a few festivals.
I couldn't find an obituary for Jeremy. Ben, do you have access to one?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The archive of DPN past publications is shared online here: https://issuu.com/dulcimerplayersnewsinc
I found it while searching for:
This may not be the post to put this on, but got notice that dulcimer maker Jeremy Seeger passed away on February 11. May he rest in peace.
….Should be ready in about 4 or 4 and a half months.
I am at such a loss for words... So much love and support has been shared through so many years from Tom and Missy... This is such sad news, and I am so sorry. His memory will be eternal.
I was shocked and saddened to see this news. My heart is with all of Tom's dear ones.
Very sad news indeed. Today is Missy's birthday. My sympathy goes out to Missy and the rest of the family.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Oh this is indeed sad news. Thanks for letting us know, Ken.
Tom Strothers, creator of the String Choice Calculator and Diatonic and Chromatic Chord Wizard apps passed away suddenly Monday morning 13 February, from a brain hemorrhage. 
RIP old internet friend...
Yes Ken I am actually playing a little bit and I feel there’s actually possibilities for me,I have also cut cherry for two more necks and some mahogany for the next fret boards ,walnut would be cool but that’s one wood I don’t have in my stock ,I do have a lot of cherry,they were right,they told me it was habit forming to build these ( for a woodworker) and even more so when it sounds good in the end…! I am thinking a Dulcimer is in the future.
Pardon all these pics,I’m working on image quality and format and also I need to find the edit feature on the comment box here( it seems to elude me!)here is another pic of my guitar full length and whole finally!
Working on loading photos to here,I think I have it licked -maybe editing too!
Working on loading photos to here,I think I have it licked
Sorry,my acronym caused so many problems,in the Cigarbox guitar world ,it does make the handle easier to use,and I grew up and served in the Armed Forces where acronyms are king but I do agree online people seem to make them quicker than you can learn them.At least in the Marines they are made official and formally listed as soon as the General says so!
The picture of my cgb,unfortunately image was a bit downgraded
Dwain,
I moved the nut toward the scroll .12" , set the location of the 6 1/2 fret by using the corresponding note on the middle string. The strings are 0.12, 0.12, 0.14, 0.12, and 0.24. Even though the measured locations are not exactly according to the fret calculator, it notes true and checks in tune with harmonics. It is a very easy playing instrument with a bold sound. I do think I will change the middle string to a .016 size, it has a slight twang . That may be caused by slot in the nut or bridge, will check that first.
All I have been able to find out about Davis dulcimers is what seems to be common info on the internet and a little info from a man in London who has at least a few of Bill's dulcimers.
Thanks again for your thoughts and directions. I am a relative newbie to dulcimers, I got my first one about 10 years ago after I retired the second time. I didn't build my first one until I turned 74, am now 81 and have built 131.
Bill R
I recently started playing the pure diatonic Jean-Ritchie-style dulcimer my wife built 50 years ago. No extra fret enhancements (6.5 or 1.5). For modal music, I love it's sound, ease-of-play, and slide-ability (something not possible on a chromatic). To expand its capabilities beyond noter-style playing, I've set it up with four-equidistant strings.
Exploring this instrument's capabilities, and developing proficiency and style in playing it, could last a lifetime. Musical genres that I like on this instrument are Appalachian, old hymns, traditional music of the Brittish Isles, Medieval, and Renaissance.
However, there are musical styles that sound good on the dulcimer but require more than hard-wired modal scales. For me, these are Jazz, Blues, Classical, Eastern European, and Klesmer.
Because I don't want to alter the beauty of my wife's pure-diatonic instrument by going down the slippery slope of adding extra frets whenever I encounter missing notes, I've ordered a chromatic dulcimer. But, for me, it won't replace my diatonic instrument for being able to capture the unique beauty of modal music.
Georgia Buck DAA.pdf - 247KB
