I wasn't able to open that link; even after copying and pasting in my browser. Here Is another link which works.
https://tennesseecrossroads.org/mike-clemmer-dulcimers/
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
P.S. I enjoyed your daughter's family at the end of the video. Very talented group there.
That's a beautiful instrument. Does it have the fine tuners between the bridge and end pins? They are small pieces of ebony the string goes through. I have one of the Sunhearth teardrop dulcimers.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I came across this video of Mike Clemmer. I thought some folks might enjoy watching it. https://www.voanews.com/a/6346682.html
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks for the addition Strumelia. I was going to mention that, but I guess I got lost somewhere along the way. That's what happens when you reach three quarters of century.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Your Sunhearth dulcimer made by Walt Martin in Roaring Spring, PA is a great instrument. These instruments were originally meant to be in a 1 - 5 - 5 tuning (DAA or CGG primarily) and using a noter. You might have to lower the action a little if you choose to play chord/melody style. You should be able to tune up to DAd using 0.010 for the melody strings, a 0.013 for the middle, and 0.020 for the bass. If those are too floppy, you can increase to 0.11 or 0.012, 0.014, and 0.022. Increasing the size of the strings will increase the tension of the peg and if they are friction pegs you may have trouble keeping them in tune.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Great news! I'm looking forward to the new podcasts.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's good news SoR. Glad to hear that some of this discussion was helpful to you. Keep on strumming.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
In any case, it appears you and I don't really disagree on the appropriate string gauges; we are just not sure how studentofrhythm has his dulcimer set up.
I agree that we don't really disagree. I was trying to find the appropriate strings for the first tuning he mentioned which was GDD. As I understand the pattern for identifying the notes by letters in the system we use, middle C is designated by a lower case "c". The octave below that is capital letters. The next octave lower is a capital letter followed by an apostrophe. The octave with middle c is lower case and the next octave above is lower case followed by an apostrophe.In American Standard Pitch Notation notes are designated by letter and octave; middle c being C4.
The original poster wants to tune his dulcimer "up to minor tuning." If that is D minor those notes would be D, F, A. I don't know whether one would tune those strings in the same octave giving a open minor when the dulcimer is strummed. I guess I need a more information and a better knowledge of music theory.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dusty, if the string VSL is 24 inches and the tuning is the D below middle C, according the the Strothers string calculator the string should be a 0.022. If you were tuning the "d" an octave higher the recommended string is a 0.011 but I think you could use a 0.012. I based my calculation on G and D as I thought that was what the original poster was going for in his question.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
And GDD would be a 0.016 for G and 0.022 for the D strings. String companies market dulcimer string sets mostly for two tunings, DAA and DAd and a VSL of about 26 to 28 inches. Dulcimer players need to learn that if they choose to explore other tunings and VSLs they need to find the right size strings. That's what is good about FOTMD. People can ask questions and folks here help them find the correct information. I trust that has been helpful to you StudentofRhythm.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.
Patricia and Wayne, I am sorry to see the Hearts of the Dulcimer podcast ending. I have enjoyed listening to them. Thank you for all your work in producing these and making them available to the dulcimer community. Best wishes for all your future endeavors.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Happy Thanksgiving. Among my many blessings is all my dulcimer friends here. at FOTMD and TTAD. Enjoy the day everyone.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I'm traveling over the next ten days, so I am away from my files. I'm working from memory here, but his looks like a kit that was offered in the late 1970s. I am going by the shapes of the peg head and the tail piece. Unfortunately I can't look through my files of dulcimer advertisements or old DPNs until after Dec. 4th.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Terry Hennessy died yesterday, November 13, 2021, at his home. He was the builder who made Richard Farina’s dulcimer. He will be missed by family and friends and by many of us in the dulcimer world. My sympathy is offered to all. I was fortunate to be able to examine and strum the dulcimer he made for Richard. You can read about Terry here .
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sam died just one day after entering a hospice program. He was a good player in addition to being a builder of hammered dulcimers. His work, especially with the group Trapezoid, helped revive interest in the HD. He was a contributor to Dulcimer Players News writing a column on "Technical Dulcimer."
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sorry, Nathina, but I've never heard of it. I will watch this thread to see if you receive an answer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Good point Wally. I really was not criticizing the design, just wondering about how that was chosen. You explained that. I know nothing about laser cutters. Like I said, it is a great alternative to a cardboard dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
P.S. - Did your wife get her dulcimer kit constructed?
Jim, it looks very good. It certainly looks easy to assemble and looks great once assembled. You did a beautiful job with it.
I do wonder about some of the design components of the manufacturer. It looks like he/she choose to copy the fret board of cardboard dulcimer manufacturers rather than go the extra step of having the fretboard end at the body of the dulcimer which would require extending the body of the dulcimer and repositioning the string anchors. I would like to see the nut/zero fret over the body of the instrument.
I agree with Ken regarding the tuners. You always want to have the strings pulling the shaft in to the gears.
Thanks for sharing this. It is a wonderful alternative to a cardboard dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Paula, I can't answer your question. I have heard many of Kurt's dulcimers played but have no idea when they were made. All as I can say is that I have never encountered on of his dulcimers that I did not like. All played well, were well made, and sang a sweet song.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thank you Jost. I enjoyed listening to the different performances of this folk song. I'm going to try to learn it on the dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The hitch pins on Folkcraft dulcimers can accept either ball or loop end strings. While I prefer the ball end strings on my Folkcraft, loop ends will do in an emergency (for me). Just make sure the hitch pin is thin enough for the ball to fit over it if you should use ball end strings. If you have a supply of loop end strings use them. I've found that for me the best gauges for the 27 inch VSL are: 0.011 melodies, 0.013 middle, and 0,024 bass.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I agree with everyone that this is sad news. He will be missed not only by his family, but by all his dulcimer friends as well. He was an excellent builder and musician. Rest in piece Bill.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I've built several Folkcraft kits, but not since the move to Indiana. It looks like the kits now come pre-fretted with a 6 1/2 fret. The vsl is probably 27 inches which was pretty much the standard vsl on Folkcraft dulcimers at one time. The hourglass kit should have about the same dimensions as an FSH model. They are very nice kits and make a good dulcimer depending upon the skill of the builder.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I missed this when it was first posted. It must have been when I was traveling out west. His wife's tribute to him gives us a wonderful picture of him. I know he is missed by family and friends. His music will live on and continue to inspire all who listen to it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I did a quick search on eBay of recently sold Warren May dulcimers. There were two hourglass dulcimers sold; of for $285 and the other for $315. The other May dulcimer was his hourdrop model and it sold for $629.95. This is just an indication of what the eBay market place is bringing at the present time.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Very nice Don. Have fun playing it. Welcome back.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Many of us know Don Pedi and his career as a dulcimer musician with an interest in the North Carolina dulcimer community. I came across this article today: https://www.bpr.org/post/spotlight-bpr-music-host-and-dulcimer-master-don-pedi#stream/0
Congratulations Don!
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I don't use fret markers. As Dusty said, "The diatonic fretboard IS your fret marker." I have never put them on any of the dulcimers I've built either. Doesn't seem to be a problem for anyone.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I would take Dusty, Susies, and Strumelia's advice. To play in DAd, you should have a larger middle string like Strumelia suggests. You can easily call or email the company and ask if they are ball or loop end. Since they sell single strings to might be able to make up your own set. Reactions to Curt Managan strings on guitar forums mostly seems positive. I have no personal experience with them. If I every get to Cortez, Colorado, I may stop in for a visit. I like visiting factories.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Probably the simplest way to play in G is to drop the middle string from A to G. Another easy way, which you say you don't want to do, is to capo at the 3rd fret. In the first method you will be playing in what is called "reverse ionian." The scale begins on the 3rd fret, not on the open as in DAd. Any DAA tab will work for playing in DGD.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Irene, you can see a video of me and five others playing in David Bennett's post below. The dulcimers I play in both posts are ones that I made.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I was busy in the morning and didn't have time to play. It started raining just as I was getting ready to go out on the porch so I stayed inside and watched the Little League World Series. After the games, we had a short respite from the rain, so I went back outside and played a couple of tunes. My wife took this photo of me. I played Lincoln and Liberty, Fishin' Hole, Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek and, Liza Jane. I use one of my dulcimers I hadn't played on in quite some time. I has a double melody string which I am no longer comfortable playing. It was tuned to DAdd which I have not play in quite some time as I've been concentrating on 1 - 5 - 5 tunings to play noter/drone. I did have a good time playing though.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
We are stilled barred from playing at nursing homes and our senior centers are still closed. One group I play with did play for an outdoor service of worship earlier in August, but I did not play with them as I was away camping that weekend.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Yes, it is tomorrow.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
This website is connected to the University of Sydney in Australia which may account for some errors like the author identifying the waters off Big Sur as the the Atlantic.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Here is an interesting article that appeared in my inbox today. https://honisoit.com/2021/08/ladies-of-the-dulcimer/
Enjoy.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
No need to reinvent the dulcimer cello. It's been done. Now if only I could remember where is saw a photo of one. Try this link: http://www.boweddulcimer.org/pocket-cello.html
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Besides building dulcimers, Robert also made kazoos. He made them in various sizes. Often he used leftover wood from building dulcimers for his kazoos. One time I saw him at an arts festival and we sat down to play together. After a few tunes we looked up to see a crowd of about 20-30 people around his booth. We play a couple of more tunes and then he went to talk to some of the folks. He told me to come back later and we could play again. He said it was helping his sales.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Paula, I sent you a private message, but for those who may look at this thread, I think this a North Country Dulcimer made by Robert Hutchinson.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Marg, I'm glad to hear that it went well for you. A little high isn't too bad if it doesn't hurt your fingers. You can always sand it down a little more later if you need to. The biggest danger is string buzzing if you go too low. Then you would either have to make a new nut or shim the old one. Now that you have conquered set-up, the next thing is you will start building dulcimers.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
