What Are You Working On?

shanonmilan
@shanonmilan
4 weeks ago
60 posts

Using geared violin tuners like Wittners might be worth considering for your violin, especially if you prefer not to widen the peg holes. Keeping the Sam Carroll with its original pegs is also an option. You could use wood filler for the stripped hole to ensure a secure fit for the replacement pin.

marg
@marg
one month ago
615 posts

(Fas-n-Tite Brass (plated) Linoleum Nails - Those and a toothpick in the old hole might be a good choice.)

Thanks

Wally Venable
Wally Venable
@wally-venable
one month ago
59 posts

Walmart has " Fas-n-Tite Brass (plated) Linoleum Nails (5/8" x #16) - 0.75 oz., Steel, $1.58 "

Those and a toothpick in the old hole might be a good choice.

marg
@marg
one month ago
615 posts

Wally:  right - other 2 are brass pins. Just deciding if I would go with the same type or replace all 3 with something else - yes, choices.

thanks

Wally Venable
Wally Venable
@wally-venable
one month ago
59 posts

Why remove the nail head? The nail head makes it easier to hold a string loop on. In addition, if you simply cut the nail head off with pliers you will have a sharp end. Half an inch in length should be enough if in a hole of the right size.

My main suggestion is Look at the other string anchors and try to match them. They might be screws, nails with heads, nails without heads, brass pins, or was it wood?

marg
@marg
one month ago
615 posts

Thanks Robert -

Thanks Ken - (Glue the dowel in to the hole using wood glue. )


updated by @marg: 02/28/24 01:21:51PM
robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
one month ago
252 posts

Marg, you can make a very good end pin with a nail. Drill a hole first then glue in a nail. Tapping in a nail will shock the dulcimer and possibly break something. Remove the nail head before installing. Set the nail about 3/4" deep....Robert 

Ken Longfield
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
one month ago
1,073 posts

Hi, Marg. With regard to the Lazenby dulcimer I would not use wood filler on it. Instead I would plug the hole with a piece of hardwood dowel rod. You will need to measure the diameter of the hole when you take the screw out. You might need to enlarge the hole a bit to fit a readily available dowel. Glue the dowel in to the hole using wood glue. You will then need to drill a hole the diameter of the end pin or just a hair smaller and tap the pin in place. This hole should be drilled at a slight angle like the other ones. Those look like standard hitch pins. It might be hard to just by one. If you send me a private message with your address I'll send you one. I'm pretty sure I have a few of them downstairs in my shop. I won't be venturing down there for the next week or so until my eyes get adjusted to the cataract surgery I had yesterday. Hope this helps you.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

marg
@marg
one month ago
615 posts

Thanks Ken,

I think  the  geared violin tuners like Wittners - may be something to try. I don't want to widen the holes so, I may just keep the Sam Carroll with it's pegs. I have changed the ones in my Warren May dulcimers with the Grovers, without any adjustments. I don't want to do anything to the dulcimer, that couldn't be undone - like putting screws on the sides for gears. 

Side note:  The Lazenby dulcimer I just got is missing it's end Bass pin. (Looks to me as if someone maybe tried tightening the string and instead of it breaking, it just pulled the pin out.) Should I find an end pin like the others or replace all 3 - also should I put wood filler in the stripped hole?

end pins.jpg
end pins.jpg  •  172KB

shanonmilan
@shanonmilan
one month ago
60 posts

Ken Longfield:


Marg there are a couple of things to consider. First is whether you want friction tuners or geared tuners. Since you mention the Stewmac choices the Grovers are friction and the Five Star are geared. The second is cost. You can see the difference in price. Both of those install easily although you may need to make an adjustment in the size of the holes. Since you mention not changing the head design, have you considered replacing the wood pegs with geared violin tuners like Wittners? Here is a link to them: Wittner-finetune-violin-peg They may give a better look to the dulcimer and are priced between the two offered by Stewmac. 


This is general information as I don't know the maker of your dulcimer and I am guessing it has a scroll peg head. If you have any questions, ask here or message me.


Ken


"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


 


Friction tuners like Grovers offer tradition, while geared options like Five Star provide precision. Cost varies, and you might also consider replacing wood pegs with geared violin tuners like Wittners for a different look.

Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
2 months ago
1,720 posts

When you work on a song, you get better at that song. But when you work on your technique, you get better at every song you play.




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
NateBuildsToys
NateBuildsToys
@nate
2 months ago
238 posts

Wow Dusty, that sounds rigorous. I'm sure it'll pay off to develop that, though. If I enjoyed doing drills like that, I'd probably have a lot sharper of skills than I get from just plunking around like I do.

Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
2 months ago
1,720 posts

I'm a total OCD dulcimer nerd right now. I tabbed out a few fiddle tunes that make for great finger exercises.  For 2-3 days I've just been playing " Harvest Home " over and over, forcing myself to use my pinky for anything on the first fret, middle finger on the second, and index on the third across all the strings. And that's the range of the arrangement, from open bass to third fret on the melody string. So the left hand never moves, requiring the muscles in individual fingers to do all the work.

Both A and B parts of the song have four consecutive triplets are really tough.  I'm forcing myself to use a metronome and play really slowly.  Maybe someday I'll speed up a little, but I'm not there yet.  Sometimes I only play that triplet measure over and over. 

My goal is not to play the song well (or event at all), but to use the song to strengthen my pinky and develop greater finger independence and flatpicking accuracy.

But I do feel like I'm getting a bit geeky nerd and losing touch, like Jack Nicholson huddled over his typewriter in The Shining krazy .




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
Richard Streib
Richard Streib
@richard-streib
2 months ago
231 posts

@shanonmilan I enjoy Wittner pegs on several traditional dulcimers. Wrist arthritis makes tuning wooden pegs difficult as much as I like them on the traditional instruments.

wibble
@wibble
2 months ago
2 posts

Only been playing for 5 months as a complete beginner but I am now exploring the sounds of CGC tuning. Luckily as it is still 1:5:8 I can still play all the stuff I was learning in DAD. To me CGC just sounds so much more pleasing.

I also discovered I like playing with harmonies and am working on a little ditty,  something along the lines of 023 - 034  - 045 - 023 -022 - 011 - 103 -113- 012 - 234 045 - 056 -045 - 056 and so on and trying different strumming patterns.

Just need to  learn to write what I play in musical notation now, for the fun of learning it.


updated by @wibble: 02/13/24 04:35:47AM
shanonmilan
@shanonmilan
2 months ago
60 posts

It's great that people appreciate the convenience they offer while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the instrument. And trying out Wittner pegs sounds like an exciting experiment! Their reputation for quality and reliability suggests you're in for a treat.

marg
@marg
3 months ago
615 posts

Good hearing from you Robin, we have missed your post. I hope you and all have a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season.

Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
3 months ago
2,248 posts

Great to hear what you've been up to @Robin-clark .  👍🏼

@richard-streib , that is a whole lot of cookies!!  🍪

I've been learning to do a little watercolor painting lately, it's a challenge!
I've also been enjoying brushing up on my cursive handwriting while tinkering with fountain pens and bottled ink, and writing in my journal.
Another decades-long hobby of mine is knitting. I really enjoy the social camaraderie in attending various regular gatherings of knitters in my area.




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
Robin Clark
Robin Clark
@robin-clark
3 months ago
239 posts

Hello all,

Yes, I have been absent from the dulcimer fold for a few years!  The band I played with folded a few years back due to a bereavement and then the pandemic came along.  I picked up guitar again and have been working towards playing/singing as a solo act locally - plus I joined a Welsh MVC.  So that has taken up all my time.  The local Welsh music nights in the pub are the same night as the choir practices - so that has also put me out of the dulcimer loop.

But....I do intend to put some time into a Welsh tunes project next year on the Bocs Cân Idris and perhaps make a CD with my good friend and guitarist Johnathan (who lives 3 doors up!).  All noter drone from me of course!!!!

Have a wonderful festive season everyone.  I'm off to band practice now as I have a one-off gig tomorrow night with a new band doing a bluegrass/Americana set.  No dulcimer for me this time but guitar, dobro and banjo, banjo

Jill Geary
Jill Geary
@jill-geary
3 months ago
28 posts

Robin, great to see your post! I still rely on your YT videos for 'better' noter playing! Merry Christmas!

Ken Hulme
Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
3 months ago
2,111 posts

Robin!   So good to see you here again!!  Have missed your posts.

Richard Streib
Richard Streib
@richard-streib
3 months ago
231 posts

I've been working on my Christmas cookies. So far 30+ dozen and I think I am finished. All for giving away to church members, neighbors, and some local businesses where I trade. Decorating is done and most of the wrapping. I'll make the coconut cake for Christmas and help cook dinner on Christmas for the family.
Merry Christmas every one.

Beth T
Beth T
@beth-t
3 months ago
3 posts

Hi Robin  https://fotmd.com/robin-clark

Thanks for getting in touch. I have noticed you on this forum, but wasn’t sure whether you were still active on it. I’ve been listening to your sound files of Welsh tunes, but the links to some of them in your posts don’t seem to work. Anyway, your dulcimer sounds great and I agree that the dulcimer can make a useful contribution to Welsh dance music. When I play with a group of very loud instruments, I just play chords as a rhythm instrument - much better than a guitar in my opinion. When I’m on my own, I just enjoy finding my own way of playing folk songs and hymn tunes. I’ve only been playing dulcimer for a year, but already I enjoy it more than I ever did playing a guitar!  I’m really surprised that it hasn’t been taken up by more Welsh traditional musicians.

NateBuildsToys
NateBuildsToys
@nate
3 months ago
238 posts

Robin, I have gotten value from your posts and am glad to see you back. Merry Christmas to you, as well.

Nate

Robin Clark
Robin Clark
@robin-clark
3 months ago
239 posts

Hi Beth,

I live up near Tywyn, Gwynedd.  The dulcimer is an unusual instrument for Wales!  But they are great for playing the old Welsh dance tunes.  I have built a double fretboard dulcimer specifically for playing them - I have called it a "Bocs Cân Idris".  I hadn't played it for a while until last Saturday when we had a village Christmas gathering.  I played a lot of Christmas carols as well as the local Welsh tunes (Cader Idris, Bwlch Llanberis, Corbet of Ynysmaengwyn's Delight, Machynlleth, Bells of Aberdyfi, The Clover of Merioneth and a few more besides).

Merry Christmas to all,

Robin

NateBuildsToys
NateBuildsToys
@nate
3 months ago
238 posts

I have been working on a dulcimer made from goodwill materials only. Metal cans and trays plus wooden cigar boxes for the body, toothpicks frets, and eye bolt tuners. The fingerboard is just a 1/4" thick and 1.5" across strip of poplar. I am out of town but plan on finishing it as soon as I return. The whole thing will end up costing about 5$ and wont require any actual instrument parts. I've been having a lot of fun lately learning ways to make very accessible dulcimers that can be built without many tools and hardware, and with very little knowledge or skill. 

John C. Knopf
John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
3 months ago
385 posts

I've been using Perfection geared violin pegs on some of my dulcimers, and people really like the ease of use.  Plus they look just like black ebony violin pegs, which doesn't detract from the appearance of the dulcimers.  I just ordered a set of Wittner pegs to try out.  I've heard good things about them!

marg
@marg
3 months ago
615 posts

Thanks Ken, I had not considered  geared violin tuners - may need to look into them.

Ken Longfield
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
3 months ago
1,073 posts

Marg there are a couple of things to consider. First is whether you want friction tuners or geared tuners. Since you mention the Stewmac choices the Grovers are friction and the Five Star are geared. The second is cost. You can see the difference in price. Both of those install easily although you may need to make an adjustment in the size of the holes. Since you mention not changing the head design, have you considered replacing the wood pegs with geared violin tuners like Wittners? Here is a link to them: Wittner-finetune-violin-peg They may give a better look to the dulcimer and are priced between the two offered by Stewmac. 

This is general information as I don't know the maker of your dulcimer and I am guessing it has a scroll peg head. If you have any questions, ask here or message me.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 12/19/23 10:22:39AM
marg
@marg
3 months ago
615 posts
Good morning & Merry Christmas

I have a dulcimer with wooden pegs. My hands are not as good with turning them as they used to be and i'm looking to replace with friction pegs or planetary tuning pegs. I see the ones on stewmac for dulcimer/uke but I was wondering if I would do better contacting Warren May or McSpadden or someone instead.  I don't want to put screws on the side with other type gears, I have always felt dulcimers were a beautiful art piece and not looking to change the head design. 

What your thoughts

marg
Beth T
Beth T
@beth-t
3 months ago
3 posts

@strumelia Yes, the dulcimer is a bit of a curiosity to most people here in Wales! It has attracted a lot of interest.

@ken-hulme Some of our group are part of another group that take the Mari round the pubs in our locality every year (see photo taken last Sunday). So we're old friends with the Llantrisant Mari! 

Ken Longfield
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
3 months ago
1,073 posts

Well I'm in to the organizing mode. I'm busy scanning all my notebooks of tab in to an iPad. I have 117 pages entered so far which is almost one notebook. I think I have six more notebooks to go, but there is some duplication of tabs. Getting rid of the notebooks will free up some space on my shelves.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
3 months ago
2,248 posts

@beth-t , I knew as soon as you mentioned that the schoolchildren could identify a melodeon and a concertina, that you could not be located in America... and I was right, you're in Wales!  How wonderful that you are playing in that new group you found, and going around to schools to play traditional music for the students.

@jan-potts , 20 minute play sessions four times a day?- that's what you are starting with?  In my book that's a whole LOT of playing!  Kudos to you.. 🙌🏻




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
Ken Hulme
Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
3 months ago
2,111 posts

Sounds like a great time!  Now that you have  Mari Lwyd, you can add the others by dressing up as Punch & Judy, Merryman and Sargeant.

You'll enjoy your new 'friend", I'm sure.


updated by @ken-hulme: 12/19/23 08:27:45AM
Beth T
Beth T
@beth-t
3 months ago
3 posts

I recently joined a group of mainly retired people who meet to play traditional tunes. These last few weeks we’ve been going around local schools playing traditional carol tunes. It was interesting that the kids recognised all the other instruments (accordion, concertina, melodeon, mandolin, fiddle, flute, recorder, spoons etc) but not the dulcimer. Not even teachers knew what it was. 

The excitement for the kids was that we also took along a  Mari Lwyd - a Welsh Christmas/New Year tradition. But the excitement for me this last week was hearing from Folkcraft that my H series dulcimer has finally been shipped! Yes, my dulcimer acquisition disorder is serious. Despite only having bought my first dulcimer just over a year ago, I will now have three. :-) It may be some weeks before US and Royal Mail get my new toy to me, but I look forward to playing with it and finding out what a 1.5 fret is all about!

Anne Bowman
Anne Bowman
@anne-bowman
3 months ago
56 posts

Jan Potts:

Well...this is new:  After 2 months of physical therapy, my hand therapist just assigned me a practice schedule to strengthen my left hand after I wore it out this fall (in addition to the ongoing exercises and stretches).  I'm to start with 20 minute sessions, 4 times a day and keep lengthening the time as I go through the next month or so.  So I guess I'll be playing a lot of Christmas carols!

I hope it recovers quickly, Jan

Anne Bowman
Anne Bowman
@anne-bowman
3 months ago
56 posts

So nice to see this, from you Dusty. I've been wondering how you are, as the last time we had any contact was on Aaron's last Patreon workshop. I've kept up the alternating bass we were working on then, but am now working on ways to improvise, as well as make up something new that's interesting, so am trying to learn more chord theory progression stuff.

Jan Potts
Jan Potts
@jan-potts
3 months ago
399 posts

Well...this is new:  After 2 months of physical therapy, my hand therapist just assigned me a practice schedule to strengthen my left hand after I wore it out this fall (in addition to the ongoing exercises and stretches).  I'm to start with 20 minute sessions, 4 times a day and keep lengthening the time as I go through the next month or so.  So I guess I'll be playing a lot of Christmas carols!




--
Jan Potts, Lexington, KY
Site Moderator

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke
Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 months ago
1,720 posts

Hey folks. I just want to resurrect this fun Discussion that has been dormant for a couple of years.  Please share what you're working on: a new song? a new build? a new technique?




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
3 years ago
252 posts

Dusty, I tried Sally on my 1.5 8.5 fret model thinking the minor notes in dad tuning would be a breeze. No such luck. I switched to my pure diatonic model tuned cAD and it played well. I tried dAA with a capo and as you said it was wanting  for an 8.5 fret...Robert. 

Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 years ago
1,720 posts

Sally is a tough one to get on diatonic fretboard. It's a haunting melody, though.

Some years ago I learned a version arranged by Steve Eulberg.  He uses a DAA tuning with a capo at 1, but the 8+ fret is still necessary. I couldn't even tell you if that was aeolian or dorian.




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
3 years ago
252 posts

Sally in the Garden, I wanted a tune to add to my list of tunes for playing on banjo in double C tuning. I've been playing Sally for the last week. It is a minor mode tune that plays nicely in clawhammer  style.

Ok so next was playing on dulcimer. At first I didn't think It could be played noter style but in  aeolian mode it worked well, only have to jump to the A string for an open A and first fret B.... Robert.

Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 years ago
1,720 posts

I am (very slowly) working on an arrangement of the Irish Gaelic air "Song of the Books" or " Amhrán na Leabha."  It's a haunting melody. I found some sheet music for the penny whistle, which provides the basic melody.  But I've been listening to this vocal version and altering the basic melody to capture a small fraction of the nuances of the singer's voice.  The big task will be deciding on the harmonic accompaniment. Lots of minor chords, obviously, but beyond that I've yet to figure it out.

Once I've tabbed out the melody and decided on the chording, then I'll have to actually sit down and play it a bunch to see how it all fits under the fingers. More revisions to follow then.

You can rest assured I'll be listening to this tune non-stop for many days to come.




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 years ago
1,720 posts

Tom, since I'm not a beekeeper, I can't help you if you want a whole tune on that topic. 

My approach would be different and treat beekeeping as a metaphor. Maybe have the first verse about looking forward to springtime only to see that half your bees are gone.  Then the other verses would be about other things or people that have left.  One verse on bees, one on age taking about your athletic ability, one on your fruit tree drying up, on one a woman leaving. You get the point.

OR . . . instead of the theme being loss, it could be lots of work with no reward, so you put in all this work to keep bees and end up with no honey.  You lavish love and presents on your woman, and she leaves you.  You spend weeks building a garden, and the plants bear no fruit.  You spend weeks crushing grapes but they go straight to vinegar and you get no wine.  You spend a year of weekends rebuilding that '68 Mustang and someone steels it before you ever take it for a ride. That sort of thing.  The bee hive would still be the first verse and give the tune it's title: "Big Hive, No Honey."




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
Gordon Hardy
Gordon Hardy
@gordon-hardy
3 years ago
27 posts

"What's the buzz in the bee yard?"

Robin Thompson
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
3 years ago
1,415 posts

I can't help with song lyrics about bees & blues yet do know I love honey. sun

Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
3 years ago
2,248 posts

Hmmm... how about something using "scrapin that propolis off bee metropolis"?




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
3 years ago
2,248 posts

I can't help you much with the song writing Tom, but I feel your pain concerning pouring money into your hives!

I've kept bees for over 12 years now, and just recently I downsized from FIVE 10-frame double-deep hives, to TWO 8-frame double deep hives. As i got older those ten frame boxes were getting too darn heavy!  I also find that losses have slowly increased each winter for me. I never had to buy bees years ago. Now the past two winters I've lost both hives and had to order packages. Cleaning dead hives up before installing a new colony is a nasty chore but must be done if I don't want all the frames and boxes permanently 'glued' together.
This Spring's packages will arrive in about a month and I'll have some hive cleanup and scraping to do before then. sigh Truthfully, though I love having lots of honey and love having bees buzzing around my garden, each year I do feel closer to getting out of it altogether.




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
Tom McDonald
Tom McDonald
@tom-mcdonald
3 years ago
26 posts

I'm working on a blues song about bees and beekeeping, and could use some help.

One of my tasks at this time of year is getting new bees to replace winter losses. Opening up the top of my hives and basically pouring money in the top to keep them going provided my inspiration. I'm down by half this year, an improvement over the 80% hit I took last year. And a lot of practical beekeeping seems to consist of stacking heavy boxes while trying to keep from getting stung. So there are things to be blue about.

That, and I need some new material.  Maybe "Hive Beetle Blues" or "Varrora Mite Blues." My bees done left me, I'm so sad... stuff like that.

I've got the idea, but nothing much beyond that and I'm stuck. If some of you could contribute a verse or even some phrases in the comments that I could work up I'd be grateful. Here is a song about one of the many times they fouled up my paycheck at work, just to give you an idea of what I've got in mind. Thanks so much for your help.


Ariane
Ariane
@ariane
3 years ago
50 posts

@Kusani - you have built very beautiful dulcimers!

A few days ago I have heard a Macedonian folk tune in 7/8 measure and am working on it - it is quite challenging since we "West Europeans" are not very familiar to uneven measures - but I can't get that tune out of my head ...a recording will come soon smile

Kusani
Kusani
@kusani
3 years ago
134 posts

Thank you Ken, I just wish I had thought of the other variable you brought up re the internal volume.  However even if I had, I don't have the math skills to calculate the volume of either of the two shapes.   Anyway, both do sound pretty good to an amateur's ears. :) 


updated by @kusani: 02/04/21 10:37:20AM
Ken Hulme
Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
3 years ago
2,111 posts

Beautiful job Kusani!

Susie
Susie
@susie
3 years ago
500 posts

Kusani:


0.jpg 01.jpg


Well, my experiment on body shape affecting sound went awry do to me forgetting one important variable.  However, I did end up with a couple decent dulcimers. Both made from the same poplar board. Ebony was used for the overlay on the fretboard. Other than shape, all components and dimensions are identical. 



Those are beautiful!

Kusani
Kusani
@kusani
3 years ago
134 posts

0.jpg 01.jpg

Well, my experiment on body shape affecting sound went awry do to me forgetting one important variable.  However, I did end up with a couple decent dulcimers. Both made from the same poplar board. Ebony was used for the overlay on the fretboard. Other than shape, all components and dimensions are identical. 


updated by @kusani: 02/01/21 08:38:21PM
Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 years ago
1,720 posts

John W. McKinstry: I like the idea of setting up such a thread but I am not sure how to go about it. Could you run me through the process? 


John, I just created a couple of screenshots to demonstrate the process.  There are only 5 easy steps.  Check out the discussion I just created in the Site Questions Forum .




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
Dan
Dan
@dan
3 years ago
180 posts

IMG_20210128_170325800.jpg

Been carving on a peg head!

John W. McKinstry
John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
3 years ago
50 posts

I like the idea of setting up such a thread but I am not sure how to go about it. Could you run me through the process?

Dusty Turtle
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
3 years ago
1,720 posts

Hey just an idea, people, but we have the Call the Tune Group which was intended for people to share different versions of the same tune.  Someone (John? Gordon?) could start a thread on music for Lent and have people contribute different tunes.  That way all those tunes could be found in one convenient place.




--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie

updated by @dusty: 01/28/21 06:04:41PM
John W. McKinstry
John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
3 years ago
50 posts

Great idea Gordon.  Look forward to hearing and seeing your video and others who may join the Lenten theme.

Gordon Hardy
Gordon Hardy
@gordon-hardy
3 years ago
27 posts

John W. McKinstry:

I noticed in the calendar that Ash Wednesday is February 17th, the beginning of Lent and so I have been looking at Lenten hymns. To mark the beginning of Lent I have chosen a  Spiritual: "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me". This video will be posted on February 15th.

Thanks for the Ash Wednesday reminder, John. If I may, I'm going to ride your coattails and post a Lenten Spiritual on February 15 as well. I think I'll try "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley".

John W. McKinstry
John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
3 years ago
50 posts

I noticed in the calendar that Ash Wednesday is February 17th, the beginning of Lent and so I have been looking at Lenten hymns. To mark the beginning of Lent I have chosen a  Spiritual: "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me". This video will be posted on February 15th.

Ariane
Ariane
@ariane
3 years ago
50 posts

Robin Thompson:


@Ariane I am eager to hear what y'all have come up with!  Such a wonderful project!  



Thank you very much, my dear friend bighug

Kusani
Kusani
@kusani
3 years ago
134 posts

Opps, Ken you are exactly correct!  Oh well, it's been fun building them; especially since we were not able to go Florida this month. whistle

Richard Streib
Richard Streib
@richard-streib
3 years ago
231 posts

[quote="John W. McKinstry"]

Hi Jill,  Good to hear from you.  Yes, I have posted "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" in the video section of FOTMD.  I take comfort in playing the old hymns and often play them as a personal meditation time.

John, I too play some of the old hymns for my personal worship and meditation. Try to do that every time I play.

John W. McKinstry
John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
3 years ago
50 posts

Hi Jill,  Good to hear from you.  Yes, I have posted "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" in the video section of FOTMD.  I take comfort in playing the old hymns and often play them as a personal meditation time. 

Ken Hulme
Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
3 years ago
2,111 posts

Kusani -- make sure that your two shapes have the same interior volume (cubic inches), even though that means they will be different sizes.  That's the only way to ensure that any tone differences you get will come from the shape not the volume. We KNOW that interior volume differences cause differences in tone -- large volumes = more bari-bass response

Jill Geary
Jill Geary
@jill-geary
3 years ago
28 posts

John W. McKinstry:

I am working on the hymn: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". Hymnals have it in the key of F with one flat which puts it in a good singing range. I put my dulcimer into F by capo-ing on the 3rd fret while the strings are tuned C G C. I have worked out the three basic chords F, B, and C to accompany my singing of this hymn. I'll do the video of this hymn for FOTMD soon for you to hear and see what I have done.

Hi John, Have you posted the video yet? Thanks for the info! p.s. I too have arthritis - really difficult to do big stretches for chords - but the good news is that I really enjoy noter/drone playing!

Bob
Bob
@bob
3 years ago
86 posts

Robin Thompson:

@bob I believe I've seen where some other builders made that same move.  I imagine it will feel nice to build on your own timetable.    

I know of one other builder who is also currently taking time off from commission builds. It feels like 'play-time' now LOL. I have wanted to build a Pennsylvania-Dutch style Tall Clock (Grandfather Clock)  and am able to do that now.

Kusani
Kusani
@kusani
3 years ago
134 posts

I'm close to finishing an 'experiment'; building two identical dulcimers with the exception of the shape of the body.  They are even out of the same board. The reason is to see if I can hear a significant tone difference. I'll post results and pictures when finished. music dulcimer

Robin Thompson
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
3 years ago
1,415 posts

@bob I believe I've seen where some other builders made that same move.  I imagine it will feel nice to build on your own timetable.    

Bob
Bob
@bob
3 years ago
86 posts

I have hit the "Pause Button" on building commissioned dulcimers. Over two years without a break in building special orders is a long run. It's very fulfilling but also rather stressful.

I will however be building mountain dulcimers and scheitholts of my own specs for general sales for a while. It feels refreshing!

jost
@jost
3 years ago
76 posts

Ken Hulme:


Thing to watch out with Sniff.numachi is that most often their tab is listed "backwards" by modern standards -- they list DAA for example as AAD, which gets lots of new players in trouble...   Try www.Contemplator.com for those kinds of tunes.





Thanks Ken. I already wondered why their guesses for modes and tunings seemed quite odd. Luckily their dulcimer tabs have a function to enter your own tuning for "melody, middle and bass string". I'm sticking with that for now winky

Thanks for the hint to www.contemplator.com.

Robin Thompson
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
3 years ago
1,415 posts

@Ariane I am eager to hear what y'all have come up with!  Such a wonderful project!  

Ariane
Ariane
@ariane
3 years ago
50 posts

I am working on new online project called: "Good Wish Song 2021"

In the relevant dulcimer facebook groups I have posted the following beginning of January:


--------------------------

A new idea for our NEXT ONLINE PROJECT:

tuning in DAD / key in D / four-four time



1. I would like to receive from you a notation of a 2 bar "composition" with the fret numbers of the melody string and the note value (whole, half, quarter, eighth note, pauses etc.) - so to say in melody/drone style.



2. Everybody who would like to can think of a song text for his/her 2 bars expressing for example a good wish(es) for the new year and write it below the notes.



I will then write down a song with a suitable combination of all received 2-bar compositions and will send it to all participants for their recording (either only instrumental of the whole song or in addition with the singing/speaking of the own song text on the corresponding 2 bars).



The idea of this composition will be an encouraging and bolster (I hope that this is the right word) song for 2021 😊

----------------------------


Within a short time the participant's list has increased to 12 and after I had received all twelve 2 bar-compositions I started to puzzle them together so that a nice melody came out.


I have set up a project chat group and it was a delight to see the lively discussion and brain storming regarding the initial arrangement...some wanted to add chords, some an intro and outro, some to reduce the tempo.


Two days ago Ron Zuckerman has written down all agreed additional wishes/suggestions in a new sheet music and made an orientation recording so that the recording phase for the group could start.


Today I already could place 3 dulcimer recordings as well as 2 vocal recordings into my DAW where I will do the final mixing...and what can I say...it already sounds so beautiful!


I will post the final video here and would be happy if you are looking forward to it as I do sun








traildad
@traildad
3 years ago
89 posts

I’m working on getting two just intonation dulcimers. Unfortunately one of them had a major fret placement defect and was unplayable. Hopefully I can get it replaced and I’ll be able to change keys like I want without restringing. 

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