The Russian balalaika shares problems an sounds with the mandolin. It is an instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden, hollow body, fretted neck, and three strings. Two strings are usually tuned to the same note and the third string is a perfect fourth higher. It also has little sustain.
This makes me think that the full length body of the dulcimer is a great thing to have. It separates us from the cigar box crowd.
Here's a demonstration by one of the best living mandolin players:
Jon, I assume (since you mention the mandolin) that you are referring to the flatpicking practice of going back-and-forth across a string really fast. There are at least two other uses of the term. One is a fingerpicking technique used by classical guitarists in which the thumb and three fingers hit strings in rapid succession. The other is the use of a whammy bar or tremolo bar on an electric guitar, which basically moves the bridge to tighten and/or loosen the strings.
Mandolins have very little sustain, so the technique is used on mandolins when note duration exceeds the instrument's capabilities. Only small octave dulcimers would have that same issue.
Having said that, the tremolo effect has a certain romance to it, and there is no reason why we couldn't do it on the dulcimer. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've heard Stephen Seifert do it when imitating a mandolin on the tune "Mama Don't Allow."
There is no reason to reverse your strings. You can do this technique on the bass, middle, or melody string. If you have double melody strings, it might be a bit easier and would sound more mandolin-like.
The only adjustment you might have to make is to turn your flatpick so that you are not using the very point but a smoother side. If you have a round pick, you might practice with that. And I'm sure there are mandolin instructional videos out there that could help.
Should I expect to hear you playing the Godfather theme soon? I think that would sound great played in a tremolo style.
Hi kids it's just me Jon Lilley did you guys miss me smile. anyhow I have a question I was thinking of trying to practice tremolo has anyone out there ever tried doing it with the dulcimer? I was wondering if it would be easier if I reverse the strings so the bass string is on the inside and the trouble string is on the outside I've never tried it and never really heard anyone use it on a Mountain Dulcimer I think it's more popular with mandolins. Anyhow, what do you guys think? How do I approach this technique and does it even work with a Dulcimer????
