That is lovely!Interestingly I got playing the dulcimer by being at a recording session,not knowing what to use to accompany a French tune"Ma Musette" was the title I think.There happened to be a dulcimer in the studio,I picked it up and it was the perfect instrument for the song even though I didn't know how to play it,I figured it out and got hooked!
Thanks, Monica. The instrument is a six-string baritone with a 1.5 fret. I found the heavier strings of a baritone very difficult to cleanly fret the doubled strings and produce pleasing tones - too heavy and muddy sounding for my ears, especially when I fingerpick. I removed a lot of them! Sounds much better to me as a three string. It was made by Ron Ewing.
Aren't these wonderful little French tunes the catchiest thing?! Glad you approve. I need to really work on getting the vocal tracks right - it is my first attempt. I realize now that I should have started with just two - the melody and one harmony, learn how to better align the tracks, stay on harmony pitch, then build on making the music more polyphonic by stacking more harmonies. I have so much to learn!
Yikes, Marc! I'm sure I gave you a good laugh with my 'French American' singing. You are the real native speaker, I'm the Franco-phony, guilty of language fraud. I've always known you had good musical taste! How funny we both did this nifty little tune. I can't get it out of my head. . . .
That is lovely!Interestingly I got playing the dulcimer by being at a recording session,not knowing what to use to accompany a French tune"Ma Musette" was the title I think.There happened to be a dulcimer in the studio,I picked it up and it was the perfect instrument for the song even though I didn't know how to play it,I figured it out and got hooked!
Thank you, Pierre-Yves! The French folk tunes have such lovely melodies.
Gwen' it's really nice!
Thanks, Monica. The instrument is a six-string baritone with a 1.5 fret. I found the heavier strings of a baritone very difficult to cleanly fret the doubled strings and produce pleasing tones - too heavy and muddy sounding for my ears, especially when I fingerpick. I removed a lot of them! Sounds much better to me as a three string. It was made by Ron Ewing.
That was wonderful Gwen, can you tell about the dulcimer you are playing.
Aren't these wonderful little French tunes the catchiest thing?! Glad you approve. I need to really work on getting the vocal tracks right - it is my first attempt. I realize now that I should have started with just two - the melody and one harmony, learn how to better align the tracks, stay on harmony pitch, then build on making the music more polyphonic by stacking more harmonies. I have so much to learn!
Yikes, Marc! I'm sure I gave you a good laugh with my 'French American' singing. You are the real native speaker, I'm the Franco-phony, guilty of language fraud. I've always known you had good musical taste! How funny we both did this nifty little tune. I can't get it out of my head. . . .
I love these old French folk (dance?) tunes. Well done, Gwen!
Thanks, Lexie, it is so good to hear from you twice in one day! A special day, indeed.
Dulcimerrily,
Gwen