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Updating 12-25-23: We survived the Camp Fire and found a new home just south of Paradise. Life is good, and hubby and I are so grateful to be healthy and to have each other - with so many friends suffering illness and loss. My newest passions are clay sculpture, photography, gardening. I did buy a gorgeous new dulcimer after the fire from David at Modern Mountain Dulcimers, but I have not been diligent about playing it.
December 2018: Just a short note here. Our home in Paradise has been burned to the ground, along with 1000+ other homes in the ongoing Camp Fire. We have evacuated to Chico for now, and probably the next 6 mos. We lost nearly everything because we had to get out NOW to save our lives. I lost all three of my beautiful chromatic dulcimers: Modern Mountain koa "Dream" model, Bonnie Carol quilted maple, and Wood 'n Strings smaller "church" model. When we get settled again, my dream would be to find another Modern Mountain koa "Dream" model that I could buy from someone, or have David make one.
Hanging in, one day at a time. What a rough thing to deal with!
Jeannie in Paradise
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AllModern Mountain Dulcimers?
By: @Jeannie in Paradise
Playing again after losing all my dulcimers
By: @Robin Thompson
Not sure if you are checking your page or not....I ended up ordering a TN Sweetie Church from Mike. It won't be here until after the first of the year (probably Feb.). I'm really excited to get it. I ordered it with the sassafras top, since I aready have a walnut/butternut dulcimer.
So now that you've had your Sweetie for awhile, how do you like it? I'm still looking and considering my options. I checked out Ron Ewing's Dulcimette. I want to consider the Sweetie, too. Any advice?
Sorry to hear about your knee. Good luck with your surgery. Hope you can spend your time recuperating playing your dulcimer.
I knew you had ordered one and wondered how it was coming along. I bet the anticipation is very difficult. But, it's always fun waiting for that new dulcimer! I'll look forward to your posts on just how much you like it. I haven't decided on a "little dulcimer" yet. Still "window shopping".
Any news on your MC Sweetie?
Playing it in DAd with capo 1 will make you play it in the key of E minor. Retuning to DAC will have you playing it in the key of D (begin scale on the first fret, not on the open string), which might be better for your playing partner anyway.
hI jEANNIE, any tune played in DAd with a capo on 1st fret is probably better played in its actual aeolian tuning of DAC, with the tonic located on the 1st fret.
Do you want to play it chord style or noter style? You should really ask this in the General Forum, where you 'll get way more helpful suggestions than just only mine. :)
Sure I'll join - I haven't had time to really explore this site so I wasn't awareof it. For that matter, I wasn't aware of any other players in Ca, although I knew there must be some.Thanks.
Hi Bob. If you ask these questions of a dozen different dulcimer players, you'll get at least a dozen different suggestions! I picked up a dulcimer for the first time 3 yrs. ago. So much depends on what style of playing your wife develops... noter/drone, melody/drone (finger dancing), chord/melody, etc., etc. And are her hands long and strong, or shorter and maybe a little more vulnerable... what kind of music does she like... traditional, old time, celtic, modern, ballads, spiritual...I can say that for myself I am drawn to the ballads, some country, some traditional, but mostly fairly mellow stuff. I learned that I don't like the big loud bassy sound. I learned that a VSL of 25-27" is best for me (anything longer is harder to reach). I play pretty much melody/drone (finger dance) style with 4 strings, strung double melody (but many remove the 4th and play a single melody string). I like having the extra frets at 1+, 6+, 8+, 13+. I don't use them very much, but I've learned to play with them on my dulcimers, and they're there if/when I need them.I have bought and sold a few dulcimers along the way, and learned a lot in the process. I'm currently quite happy with my Bonnie Carol (pricey, though!) and a couple Laurel Mountains. I'm trying to sell an awesome Nicolas Hambas "concert grand" dulcimer, with a double back and amazing woods, but it's just louder and stronger than I'm comfortable with. Feel free to look at four of mine at: http://www.geniewithdesign.com/dulcimers.htmGood luck with your research!Cheers,Jeannie