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Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

John Henry » Videos » Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

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video file: 7.5MB, 00:02:30

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11/24/10 06:48:16AM @robin-clark:
Hey John - that's a great description about using a quill

I'm a bit more haphazard about cutting quills. I just snip off the feathery bits with scissors and then cut the end to length/stiffness. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the flex correct and every one will be a little different. It has taken me quite a while to find a grip that gives me the best tone, and I feel that I still have a good way to go to improve my technique.I use an in-strum lead with a quill (and an out-strum lead when using a pick). I agree with John that, if you get it right, then the "slap" associated with picks dissapears and you are left with a sharp attack and ringing clear tone. BUT using a quill is very specific to a certain style of playing and sound. A pick is far more adaptable to many music genera and playing styles. And for chord melody I have a whole variety of picks. You can't emphasise individual strings with a quill in the way you can with a pick.I now use a quill pretty much exclusively with my Galax dulcimer and for noter/drone playing in general as I love the tone

The downside is that quills don't last long

11/24/10 04:55:50AM @john-henry:
Good morning Sue, thank you for your comments, its good to know that friends enjoy the stuff one does ! I am not an expert on the dulcimer, rather a maker who 'has a go' I have tried playing in many styles, including noter/drone, with quill. I do nothing special to the feather except strip it with a scaple, decide on the length of the noter that I think I can get from it, cut it with a very fine tooth saw, and then adjust the playing tip for stiffness (scissors for the cut this time(, some poeple refer to this process as 'tuning' the quill, LOL. As for its use, as many before me have said, think beating eggs or a batter mix, tho' I would add for me it works better if I keep the quill nearer the horizontal rather than vertical (think batter in a tray rather than in a basin?) You need to experiment with the amount of 'tip' you have projecting beyond your fingers, to little and the reaction becomes stiff, to much and it will likely snap off, just right and it seems to me at least that most of the 'clack' heard when using many plectrums diappears. One other small point that I would make is that the quill usually has a natural curve to it, and you will need to play around until you find it comfortable to your hand. All before is just my opinion, I am sure that you will get more advice, but stick with it, 'cos playing that way always attracts the 'curiosity audience' LOLbest wishesJohn

11/23/10 07:18:09PM @sue-simms:
John, This is great ! I still can't manage the Quill. I'm trying !

11/23/10 05:10:24AM @john-henry:
I guessed that you would get the implication, LOLJohn

11/23/10 04:30:15AM @robin-clark:
Hi John,I'm not off to Costa Rica until mid Jan. I think I'll be ready for some sun and warm water surfing by then, rather than freezing my bits off getting changed out of my wetsuit on Tywyn Prom!!!!! As for exotic birds - I'm not sure if my good lady would approve of me bringing one home

I had a friend who went turkey plucking last year so I need to find out if he is doing the same this year and see if I can get a bag of quills. I go through about one every 10 days or so. There are some geese settled on the Mawddach Estury for the winter so I may go and have a look for a few lost quills on the salt marsh.

11/23/10 04:01:56AM @john-henry:
Good morning Robin, thanks for comment I know what you mean about 'running out of quills', still , as my mother used to say "Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat..............ect" Must look up a friendly butcher LOLWhen are you off on your travels ? Should we not 'speak' again before you go, have a great time, and remember, you may not be allowed to bring feathers from them exotic birds into the UK !!! LOLJohn

11/23/10 03:50:29AM @robin-clark:
Nice one John

That's a lovely sound!!!!There is something about the tone of using a quill for strumming that a pick just can't replicate. I find myself picking up a quill pretty much every time I pick up a noter (which is pretty much every time I pick up a dulcimer

)I do use picks and out-strumming for chord/melody style of playing. And pretty much exclusively a quill and in-strumming when using a noter. Result = I'm running out of quills

Robin

11/23/10 03:31:33AM @john-henry:
Robin, you're never going to be able to pay me to restore that beautiful old outside 'necessary' if you keep on buying dulcimers, LOL ! It looks good, when are you going to let us hear it? As for the Zoom, it works fine, it is just that I am not a 'natural' when it comes to computers, mine is like some sort of black hole, I put stuff in only for it never to be seen again, I have three pieces that I thought good enough to post, I can still watch 'em on the Zoom, they are somewhere in my computer files, just can't find 'em, sad ain't it !! Give my best to Mark, and get Laura to pay her electricity bill so as we can see you all next time you all play together !!!Thanks for comment, (I decided to marry my wife while listening to her sing that hymn, a long time ago !!!)John

11/22/10 11:39:56PM @robin-thompson:
Ah, what lovely drones on this wonderful tune!Although I don't know whether I can be of any help with the Zoom thingy, John, feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer.