Ken Hulme

Ken- please see the private message I just sent you- important.  Thanks!

Ken, somehow I don't think of using an "@" when replying, but my two comments were especially for you. 

In case you don't drift back to the "spooky, mournful, lonesome" discussion, I said:

     WOW!  I just went to YouTube and caught Nic Jones's fingerstyle guitar version.  Oh Ken, that's one heck of a rockin' Child's ballad.  I know for a fact they plan to bring the theme of Child's Ballads back next year and I was dreading a real downer of an evening.  The librarian in me will research the heck out of this song, but I'd thank ye kindly for any arrangement, or whatever you might be willing to send my way.  I know I could probably manage it on guitar, but I'd love to do it on the dulcimer.

     Bit of a postscript here.  I had heard of the title "Little Musgrave", but that's about it.  This is one wicked little song.  Yes, it ends as unhappily as Child Ballads have a nasty tendency to do (are there any happy ones?), but the action is far from slow and I think our Strumelia would agree this one ought to hold the audience's interest.  I'll prowl the verses to get it as lean as possible. 

Since I wrote that I've prowled a bit and have a melody and think Nic Jones kept the verse "as lean as possible."  I know it also became the probably better known "Matty Groves", but I won't have time to get too detailed in my intro since the song is so long.  I would be very interested in whatever you may care to share about "Little Musgrave."  If it's easier, right now I'm hoping to attend the Berea event (subject to change if work conflicts).

Ken, I received this message today and replied with a general comment about Berea College probably being ADA compliant.

09/03/18 05:31:24PM  @Sbarnett524 :

Would this event and housing be ADA accessible as per wheelchair use?

I also mentioned that some field trips might not be. Do you know anymore?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken,

i have used quite a bit of sassafras for soundboards.  Wood is available here in Ohio.  Sassafras also resembles chestnut.  Most of sassafras wood I have used has a slight olive hue when finished.  Usually I combine sassafras soundboard with a walnut body.  This combination has been very popular.

JimP

Ken,

i do not have any Catalpa.

i do have several nice pieces of "Wenge" (Africa) that are cut to proper

size for dulcimer fretboard overlays.  Provides a slicker surface for fingering

and material's hardness reduces pick marking.  (Kind of a replacement for ebony).  I can provide size of these overlay blanks, if anyone is interested.

JimP

Worry about you & all of Fla. Could you move your boat & go to Ala or someplace? Be safe & let us know how you are.

Do you have plans for yourself & your boat? Let us know how you are & how you make out after the hurricane comes through

Not knowing where this next hurricane is going, along the coast or right up the middle - do be safe & let us know how you make out if it comes your way.

Well ' I just start adding '3' to my DAd tabs' & some songs worked out better than others. Mostly I ran into trouble when trying to figure the middle string, even with it already an A - I started thinking maybe I should just keep it as is & pick it. 

Do you think something like this could be a discussion some of the members could used - learning how to tab from/to DAd to/from DAA & the other way around?

ken,

Since I have the Carrell dulcimer tuned to DAA but most of my tabs are in DAdd, what is the best site to find many DAA tabs or should I just start adding '3' to my DAd tabs? I get a little confused (trying to update) when a DAd tab has some #'s on the middle string.

thanks

YOUR PICTURES ARE AMAZING!  They make me 1.) Hungry, 2.) Want to live a FULL day, and 3.)  Visit Florida!!!!!

Thank you, Ken --  I already know it's currently strung left handed because of the position of the bass string. What I *meant* to ask was whether the wrapping on the tuning pegs looks correct in that photo.

My inclination would be to wrap the strings in either ascending or descending order from left to right, but as you can tell, I have no knowledge of stringed instruments! This dulcimer came to me with the bass string (which is currently on the bottom rather than the top) strung on the lowest peg, the middle string strung on the highest peg and the end melody string (this is only a 3-stringer) wrapped on the middle peg. All are wrapped overhand rather than underhand.

Hi Ken, 

Your document  I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What??? -- A Beginner’s Guide -- by Ken Hulme shows a John Stockard adjustable dulcimer stand. I searched for it on the "Interweb"   but can't find it anywhere. 

I had a class with Joe Collins Saturday. He used one, and I really liked the setup better than the laptop desk I currently play my dulcimer on, which allows me to play while standing. 

Can you point me in a direction where I might find this stand?

Thanks,

Sheryl

Ken, I recently picked up a BD built by Ken Bloom. I have restrung it, and I am trying to tune it. I recall you had a link to a piano tune site, but can't find the discussion. Please let me know what that site was. 

Sheryl St. Clare

Mancave fared OK during last nights nasty weather, I presume?

Hi again, Ken. Thanks again, I just realized that the string guages you listed did say the G's would be 15's. The penny finally dropped, duh. Found some 15's in a drawer, just haven't worked up the courage t switch 'em yet...

I am a writer, too, but a poet.

Seems attached files don't get posted with the comments. The image was just the site you sent for the banjo pegs, just checking that these are the ones I need to order. Non of the guitar stores carry anything like banjo pegs or buttons.

marg.

Ken,

       Since you have gotten some knobs before, many years ago  -  are we sure these are the right ones to fit the red dulcimer I have?    I  would need 4 to replace all now, should I also have 4 as a back up? Elderly also makes banjo tuner buttons, are they the same or just go with the ones you sent the site for?

Thanks for your help, see photos

marg.

ps: Thinking, I should just go with your site, just tell me they seem right or the ones you would order. I can not delete the attached file of the one from elderly. Is there a way to delete files once they're attached? No worries.

Hi Ken. Retirement is treating me well. How about you. You working on another book? I enjoyed the first one. I'm working on rebuilding my workshop after a water leak back in March. Haven't had much time with all the yard work and some work at our daughter's house.

Ken i posted the answer to your blog image problem, but you'll need to 'approve' it before it appears.