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Location:

Location: Reedsville, PA
Country: US

My Latest Followers:

Stats

youtube videos: 1

images: 77

events: 3

Groups: 1

I am retired and live in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. I built my first mountain dulcimer in 1974. I continue to build mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers and do repair work on them as well as guitars and banjos. I enjoy old time music, bluegrass, and folk music from before and after the folk scare of the 1950s and 1960s.

Latest Activity

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@ken-longfield • 4 hours ago • comments: 1
Posted a new Comment on @shootrj2003:

"Welcome to FOTMD Shootjr2003. It is good to have you aboard. We have many people here who make dulcimers, some using cigar boxes as the body. Look around..."

@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Persimmon:

"That really looks good. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 3 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @colindaguthrie:

"Welcome to FOTMD Colindaguthrie. It is good to have you aboard. You will find lots of information to help you along on your dulcimer journey. If you have..."

@ken-longfield • 3 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @dmaloney13:

"Welcome to FOTMD Dmaloney13. It is good to have you aboard. I hope you enjoy exploring this site. If you have any questions, just ask. Ken "The dulcimer..."

@ken-longfield • 4 days ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @kate-of-the-hazlewood:

"Welcome to FOTMD Kate. It is good to have you aboard. If you can't find answers to your questions as you explore this site, go ahead and ask. We are happy..."

@ken-longfield • 5 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Die Gedanken Sind Frei (My Thoughts are Free):

"Thanks Mark; not only for the fine playing, but also for the history of the song. It is one of my favorites. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 5 days ago • comments: 4
Liked a youtube item created by @mark-gilston: Die Gedanken Sind Frei (My Thoughts are Free)

@ken-longfield • 5 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @tobaiko:

"Welcome to FOTMD Tobaiko. It is good to have you here. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 5 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @bradmcguire88:

"Welcome to FOTMD Brad. It's good to have you aboard. I hope you are able to find those Bill Taylor dulcimers. You will enjoy them. Ken "The dulcimer sings a..."

@ken-longfield • 6 days ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Persimmon:

"Nice looking back. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @wayne-g:

"Welcome to FOTMD Wayne. It is good to have you aboard. If you have specific questions about mountain dulcimer history, just ask. By doing a search here you..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @lloydcole:

"Welcome to FOTMD Lloyd. It is good to have another Pennsylvanian on board. Let us know if you have any questions as you begin your dulcimer journey. My..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @lmcwilli:

"Welcome to FOTMD Lmccwilli. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in this site. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on We Walk By Faith:

"There are many sites that offer free downloads of the sheet music in various forms. All of them were in the key of A. A few were simple melody lines. If you..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @ksinden243:

"Welcome to FOTMD Ksinden. It is good to have you aboard. After purchasing that dulcimer I hope you will stick around and join in these discussions. Look..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 1
Liked a youtube item created by @randy-adams: Great High Mountain

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago

@ken-longfield is now following @dwain-wilder

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Suzie Glaze on the Ritchie's "Brightest and Best" :

"I had the opportunity to see Suzie Glaze play Jean Ritchie in a play entitled "Sining the Moon Up." As far as I know the only time it was performed was a..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on What are the best dulcimer kits?:

"If you visit the MusicMaker's site and are on the full dulcimer kit page there are four words under the explode view of the kit: Description, Key Specs,..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":

"You're welcome. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on What are the best dulcimer kits?:

"Again, MusicMakers continues to offer a mountain dulcimer kit. Also, StewMac, a well know supplier of tools and parts for guitar, banjo, mandolin, and..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @dand:

"Welcome to FOTMD DanD. It is good to have you aboard. I am glad that you are getting back in to playing. Let us know if you have any questions as you..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Liked a youtube item created by @randy-adams: Black Eyed Susie

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 5
Liked a music item created by @studentofrhythm: Bear Tune

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @appleslider:

"Welcome to FOTMD Appleslider. It is good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in this site. If you have any questions regarding the..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on What are the best dulcimer kits?:

"Here is a kit from Musicmakers in Minnesota. Hourglass Mountain..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on What are the best dulcimer kits?:

"I built both McSpadden and Folkcraft kits. Both make very nice dulcimers. I think the McSpadden is a little easier to put together, but I understand that..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @doctorm:

"Welcome to FOTMD Doctorm. It is good to have you aboard. This is a good place to connect with dulcimer people. You will find many resources here. Let us..."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Construction plans?:

"The hourglass dulcimer plan sold by Folkcraft is very good and useful. The plan is full size and suggests modifications to make a teardrop dulcimer as well...."

@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "A stolen Rolling Stones dulcimer":

"Thanks for sharing this story. It certainly was interesting. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @phughes:

"Welcome to FOTMD Phughes. You'll find lots of suggestions here to improve your playing. The best way is to play as often as you can and with others if..."

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @erthling:

"Yes, you can. Some folks mark the "extra" frets in some way to help. I like the method of using a marker of a color you like and coating part of the top of..."

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @mstrick96:

"Welcome to FOTMD Mstrick96. It is good to have you aboard. You will find information here on playing and building, but if you have specific questions, just..."

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @erthling:

"Welcome to FOTMD ErthLing. It is good to have you aboard. Let us know if we can help you on you dulcimer journey. Enjoy your dulcimer. Ken "The dulcimer..."

@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Suzie Glaze on the Ritchie's "Brightest and Best" :

"Thanks for posting this Robin. I enjoyed the different versions of Brightest and Best and the history of the song. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""

Latest Group Discussions

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T - 6

This is my sixth teardrop dulcimer. The shape comes from plans by Scott...
@Ken Longfield 2 years ago - Comments: 12

Latest project - Prichard

I started to build a C.N. Prichard reproduction, but made a mistake...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 9

Making wood tuning pegs

For those of us who make wood tuning pegs, what finish do you put on...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 3

Current build

Here are some photos as I near the completion of this project. The...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 15

Tuning peg knobs

I have a customer who is having the tuning pegs replaced on two of his...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 23

Wood Choice - Food For Thought

I came across this experiment for classical guitars and found it...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 13

The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story

Somewhere and at sometime someone decided to build a mountain dulcimer...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 8

Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer

While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 17

PA German Zitter

Here are some photos of PA German zitter reproduction I'm making. There...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 17

Not a Mountain Dulcimer

A few folks here at FOTMD know that I was working on a hammered...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 9

A New "Old" Project

Back maybe 20 to 25 years ago, my sister was wandering through a yard...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 2

Stanley Hicks article

Although not dulcimer specific, Stanley Hicks played a significant...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 8

The Story of the Dulcimer, Second Edition

This is just a notice that it is available for pre-ordering on Amazon.
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 14

PA German Zitter

As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 0

Old-time West Virginia bands

County Sales currently has these two CDs on sale for $7.00 each if...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 1

Wartz Tab Book Corrections

In the Wartz tab book for the DAA "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms,"...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 2

My First Prichard

It is not quite finished, but I thought I would share a photo of my...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 14

J. E. Thomas Dulcimer #1465 played by Joe Collins

Here is a link to a video of Joe Collins playing my James E. "Uncle...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 6

String tension calculations

Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 5

Latest Audio

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Latest Videos

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Landis Valley Zitter

@Ken Longfield
5 years ago - Comments: 17

Latest Photos

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Latest Forum Discussions

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Mike Clemmer

Posted: Friday December 17 2021, 9:41 AM
By: @Skip

Don Pedi honored

Posted: Thursday September 16 2021, 6:11 AM
By: @Susie

Joni Mitchell and Mountain Dulcimers

Posted: Thursday August 26 2021, 8:38 PM
By: @Dusty Turtle

Zoom group invitation

Posted: Sunday May 23 2021, 6:24 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

An Interesting News Story from West Virginia

Posted: Thursday April 15 2021, 8:15 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Bonnie Carol

Posted: Saturday April 3 2021, 6:54 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Newspaper Article

Posted: Saturday March 13 2021, 10:38 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Jon Pickow's last performance

Posted: Saturday January 23 2021, 10:07 PM
By: @Ken Hulme

Sad News -- RIP Ralph Lee Smith

Posted: Thursday December 31 2020, 3:05 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Dr. George Orthey, Mountain dulcimer and...

Posted: Thursday November 26 2020, 12:07 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Anyone bidding"

Posted: Thursday September 17 2020, 5:49 AM
By: @Susie

The New ED

Posted: Sunday April 19 2020, 10:50 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Guitar project

Posted: Tuesday January 28 2020, 9:13 PM
By: @Susie

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...

Posted: Monday April 8 2019, 5:54 PM
By: @Strumelia

Sad News

Posted: Tuesday January 15 2019, 8:16 PM
By: @jeffrey charles foster

Capritaurus Dulcimer - Oh My!

Posted: Thursday November 22 2018, 7:56 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming

Posted: Monday February 26 2018, 12:56 PM
By: @Jan Potts

Ukulele construction

Posted: Thursday September 14 2017, 9:42 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Hindman, Kentucky

Posted: Saturday November 26 2016, 9:14 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Wayfaring Strangers

Posted: Thursday February 4 2016, 1:05 PM
By: @Ron Larson2

Clifford Glenn

Posted: Sunday July 26 2015, 10:17 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

For Old Time Music Fans

Posted: Friday April 3 2015, 1:07 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Folk Music Resources

Posted: Wednesday February 11 2015, 1:18 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

A photo for Patty from Virginia

Posted: Thursday January 15 2015, 8:28 PM
By: @Patty from Virginia

The Dulcimer in Eastern Kentucky Videos

Posted: Thursday December 11 2014, 5:41 AM
By: @Rob N Lackey

2014 National Mountain Dulcimer Champions

Posted: Sunday September 21 2014, 7:35 AM
By: @John Keane

Encyclopedia of Appalachia

Posted: Friday October 19 2012, 10:17 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Comments

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01/25/23 04:15:02PM @tobaiko:

Hello Ken,

Thank You for warm welcoming me.

Greetings from Germany

Torsten

01/17/23 03:23:21PM @ksinden243:

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Looks like a great community here.

Kyle

01/09/23 05:07:06PM @erthling:

Thank you! I have a question. If I have a Chromatic Dulcimer can I play it the same as a diatonic by just ignoring the extra frets?

01/06/23 02:42:04PM @bruce:

Hi Ken,

Thanks. Looking forward to learning to play the dulcimer.

Bruce

01/05/23 09:21:14PM @antony:

Thanks Ken!

I arrived yesterday.

01/04/23 11:00:08AM @sara:

Thanks for the welcome!

12/29/22 09:05:20AM @antony:

Thanks Ken.

12/13/22 03:04:50PM @thomas-paquette:

Thank you for the note and advice, Ken!

12/01/22 09:23:11AM @jeff-curtis:

Thank You Ken,

I'm having a great time learning to play the dulcimer, and improving my very limited understanding of music theory.

I've read this website for a while now, and it seems like a it is a group of friendly, knowledgeable and helpful users.

Regards,

Jeff Curtis

11/10/22 12:58:31PM @cmfox:

Thank you for the welcome. I am very new to the dulcimer and am delighted to have found this website.

11/04/22 08:50:28PM @travis-childers:

Thank you very much. It's a blessing to have found this place. I'll be around looking for all the advise and pointers I can get. I'm not musically inclined in the slightest. Shalom.

10/09/22 12:25:03AM @ken-longfield:

Well, we enjoy answering questions, so ask way. If folks don't know the answer, we'll make up a response that sounds reasonable (just kidding). You'll find many knowledgeable people here. There are no silly or ridiculous questions.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

10/09/22 12:16:37AM @nutmegger:

Hi Ken, thanks for the welcome and likewise! Already have a bunch of questions lined up and chompin' at the bit to learn.

-Kevin

09/28/22 06:29:42PM @kkimura:

Thank you!

09/23/22 02:35:25PM @ceilidhdog:

Thanks for the welcome. I'm looking forward to learning to play this thing and to meeting lots of folks.

09/10/22 08:46:30PM @anitacopywriter:

Hi Ken,
It is good to be back! For the last couple of years, I have performed other types of music with my hubby. We took early retirement and plan to travel and play music as we go. We may very well cross paths with you as we travel!

09/07/22 11:25:06AM @buzz:

Thank you

09/06/22 03:27:42PM @norcaljon:

Thank so much for your welcome. I have very sweet memories of Ruth teaching me when I was so young!

08/29/22 02:55:04PM @kris-paul-1:

Where would you go and get one

08/19/22 03:42:34AM @soledad:

Thank you Ken. I'm halfway through a build at the moment (spruce top, sycamore back and sides, 27" scale). Very close to needing to commit on soundholes so will have a look round here - I magine it has been discussed. Also keen to discover new players and music styles on dulcimer.

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