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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.
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Dulcimer Making
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Latest Group Discussions
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Tuning peg knobs
I have a customer who is having the tuning pegs replaced on two of his...
@Ken Longfield 2 weeks ago - Comments: 11
The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story
Somewhere and at sometime someone decided to build a mountain dulcimer...
@Ken Longfield last year - Comments: 8
A New "Old" Project
Back maybe 20 to 25 years ago, my sister was wandering through a yard...
@Ken Longfield 2 years ago - Comments: 2
PA German Zitter
Here are some photos of PA German zitter reproduction I'm making. There...
@Ken Longfield 2 years ago - Comments: 17
Stanley Hicks article
Although not dulcimer specific, Stanley Hicks played a significant role...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 8
Wood Choice - Food For Thought
I came across this experiment for classical guitars and found it...
@Ken Longfield 3 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 4 years ago - Comments: 14
PA German Zitter
As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 4 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 4 years ago - Comments: 1
Wartz Tab Book Corrections
In the Wartz tab book for the DAA "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms,"...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 2
My First Prichard
It is not quite finished, but I thought I would share a photo of my...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 15
J. E. Thomas Dulcimer #1465 played by Joe Collins
Here is a link to a video of Joe Collins playing my James E. "Uncle Ed"...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 6
Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer
While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 17
String tension calculations
Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 7
Not a Mountain Dulcimer
A few folks here at FOTMD know that I was working on a hammered...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 9
Latest Photos
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Latest Forum Discussions
AllJust For Fun - sayings regarding the...
By: @Strumelia
Sad News
By: @jeffrey charles foster
Capritaurus Dulcimer - Oh My!
By: @Robin Thompson
Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming
By: @Jan Potts
Ukulele construction
By: @Ken Longfield
Hindman, Kentucky
By: @John C. Knopf
Wayfaring Strangers
By: @Ron Larson2
Clifford Glenn
By: @Ken Longfield
For Old Time Music Fans
By: @Ken Longfield
Folk Music Resources
By: @Ken Longfield
A photo for Patty from Virginia
By: @Patty from Virginia
The Dulcimer in Eastern Kentucky Videos
By: @Rob N Lackey
2014 National Mountain Dulcimer Champions
By: @John Keane
Encyclopedia of Appalachia
By: @Ken Longfield
Comments
Thanks Ken, I'm really excited to start learning. I, too, love the song: How Can I Keep From Singing. I have a beautiful version by Eva Cassidy that I play frequently. I would be overjoyed to learn to play it on the dulcimer.
Thanks for the welcome! Am really looking forward to this group. Am a beginner dulcimer player and have a lor to learn.
Thank you Ken! Still looking about. I have a lot of time with my dulcimer, but that is 20+ years past now :(
FOTMD looks like the perfect place for me! I am loving it so far! :)
Thank you Ken for the welcome... so far I'm loving this site... Dulcimer friends are the best... Have a wonderful day.... Happy Strumming
Yes, I have a copy of the CD, if I can locate it among my CDs. If you would like it, I'll make a copy and send it to you.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Ken, do you have a copy of the Everything Dulcimer cd project? I'm trying to recall such a venture yet it may have been done before I joined in '05. Did you participate?
Thank you Ken! I will be exploring...and learning...and looking forward to getting to know the fine folks!
Thanks again for the warm greeting! LD
Hi, Ken,
Thank you for the welcome. Learning to play a new instrument without formal instruction can be intimidating. Communities like this one help a lot and that's because of people like you.
All the best,
Anastasia
Jim, I live in Reedsville in Mifflin County. My wife is originally from Huntingdon and we get over that way occasionally to visit with our niece and my wife's sister. If you ever want to get together to talk dulcimers or play, let me know.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Silverstrings, there are several places to ask about instruments. Under Forums there is a discussion on Instruments. There is a group for Beginners, one for Chord Style Playing, and another for Fingerstlye players where folks who own Blue Lion dulcimers may hang out. Having directed you to those places, I can say that I have a Blue Lion dulcimer and really like it. It is a quality instrument. They keep their value over the years and are highly prized. As you may know they currently are not accepting new orders due to some health problems. When those are resolved they intend to be back taking orders.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks Ken, Hey, where would be a good group within the FOTMD to ask about a Style I Walnut Blue Lion Dulcimer?
