Point of information ! Re the comment about my use of 'tremolo' while using a noter.......it could be said to be not so much a technique but more likely a nervous hand tremour resulting from the fact more able players than me would be listening in to anything I posted on this excellent site !
Great post Randy, thanks for the insights into how you play. One more thing- I know you used to lift the noter on and off a lot when you use it to fret the other strings, in the angled way touching the fretboard. Perhaps this skill enabled you to more easily incorporate the noter lifting as shown in this new video, but on just the melody string? Sort of a 'note stopper' if you will.
Thanks for responding to my questions.
Kevin did a great job on making this dulcimer, and you do a great job of playing it.
I notice you tend to lift and replace your noter on the strings pretty often. It's not a common technique in noter players and it has the effect of cutting short the note, making an overall effect of more clarity and emphasis in the notes, especially when you use it towards the end of a phrase. Very smooth fun sliding and runs. Well done!
Oh sure John Henry.
Point of information ! Re the comment about my use of 'tremolo' while using a noter.......it could be said to be not so much a technique but more likely a nervous hand tremour resulting from the fact more able players than me would be listening in to anything I posted on this excellent site !
Oh I absolutely adore @john-henry 's playing, and he plays beautifully in several different styles. He's such a huge inspiration for so many folk.
...and for dulcimore making too!
Oh I absolutely adore @john-henry 's playing, and he plays beautifully in several different styles. He's such a huge inspiration for so many folk.
Good observation there Lisa there is similarity of noter manipulation between the two playing styles. Thanks for noticing/hearing the finer points.
One more noter finesse item: I learned noter tremolo from the playing of John Henry Crocker. Oh yeah...he's a Noter Jedi f'sure.
Great post Randy, thanks for the insights into how you play.
One more thing- I know you used to lift the noter on and off a lot when you use it to fret the other strings, in the angled way touching the fretboard. Perhaps this skill enabled you to more easily incorporate the noter lifting as shown in this new video, but on just the melody string? Sort of a 'note stopper' if you will.
Thanks for responding to my questions.
Kevin did a great job on making this dulcimer, and you do a great job of playing it.
"I notice you tend to lift and replace your noter on the strings pretty often. It's not a common technique in noter players and"
Lisa
This technique is satisfying to play and has multiple applications. Like a virus it has infiltrated my playing for about 6 months. : )
Other more subtle noter techniques are also available to aid the player making music with a stick. I wrote a few down.
Let it ring
Cut it off
Slide by it silent
Land on it hard/soft
Bounce it
Hit it / woody
Harmonics
Percussion
Twitch it.
There's more right?
I think of these as expression techniques. Like the pedals on a piano. We have more than 3! : )
Kevin Messenger made dulcimer. Love it. Sound waves penetrate my abdomen.
Great playing Randy!
I notice you tend to lift and replace your noter on the strings pretty often. It's not a common technique in noter players and it has the effect of cutting short the note, making an overall effect of more clarity and emphasis in the notes, especially when you use it towards the end of a phrase.
Very smooth fun sliding and runs. Well done!
Did you make that dulcimer Randy?
Doggies, Randy, this is sweet!