Shake, Rattle, and Roll (and Strum!)

Sam Edelston
03/31/19 11:46:53PM
@sam-edelston

For the past month, I had temporary use of a solidbody electric dulcimer. Here it is in the spotlight, playing the song that was a 1954 hit for both Big Joe Turner and Bill Haley & His Comets, "Shake, Rattle, and Roll."

Tuned DAD, played in D, modulating to E. No special frets were used -- because this dulcimer doesn't have any.

The instrument was built by John Knopf, of Michigan. He basically married the electronics of a Fender Stratocaster to the body and fretboard of a dulcimer. You can hear some overdrive and delay on it, plus a bit of an Octave pedal and a bit of chorus.

Enjoy!