Group Discussions
First Festival
Ok, now that I have my dulcimer and beginning to learn it, next up is to go to a Festival. I see several different ones in different parts of the...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 49
Strum Strum Strum
I am having a very hard timestrumming, would anyone like to post somestrumming patterns or how I am to tell how to strum on any music I am trying...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 25
Getting back to the dulcimer
Finally retired... and after being a church organist/keyboardist for 30 years it is time for some fun (not that doing what I did was not fun.. it...
@Richard Venneman started 10 years ago - replies: 2
Snark tuner fragility: has this ever happened to you?
Hi, I have a clip on red Snark tuner and love it, but I noticed yesterday that one of the little clasps is broken. The clasps hold the head of the...
@Ruth Lawrence started 10 years ago - replies: 20
Does painting a dulcimer alter the sound or tone?
I am going through the many photos of FOTMD members, there are so many very interesting dulcimers shown. There are also some that are painted. I...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 13
Playing DAA in DAD
I am tuned to DAD and need to play some DAA songs in a class I am taking. If I can play the middle string (that would be an A) would I strum out...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 18
Strap Button or Not
I have seen discussions on lap cloths and straps.My dulcimer; aJohn Naylor '96 - doesn't have a button on it now and like many others, I do not...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 10
Mc Spadden or Sweet Woods?
Hello, kind reader(s),I'm considering instruments to get back into playing dulcimer. A few years ago I played an all-walnut Mc Spadden teardrop...
@John Gribble started 10 years ago - replies: 2
Dulcimer Books
I received such a sweet gift today, several dulcimer books. I have now began a small collection of dulcimer books that let me to wonder: What is...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 23
How to find: .....
Members from a certain area, how would we find out who they are?I was looking on the Members section and first let me say, it was so nice to see so...
@marg started 10 years ago - replies: 3
Another source of free MD instructions
I found this archived site that has a few nuggets of instruction. It seems like the site is no longer in existence but has been saved by an...
@Frank Ross started 10 years ago - replies: 1
What are strings named after modes? - how do I know which to use?
Hi,I have 2 sets of McSpadden strings, but I'm confused as to which ones to use - one set is called Mixylodian, the other is called Ionian. The...
@Ruth Lawrence started 10 years ago - replies: 5
Dulcimer playing with arthritis
I am developing weakness (arthritis) in my wrist and fingers and am finding it difficult to hold the strings down without lifting ever so slightly...
@Sheri Poel started 11 years ago - replies: 21
Simple Christmas Music
Could anybody suggest some easy to play Christmas Music in the DAA tuning? I have just started playing again after a 3 month break due to sickness...
@Maggie Arnold started 11 years ago - replies: 4
recommendations for learning the NOTES of the fretboard?
Hi everyone. Thanks for your capo recommendations. Today my challenge is to start to memorize the notes of the fretboard. Tab is nice, but I'd...
@Virginia Oman started 13 years ago - replies: 42
Help With Overwhelming Bass Strings
Hi To AllI have two dulcimers both tuned to DAA, when I play them, the bass stringoverwhelms the sound of the melody strings. Is this normal? The...
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 5
Strum Direction Consistency
I really need to ask this, but am not sure if it's relevant to all styles of playing or just noter/drone. I'm currently stopping lessons as of...
@Lois Sprengnether Keel started 11 years ago - replies: 15
Books for a newbe
Hi Everyone!I know this has probably been ask before, but, here it goes. I have never played a dulcimer before, so Im looking for a book that...
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 8
By choppiness in strumming by a newbie does one mean--
I have been playing about 7 weeks now and thought I had some tunes sounding tolerable until I recorded them for self study. I recorded several...
@Frank Ross started 11 years ago - replies: 13