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Location: Ithaca NY
Country: United States

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@sylvia • 17 hours ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Well DAD has struck! My second instrument is a Folkcraft cardboard dulcimer in DAA mode. A dear friend is assembling it for me. So now I have the Ginger,..."

@sylvia • 17 hours ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"I didn’t see the photos at first, but now I do. What a wonderful experience you and your friends must have had. Richard ,s dulcimer is very handsome. thank..."

@sylvia • 6 days ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Ken, please tell me more about the Smithsonian visit and getting to play Richard Farina's dulcimer. Were you there at the behest of the Smithsonian?..."

@sylvia • 6 days ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on @john-petry:

"Well I accept your kind offer. Thank you so much, warm regards Sylvia Bailey 210 Hancock St., Apt. 303 Ithaca, NY 14850"

@sylvia • one week ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Just starting out, have a question:

"Good morning, beginner player here with McSpadden Ginger. 2 weeks in to this journey I see that drone/ noter is going to suit me well. 2 questions: my left..."

@sylvia • one week ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"A chromatic tuner app helped me a lot. Now I can tune it quickly and I’m not afraid to snap those melody strings."

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Richard, Thanks for your helpful and thoughtful comments. Yes, already had a hit of DAD. Haven't had my first instrument for 2 weeks yet. It will have to..."

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Thanks to everyone for their comments. Ken, are you the Ken who authored A Beginners Guide? What a wealth of information. Now I know what D4 means and..."

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Richard, thank you! I’m a rank beginner. I learned very helpful info from your response. Yes , It makes good sense to start with the strings slack and then..."

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 21
Liked a group discussions item created by @sylvia: Help with tuning?

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 21
Created a new Group discussion "Help with tuning?":

"I am having a devil of a time tuning my new Dulcimer. It’s a McSpadden Ginger model, D-A-dd. I have an ordered an Snark electronic tuner . for now I’m..."
Beginner players

@sylvia • 2 weeks ago • comments: 528
Posted a new Comment on @ken-longfield:

"Hi Ken, I appreciate the welcome. As a beginner I am going to use the D A dd tuning. "

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Help with tuning?

I am having a devil of a time tuning my new Dulcimer. It’s a McSpadden...
@Sylvia 2 weeks ago - Comments: 21

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01/26/26 11:15:42PM @john-petry:

They are on the way.....Well, at least they are in the mail box for Pick up on the 'morrow....

Hope they are a help to you. Please give me any request for what design changes, if any are needed to get you playing comfortable.

Shalom

01/24/26 08:22:23PM @john-petry:

Hello again,

I make noters as part of my shop. I've had the opportunity to customize for a few customers. Longer, fatter (the noters) notched and plain. The 1/2 inch seems for some to be too big, but the 7/16 seems about right. It's just a bit larger than the "regular" 3/8 . The notches seem to help in giving an easier grip without having to "grip" too firmly. And I add a lanyard, because it's never fun to scramble after a dropped noter mid melody...

If you send me your address, I'll send you a few different ones to help you find what works. No problem, just glad to help you on your quest into the dulcimer abyss.....

Any request for length, colors, let me know too.

Shalom

01/20/26 12:44:15PM @john-petry:

Hello Sylvia,

Don't know if this will help.. here is a Facebook link to a dulcimer group "sort of" near to you. Perhaps some members are even closer to have jam time with???

https://www.facebook.com/groups/847520368959585/

John

01/11/26 07:36:40PM @richard-streib:

Glad you joined Sylvia. Welcome to a wonderful community of dulcimer players. Enjoy your Ginger. If you have questions feel free to ask. We are here to help each other along. Best wishes on your dulcimer journey.

01/11/26 06:41:11PM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Sylvia, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.

Ben

01/10/26 10:18:34PM @ken-longfield:

Welcome to FOTMD, Sylvia. It's good to have you aboard. What tuning are you planning to use on your Ginger? Most players today use a DAd tuning. You picked a Richard Farina tune as your favorite. I think he played mostly in 1 - 5 -5 tunings (DAA) rather than DAd. Others can probably tell you more about that.

This is a friendly group of mountain dulcimer enthusiasts. We are here to help and encourage one another. Let us know if you have any questions. I look forward to your participation here.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."