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Location:

Location: Morgantown WV
Country: USA

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images: 3

events: 1

My wife, Norma has been playing and acquiring dulcimers for about ten years. I make musical instruments as a creative activity, and play DAA Noter Drone, ukulele, U-Bass and concert and hand percussion.

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@wally-venable • 2 days ago • comments: 20
Posted a new Comment on Bought a mountain dulcimer at an estate sale:

"The photos were on the ShopGoodwill website. You may be able to see them at..."

@wally-venable • 2 days ago • comments: 20
Posted a new Comment on Bought a mountain dulcimer at an estate sale:

"I just bought Folkcraft Tch 1478 ( A "Teardrop - cherry" simple scroll head instrument dated n 99 ) on ShopGoodwill. It looks almost as if it hasn't been..."

@wally-venable • 5 days ago • comments: 23
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"Sorry about the messy image links, I was "saving time" by not saving and re-linking."

@wally-venable • 5 days ago • comments: 23
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

"I should have been more specific. I'm a fan of the Korg CA series. You can buy the CA-2 for about $20 on eBay. I didn't know they made the AW-LT 100M. I..."

@wally-venable • 5 days ago • comments: 23
Posted a new Comment on Help with tuning?:

">>> I like Korg tuners but they don't make a clip on tuner. ... I do use a small collection of the semi-generic clip-on tuners, but a prefer a..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The use of hammer-on, pull-off and slide. ":

">>> I have been known to use slides to cover up mistakes! Me too, particularly when playing by ear."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Leveling of frets - why?":

">>> "When I discovered my fret board (also called the finger board) was badly warped..." A dulcimer FRET BOARD is not a FINGER BOARD, as used on..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 1
Posted a new Comment on Patty Looman Birthday Jam:

"The late Bob Lackey used to post the Patty Looman Birthday Jam. I'll follow in his footsteps for this year. Mark your calendars on Feb 7, 2026 for the Patty..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Praetorius Scheitholt":

"Checking back, I Googled the title " Seeger, Charles, The Appalachian Dulcime r" and got the link..."

@wally-venable • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Praetorius Scheitholt":

"I had not found the Charles Seeger article before, even though it is posted on FOTMD. Perhaps it is new here. To me, there are some interesting side issues...."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Just starting out, have a question:

"My old fingers are OK for playing, but I use a noter which is about half an inch in diameter and six inches long. It is just cut from a 1/2" dowel from..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 17
Posted a new Comment on Berea Traditional Dulcimer Gathering:

"Berea College Library recently posted an updated page on their dulcimer collection. It has data and photos of 15 instruments...."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Let's Bury The Term "Scheitholt"":

""As to the linguistic issue, scheiße is the German word for sh*t. Scheit in the 16th century was log or piece of wood. I think that is still the translation..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Let's Bury The Term "Scheitholt"":

"Ken Longfield and Ken Hulme said""These instruments were constructed by craftsmen on an individual basis probably in home workshops. There is no record of..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "fret markers.":

"I have dot placed stickers, using stationary department dots or masking tape, on one or two of the instruments I own, but if I buy a modestly priced dulcimer..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on Gardner Winter Music Festival:

"GARDNER WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL February 27 & 28, 2026 South Middle School, Morgantown, WV Traditional Appalachian Music,..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Low-maintenance/easy-to-play dulcimer models":

"You mentioned "Low-Maintenance." Provided that they are properly set up when purchased, lap dulcimers don't need much maintenance work except when a string..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on CHROMATIC DULCIMER:

"Most dulcimers can not play a chromatic scale. Traditional dulcimers were built to play a diatonic scale, but most are built today with at least one..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective - Website update":

"I first encountered Steve Smith's TABs when someone passed one out in a dulcimer workshop. The Western NC Dulcimer Collective website lists too many to..."

@wally-venable • 3 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":

"You have constructed an attractive instrument. That is only Part 1 of making a fine instrument. Even a very well made string instrument needs "SET-UP" after..."

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Liquid Electrical Tape

Posted: Saturday November 25 2023, 9:30 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Looking for a Small Dulcimer

Posted: Wednesday October 26 2022, 11:06 AM
By: @Tom McShane

Comments

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01/15/22 11:49:34AM @strumelia:

Wally, thank you SO much for your very thoughtful donation to FOTMD! It is deeply appreciated. sun -Strumelia

11/25/19 02:27:14PM @wally-venable:

The photo shows my first dulcimer project and my third.

The design of the first was based on a cardboard body instrument Norma borrowed for her first dulcimer class.

The third is an octave dulcimer tuned DAA, but an octave above the usual set of notes. It is short enough to fit in an airline carry-on bag.

Both have fingerboards made from 1x2 lumber, with most of the body constructed from 1/8" and 3/32" birch plywood.

02/19/19 08:26:15PM @richard-streib:

Welcome Wallyvenable to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Glad you joined. Sounds like a great event you will be attending. Best wishes on your musical journey.

02/18/19 02:08:20PM @wally-venable:

I'll be at the Gardner Winter Music Fest this Saturday. http://www.gwmf.org

I'm playing with the DAA Strummers and OLLI Orchestra.

The GWMF has a lot of room for mountain dulcimer player or wanna be's. We enjoyed it last year. You can't beat the registration fee - FREE if you bring an instrument.

02/18/19 05:43:39AM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Wally, 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

02/17/19 08:54:20PM @jim-fawcett:

Hey Wally, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.

02/17/19 07:37:53PM @ken-longfield:

Welcome to FOTMD, Wally Venable. It is good to have you aboard. Look for West Virginia players under Groups and join that group.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."