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Location: Morgantown WV
Country: USA

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events: 1

My wife, Norma plays dulcimers. I make musical instruments as a creative activity, and play ukulele and U-Bass.

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@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming:

"These has been heavy flooding in parts of KY, VA, NC, and WV. In the past, Hindman has been hit very hard on multiple occasions. I pulled the following..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on 2025 Gardner Winter Music Festival -(WV):

"The Workshop Schedule and Performance Schedule are now up on the webpage. www.GWMF.org There are 4 Mountain Dulcimer workshops, 2 in DAA and 2 in DAD,..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "A Question about dulcimer popularity...":

"One measure might be the number of commercial producers of dulcimers. That has certainly declined."

@wally-venable • 4 weeks ago • comments: 41
Posted a new Comment on How do Possum Boards REALLY work?:

"Ken, thanks for posting the link to the Interesting Dulcimer Experiment book. I've only read the introductions so far. The bridge between instrumental and..."

@wally-venable • 4 weeks ago • comments: 41
Posted a new Comment on How do Possum Boards REALLY work?:

"Listening to a dulcimer with and without a possum board isn't a scientific test. What YOU hear when playing is also affected by changes in stroke angle,..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Introduce Yourself!":

"Buying a new fretboard will cost you more than buying a 30 year old dulcimer and involve a lot more work. I would suggest you consider buying an instrument..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Introduce Yourself!":

"My knowledge is in two streams. I use and arrange in MIDI for a crank organ with multiple voices controlled by solenoids, as well as a small MIDI synthesizer..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Introduce Yourself!":

"It's not clear to me exactly what you propose to do. In general, control of a synthesizer requires that the controller generate a digital signal, which is..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 41
Posted a new Comment on How do Possum Boards REALLY work?:

"Some here might be wondering why there is a " GALAX DULCIMER ." Who was the Mr. Galax who made it? From WIKIPEDIA: Galax /ˈɡeɪlæks/ is an independent city..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 14
Posted a new Comment on Northern WV Dulcimer Doings:

"Winter Jam – Mixed AcousticSaturday, February 8, 2025 - 10:00AM – 3:00PMCentral United Methodist Church301 Fairmont Ave. Fairmont WV Always a mix of lap and..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on Zero Fret:

"While posting a response to an inquiry about string gauges I had a thought about the use of the Zero Fret. I suspect that one reason for using one is that it..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "String Gauge Combination Questions":

"I think any "set" on the market will be fine on any more-or-less standard dulcimer in CGG, DAA, DAD and DAC tuning. There is no reason to try to out smart..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":

""Chromatic Dulcimers are becoming more popular" Than what? Many, many more new violins are purchased each year than dulcimers. Probably many millions more. I..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on 2025 Gardner Winter Music Festival -(WV):

"The GWMF is now recruiting VOLUNTEER workshop leaders at the beginner and intermediate levels. We typically offer 3 to 5 one to one and a half hour sessions..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Tuners":

"Why are you worried about tuner precision? Electronic turners are great for many reasons, including letting folks "tune up" backstage to the same note,..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer ergonomics?:

">>> I’m hunching over the fretboard .... Have you reviewed your music stand and glasses ? After 60 many of us are wearing bi-focal glasses. You my..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer ergonomics?:

">>> Part of the issue is I'm a small person (5' tall) and cannot reach the floor with my feet on most chairs... I'm almost 5'6", but with short..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer ergonomics?:

"I found one video which I won't argue with: How to sit and hold your mountain dulcimer. Really easy dulcimer lesson #1 I use a 2-inch foam block..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer ergonomics?:

"We can't make constructive suggestions until we know how you are sitting and playing. Are you slouched on a couch with your elbows hitting cushions? Are you..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "dulcimer kit":

"Your picture of the "bridge" end doesn't show enough to make good guesses about it. Two photos, top and side, could help. A straight on side shot of the head..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "dulcimer kit":

"Hill Country Dulcimers, successor to The Dulcimer Factory (TDF), used a variation of that style head and a zero fret in 2002. Possibly TDF also made a..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Optimum spacing for the two melody strings":

"You don't need to buy a replacement blank made of bone, or other super-hard material. Those can be a good choice, but they are hard to shape. You can use..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on 2025 Gardner Winter Music Festival -(WV):

"Applications for performance slots are now open. There is a registration form accessible via..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 491
Posted a new Comment on @ken-longfield:

"Virtually any lap dulcimer can be strung with the common package sets for either DAA or DAD. Typically plain Steel .012, .012, .014, Nickel Wound .022. I'm..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Optimum spacing for the two melody strings":

"Ken Longfield said "Back in 1974 I would guess that McSpadden recommended using a wood glue like Original Titebond or Elmer's Wood Glue." I would agree as..."

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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."