Location:
Location: Morgantown WV
Country: USA
Country: USA
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images: 3
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
• 2 days ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "What's your current fave GO-TO instrument these days?":
Posted a response to "What's your current fave GO-TO instrument these days?":
"Percussion stuff. I'm playing percussion in a small concert band, and sometimes play spoons with our dulcimer group."
@wally-venable
• 3 days ago
• comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on sources for medieval sheet music?:
Posted a new Comment on sources for medieval sheet music?:
"DAC (or CC-AD auf Deutsch) is the Aeolian or (Minor) Mode. In The Dulcimer Book by Jean Ritchie it is CGBb, tuned down a full step.
There are other ways to..."
@wally-venable
• 4 days ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "violin uke":
Posted a response to "violin uke":
"It may be worth while to invest in a wire gauge if you need to replace strings. I have one like this which I occasional use on dulcimer strings.
I would..."
@wally-venable
• one week ago
• comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
"I'm all in favor of making your own instrument, but most of the first-time buyers who I have encountered are mature women who leave making that kind of stuff..."
@wally-venable
• one week ago
• comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
"I've bought a number of instruments on ShopGoodwill. Many of the listings have issues which are easily spotted and corrected by an amateur luthier.
I bought..."
@wally-venable
• one week ago
• comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:
"We have had good dealings with Don Gardner. Norma bought two and members of our local group have probably bought about five more. I am aware of issues with..."
@wally-venable
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 27
Posted a new Comment on Box Dulcimers:
Posted a new Comment on Box Dulcimers:
"My New Tennessee Music Box
I have just finished a Tennessee Music Box which I started last year. I had two goals in mind: (1) to add another form of folk..."
@wally-venable
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 27
Posted a new Comment on Modern/Chord style Players:
Posted a new Comment on Modern/Chord style Players:
"Helena Hallberg plays a set of three-finger chords. She moves up and down the fretboard, and changes her finger configuration, so it isn't just sliding...."
@wally-venable
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 27
Posted a new Comment on Modern/Chord style Players:
Posted a new Comment on Modern/Chord style Players:
"Did you see tonight's PBS NEWS HOUR " Symphony celebrates NATO's 75th anniversary " featuring the American Pops Orchestra? At about 2:54 a young woman plays..."
@wally-venable
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Hanging some dulcimers as a wall display":
Posted a response to "Hanging some dulcimers as a wall display":
"OK, now I understand the requirements. Just have a blacksmith or welder construct five separate cradles, each customized to fit an individual instrument and..."
@wally-venable
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Hanging some dulcimers as a wall display":
Posted a response to "Hanging some dulcimers as a wall display":
"You might also consider building some sort of angled "bookshelves" or "shadow boxes." That way you could easily take them down to play.
The closest thing I..."
@wally-venable
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Local Luthier Recommendations:
Posted a new Comment on Local Luthier Recommendations:
"If that is Morgantown, WEST VIRGINIA, I'm in the local area. I'm an amateur luthier with a good bit of dulcimer experience. I'd be willing to look at your..."
@wally-venable
• one month ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"I ordered a set of the tuners on Ali Express for under $15 for a set of 4. I used PayPal to avoid sending a credit card number. They arrived promptly,..."
@wally-venable
• one month ago
• comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on @jerrytro:
Posted a new Comment on @jerrytro:
"Folkcraft made and still makes teardrop dulcimer kits. If Pigeon Forge Strings built instrument from Folkcraft kits (or copied kit parts) who is the..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"I frequently tell people ALL NEW INSTRUMENTS NEED TO BE SET UP AFTER ASSEMBLY. On factory made instruments this is often left to the retailer, or to be done..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 21
Posted a new Comment on Wood types:
Posted a new Comment on Wood types:
"Actually she is buying 5mm plywood which is closer to 1/4 inch. Still a good route to a simple dulcimer with the advertised availability of a pre-built stick..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"The listing says "Banjo Tuner Tuning Key Head String Machine Peg Pegs Geared Tuners Parts Accessories Knobs Friction Set Keys Button 5String"
If there are..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"There are some tuners which appear to be planetary on Ali Express for under $15 for a set of 4. The only review gave them a rating of 1 out of 5. Anyone want..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"It may be that the tuners on your instrument were not correctly installed. I looked ans some Amazon ads for these instruments, and they have the thick round..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
Posted a response to "Shifting bridge and nut":
"Looking at photo img-20240604-210414-914.jpg it seems clear to me that the problem is the result of putting fancy tuners of some sort on an instrument..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "John Jacob Niles":
Posted a response to "John Jacob Niles":
"" .... Apparently, he strung them with Black Diamond guitar strings....."
"Dulcimer strings" have only been sold for 20 years or so. Before that your major..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Folk Instruments?":
Posted a response to "Folk Instruments?":
"I'll go along with three "keys" to being a folk instrument:
(1) Not usually encountered in a standardized form, with variations limited to size and..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 13
Posted a new Comment on Northern WV Dulcimer Doings:
Posted a new Comment on Northern WV Dulcimer Doings:
"PattyFest 2024 - 1 June - Fairmont, WV
Bob Lackey used to be a voice for this early summer gathering of the Gardner and Wartz crowd.
The folks who run..."
@wally-venable
• 2 months ago
• comments: 36
Posted a new Comment on BEWARE of internet ad sites of "the BEST dulcimers" to buy.:
Posted a new Comment on BEWARE of internet ad sites of "the BEST dulcimers" to buy.:
"The best starting point is to find a local dulcimer group and attend a few of their gatherings. This isn't always practical, but if you can do it you will..."
Latest Group Discussions
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Latest Forum Discussions
AllLiquid Electrical Tape
Posted: Saturday November 25 2023, 9:30 PM
By: @John C. Knopf
By: @John C. Knopf
Looking for a Small Dulcimer
Posted: Wednesday October 26 2022, 11:06 AM
By: @Tom McShane
By: @Tom McShane
Comments
01/15/22 11:49:34AM @strumelia:
Wally, thank you SO much for your very thoughtful donation to FOTMD! It is deeply appreciated. 
-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 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."
