People sometimes wonder why there seems to be so much more instructional material, TAB books, workshops, and festivals geared towards dulcimer chord style playing rather than traditional noter style.
Let's consider some similarities and differences between noter style playing and chord style playing for a moment. Starting out, both these playing techniques involve an initial learning curve that can be a challenge to anyone, especially to folks who've never played music before. Both playing techniques can be expressive and beautiful. Both can be as simple or as involved a style of playing as you choose to pursue. And both techniques can start out being taught with simple accessible instructional materials, using easy songs.
It's after the initial learning curve where the two playing styles more greatly diverge for the average player.
We know how the more modern chord style playing style evolved and why it continues to be popular, but... why do we continue to see such a pronounced higher volume of TAB, jam books, instructional material, classes and workshops dedicated to chord style playing than to noter playing?
The initial learning curve in noter playing consists of gaining a basic understanding of how using from two to four basic tunings enables us to play happy or sad tunes. One can learn a dozen or more simple beginner tunes and how to do hammer-ons and slides... and basically you are playing the single melody line of a tune on the melody string and letting the open drone strings provide additional tonic and 5th notes that fill out the sound to add beauty and depth. There is no fingering of various chords over several strings with multiple fingers, and that doesn't change no matter what tuning you use. You are playing a melody line, on one string, and adding expression and variety through dynamics, strumming patterns, and rhythm. I should add that in both chord and noter styles, players get better at adding expression with time.
On the other hand (no pun intended), in chord/melody playing style the beginner player learns where to place and move certain fingers over several strings for each sequence of chords and notes. If they change their tuning they need to learn other fingerings for their chords. Some fingering stretches can be difficult or awkward for the hand, thus fingerings are often adapted to make certain chords, melodic phrases, or sequences easier to accomplish. Dulcimer teachers can make TAB arrangements of fingerings that improve the flow and playability of a tune in chord style while also adding variety and interest. These Tabs and arrangements are roadmaps to being able to play more complex or modern tunes. They require skill to create, and are rightfully copyrighted when presented in workshops or in books.
Chord fingerings and arrangements are why the average chord style player tends to rely more on TAB than the average noter style player.
Once I completed the bulk of my noter Blog instructional posts, which included over 30 relatively easy TABS and plain language explanations of modes and tunings, I realized that if noter players worked through my blog and had a rudimentary grasp of why and how to retune to at least a couple of the four most commonly used noter tunings, and were at the stage where they could play many those 30 tabbed tunes in several modes, well then they really had all the tools they needed to continue on by themselves. I didn't need to go on forever writings the numbers for every note of endless traditional folk tunes. You too should learn how to explore how to play your own favorite tunes!
In noter playing, once you know how and why to retune, you get to the point where you can figure out how to first hum and then pick out the melody of a traditional tune you'd like to play. You play with a noter on the melody string only while your tuning allows the drone strings to automatically provide the harmonies or pleasing filler tones. You can add personal expression and interest through timing and dynamic nuances. Expression, flow, and speed come naturally with time and practice.
Yes, one could create books of noter tab, indicating the tunings, timing, and melody line numbers for many, many traditional tunes. But once you learn how to make an omelette in 30 variations with different fillings, you should be able to explore other filling varieties for omelettes on your own, without really requiring hundreds more recipe instructions for making omelettes with other fillings. You've become a chef and can create your own new omelette recipes! Once you know a song's melody in your head, creating noter TAB can be as simple as a single line of numbers scribbled out to serve as a quick reminder for yourself. This noter-drone dulcimer playing blog does not teach how to become a professional dulcimer player, it is merely a roadmap to help you get to where you can confidently create and enjoy playing music at home or with family and friends.
Noter style technique shines when playing traditional tunes and folks songs... especially early European or Appalachian music, and some other types of early music. Admittedly it can sound a bit odd to play Starry Starry Night, Summertime, or John Denver's Country Roads in noter style with drones. Those kinds of tunes rely on the sound of changing chord and key settings for their beauty, and they really sound best when played in chord style.
My point is that after learning the noter playing basics such as tunings, modes, and sliding/rhythm/hammer-ons etc,... I feel there comes a jumping off point where a noter player becomes able to tune to an appropriate mode, pick out a tune on their melody string, make their own simple TABs if they like, and ultimately add musical expression by putting a little of their own feeling and personality into their playing.
That jumping off point might come a little later for chord players, since there is a broader beginner-intermediate range where one might continue to need help with chord fingerings, left hand techniques, understanding arrangements, or playing modern music genres.
Lastly, let's not forget that some folks who play in either chord style or noter style simply enjoy playing from tab or attending tab-based dulcimer workshops or clubs so much that they choose to continue playing that way and exploring arrangements and jamming together from tab forever. Nothing wrong with that. Whatever brings you musical joy is GOOD!
continue reading the rest of this post here...
