tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post8615483253284586120..comments2023-12-31T13:33:16.827-05:00Comments on Mountain Dulcimer noter and drone blog: Why I ditched my 'bass' and 'middle' stringsStrumeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-53179793574953549472015-11-11T18:20:09.671-05:002015-11-11T18:20:09.671-05:00Try my tab sheet for Hot Cross Buns, Celia. Then ...Try my tab sheet for Hot Cross Buns, Celia. Then if you can play that and understand the tab/fret numbers...then you can move on to the next tunes and tabs. It doesn't get any silmpler than Hot Cross Buns, especially if you can hum it. :)Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-91024508671744413042015-11-11T17:46:39.846-05:002015-11-11T17:46:39.846-05:00Thanks Strumelia, that is what I will do... But, d...Thanks Strumelia, that is what I will do... But, do I have to play by ear, or can I stick with Sheet music in Daa, CeliaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05548723036878078597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-64048690951632618362015-11-09T10:24:04.426-05:002015-11-09T10:24:04.426-05:00Hi Cecilia, thanks for reading!
I do give a whole ...Hi Cecilia, thanks for reading!<br />I do give a whole lot of playing tips for drone noter style in this blog, so I'd suggest you begin with the earliest dated posts, which have a great deal of tips for beginner noter players, plus lots of my free tab and videos included in the blog posts. Have fun with it! :)Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-47327292531082434062015-11-09T03:55:34.408-05:002015-11-09T03:55:34.408-05:00I started to learn my dulcimer two years ago with ...I started to learn my dulcimer two years ago with a year off in between.<br />I love notes and drone...I cannot read music....The teacher did not advise playing noter and drone..So I played the melody line and then the cords. At this time I have decided to go back to what I wanted... Drone style. Could you give me a few tips for this? Sincerely, Celia SAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05548723036878078597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-62824053622062662332011-01-17T02:41:14.979-05:002011-01-17T02:41:14.979-05:00Boy Howdy! Like a pig in slop here. The options di...Boy Howdy! Like a pig in slop here. The options discussed have me absolutely GIDDY! Being new to the dulcimer, I think that big ol' fat string has been the one thing that I didn't like and really didn't know what it was that I wasn't liking. I DID put a lighter guage, unwound string on one dulcimer as the base ... and it's still there! I think I will play with lighter strings some more. I'm already pretty sure that I will prefer the sound. Strings are cheap, I have some time ... there is no reason NOT to do this. <br /><br />Thank you Lisa for your whimsical 'no nonsense' way of showing through doing. Several good views expressed here. Appreciate the access to so much experience all in one place.<br /><br />SamSamhttp://writewerx.proboards.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-14133866939656326332010-04-30T22:28:59.486-04:002010-04-30T22:28:59.486-04:00Thanks, Lisa.
I was really happy to get it and pl...Thanks, Lisa.<br /><br />I was really happy to get it and pleased to see that it is near-mint condition. I ditched the mother-of-pearlicious tuner buttons and put on ivoroid buttons which are a good match for the instrument's appearance. <br /><br />It's going to take some time to sort out playing the thing, but I'll post pix soon.Flint Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04103703794012629597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-12973853929918467472010-04-30T22:07:55.244-04:002010-04-30T22:07:55.244-04:00FlintHill,
Oh, you are very lucky indeed to have s...FlintHill,<br />Oh, you are very lucky indeed to have snagged that Seymour Galax on Ebay!<br />I have to say, having heard your singing and playing, that an all .010 strung Galax dulcimer would be a really lovely match to your style and sound. Have fun with your new beauty!<br />Post some pix on FOTMD!!Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-70107110436264771502010-04-30T13:15:16.834-04:002010-04-30T13:15:16.834-04:00Came back to read this again today. Just took del...Came back to read this again today. Just took delivery on a 2001 double-back, Ben Seymour Galax off ebay. It's in good shape, a big, beautiful instrument. <br /><br />Needs new strings, which I ordered in bulk yesterday. The strings are 12s and 14s and are sticking in the nut a little, so I'll be putting 10s on it.<br /><br />It's a whole different kind of dulcimer, that's for sure! I think I'm going to enjoy it a lot.Flint Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04103703794012629597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-12690226599480794142009-11-13T20:04:19.033-05:002009-11-13T20:04:19.033-05:00My McSpadden VSL is 28 5/8 and the baritone is ...My McSpadden VSL is 28 5/8 and the baritone is 29 1/4.<br /><br />The lady who got me started knows nothing about music, but plays everything by ear. She tuned me to something around Eflat/ Bflat, but that was with a bass string. I seemed comfortable singing to that, but not sure I want to do much singing, and I am content right now being a loner in my playing. Maybe sometime in the future if I find anyone in the area. My son is a beginner in clawhammer banjo and it is our hopes to hook up at some point. <br /><br />Another question, can you have all the same strings, but tuned differently?<br /><br />Thanks<br />DianeDianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-73877716846452642922009-11-13T15:04:00.491-05:002009-11-13T15:04:00.491-05:00Hi there anonymous,
it would be very helpful to kn...Hi there anonymous,<br />it would be very helpful to know what the VSL or 'scale length' is on your two dulcimers. Measure in inches from the nut to the bridge and then let me know here. I suspect the McSp is about 28 1/2". The baritone I would need to know the scale length in order to recommend strings for it.<br /><br />When you name the notes of your tuning, it is usual to name them from the bass side to the melody side. Thus, I think you may mean Daaa when talking about your McSp tuning?<br /><br />The other question I would ask you is if you have any ideas about what keys you would like to play in? Are you planning on singing with your dulcimer (what keys do you sing well in?) or are you planning on playing with a group of dulcimer players (thus needing to play in D a lot)?<br />I'll watch this place for your answers. :)Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-48866772030134218302009-11-13T14:38:05.615-05:002009-11-13T14:38:05.615-05:00Hi Lisa
I'm a new dulcimer player and have be...Hi Lisa<br /><br />I'm a new dulcimer player and have been reading over your blog. I found a used Folkroot which is baritone. The soft, mellow sound is what drew me to it. I did not like the sound of the bass, as it sounded to guitarish, so I switched all my strings to .010. I find I have limitations to how low I can go with it.<br /><br />I just purchased a used McSpadden and just had new strings put on .012s and a .023 Yuk! I do not like the bass string. I would like to switch it out.<br /><br />I don't know if I am putting the proper size strings on or not, and if I'm playing in a good key. My Folkroot I play in dddd, and my McSpadden with the bass string, it's tuned aaaD. <br /><br />I LOVE playing MD with a noter. Tried a chord workshop, but my heart is with noter playing by ear. I would really appreciate any direction you can offer. <br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-23280664114010110132009-07-30T10:59:53.518-04:002009-07-30T10:59:53.518-04:00This also was fascinating. I didn't like the ...This also was fascinating. I didn't like the sound of the G strumstick with a 0.23 bass string, so I swapped it out for a 0.14 and eventually put all three strings at 0.10, tuned GDG for "major' and GDF for "minor", with all three in the same octave. It sounds much better, and as you say, more ancient and eerie.<br /><br />I also use a goose quill as a pick! <br /><br />I use the technique you described as "scrambling eggs", which BTW is a great name for that technique. (We have geese, so it was a natural thing to try.)<br /><br />Again, great blog!Flint Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04103703794012629597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-69426328679962265442009-06-17T22:03:18.108-04:002009-06-17T22:03:18.108-04:00Hi Pete,
Hey, I totally hear what you are saying!
...Hi Pete,<br />Hey, I totally hear what you are saying!<br />Sounds like you should just keep doing what you're doing and inventing ways to make your own technique work for you. That's what I did too. You just gotta do what you gotta do!<br />I love playing in A with my melody strings up in ee. :)Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-34207539284431181792009-06-17T21:55:52.843-04:002009-06-17T21:55:52.843-04:00Hi, Strumelia --
I've been following your blo...Hi, Strumelia --<br /><br />I've been following your blog for a couple of months and meaning to write ... it's like a <a href="http://hogfiddle.blogspot.com/2009/04/traditional-dulcimer-blog.html" rel="nofollow">rock in a weary land</a> and I'm going to take what you're saying here about your own "unique brand of percussive picking in a sort of syncopated flatfooting rhythm" as permission to keep playing the way I've started playing lately.<br /><br />You see, I've been using the Galax tuning almost all the time lately but I've never been able to get the "eggbeater" strum down -- my wrist just doesn't go where I think it ought to -- and I wind up strumming about the same way I've always done in DAA. (Play in DAD with the local group but almost always an octave higher since I use a noter.) I love the old fiddle tunes, but I like them best when they're played a little slower and with more of a lilt than Galax style, and I've been noodling around a lot this summer with modal tunes (by using a "reverse capo" raising the 2 outside strings up to E). But that's getting too technical, and from a guy whose technique is practically nonexistent! <br /><br />Mostly just take this as fan mail from someone else who loves the traditional sound of the Appalachian dulcimer and is really, really glad to find a kindred spirit.<br /><br />-- Pete Ellertsen, Springfield, Ill.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17771598531762414151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-26731879168482603102009-06-15T11:13:44.484-04:002009-06-15T11:13:44.484-04:00Hi Ken,
I stumbled on my preference for no heavy m...Hi Ken,<br />I stumbled on my preference for no heavy middle or bass strings while trying out my Galax dulcimer, but like you I have come to prefer the all-high-octave ('high octane'?) sound for old-time music. I changed my other dulcimers over to it as well, even though they are not Galax dulcimers. <br />I too feel that the preference for a 'mellow' sound with lower strings and the craze for baritone dulcimers may well be rooted in a general familiarity with a folk guitar sound.<br /><br />A guitar sound definitely falls within the comfort zone of most people. "High lonesome' sound most definitely does not.Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-51464975923502062962009-06-14T23:19:30.858-04:002009-06-14T23:19:30.858-04:00Hi Lisa;
I'm convinced a lot of the "mel...Hi Lisa;<br /><br />I'm convinced a lot of the "mellow" sound we keep hearing people want is coming from that heavy wound bass string. I recently acquired a vintage 3 string with wooden pegs, and it was built for thin, unwound strings on all course. The notches for the bass string are made for a 13 or 14 ga string and the mid and melody are 11s. From experimenting, I'm convinced that a part of the olde tyme dulcimer sound we love comes from NOT having a wound heavy gauge bass string - the Galax style stringing of thin gauges. This 29" VSL vintage dulcimer tunes to the GDD above DAA and sounds like that swarm of bees! Actually sounds better tuned to that GDD than the DAA, although it's not bad in DAA.Ken Hulmehttp://thekiltedcook.home.mindspring.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-22662785443635412592009-06-14T22:00:38.880-04:002009-06-14T22:00:38.880-04:00Wow Bob, that is so great! I really envy you, cam...Wow Bob, that is so great! I really envy you, camping and playing with Phyllis and Jim, whom I have never had the pleasure to meet or even communicate with. :) I'm up here in the Northeast and I don't tend to travel too much.<br /><br />I watched some of your YouTube videos. Hey, you should be playing my tab for Froggy Went a Courtin' to those beautiful tree frogs!<br />I'm so glad that mysterious 'grapevines' twined you over here to my blog, and I'm very happy you are enjoying it. It's good to know that people are actually reading it! =8-o<br /><br />thank you!Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-44638733917098599252009-06-14T21:20:48.810-04:002009-06-14T21:20:48.810-04:00Hi Strumelia, My neighbor, Cindy, and I attended M...Hi Strumelia, My neighbor, Cindy, and I attended Mt. Airy Fiddlers convention, NC, last weekend. I saw Phyllis and Jim Gaskins for the first time in about 20 years. We camped together. One look at my Dulcimore, handmade by Alvin Harmon, Floyd Co, VA, and Phyllis exclaimed, "Galax Dulcimore!"- and held up her traditional Galax Dulcimore for comparison. We tuned up in DDD and and gave my friend Cindy as lesson on playing "Eliza". I caught it on a video clip here:<br />http://www.youtube.com/bobkramp (look for Mt Airy). Martha Harris and Steve Parks won 2nd and 3rd place resp. at MtA. More grapevines brought me to your blog- which I am enjoying very much. Thankyou, BobBob Kramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08326531951468411940noreply@blogger.com