Lap Dulcimer

How many lap ducimer players here? I bought myself one last Christmass. It’s a McSpadden that Elderly had on closeout. It’s kind of nice. I mostly just noodle around on it and am thinking of getting a little more serious. Any good hints, tips, resources, etc?

I also play dulcimer, though I mostly fool around on it, same as you. Definitely go check out the everything dulcimer message boards over at http://www.everythingdulcimer.com.

Second the everythingdulcimer.com site - you may just recognize a few familiar “faces” there!!

Not sure where you are located, but look for a festival to attend.

There’s also Dulcimer Players News Magazine.

But ask any questions - as we say on ED, we’ll answer anything and if we don’t know the answer, we’ll make one up!

Thanks both of you! That looks like a great site. Now I have to start studying up on my modes. (I was never any good at that!)

ah- don’t worry about modes!

As you’ll see from my sig. line on there - there’s no right OR wrong way to play the dulcimer! Just play it. You can do traditional, you can do whatever you want, or you can do both. If you look at my website, you’ll see that Tom and I are anything BUT traditional (btw - shameless promotion - we do have a beginner’s book for sale…).

ah- don’t worry about modes!

You’re kidding, right? Modes are the fundamental basis of the dulcimer. I’m not a fan of chording on the dulcimer, you miss out on those awesome drones!

A great online resource is the hippie classic “In Search of the Wild Dulcimer”, now available free online. Has lots of good info on all 7 modes: http://www.robertforce.com/wp-content/wilddulcimer/


I was just at an Irish session a few nights back, and took my dulcimer out. Tuned DAD, and mostly used it as a “string drum” playing rhythm in the open tunings. Song in D? Just strum back and forth. Song in Em? Fret on the first fret (EBE), and drop to DAD on the turns. Song in G? Fret on 3d Fret, 4th for A. If you have a capo, it’s even easier, and you can fill in some harmonies on the melody string while you let the drones provide rythmn.

Coupla good clips of dulcimer off YouTube:

Cool mix of trad/modern on baritone dulcimer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU2uU5KahP4


Very traditional playing backing up modern dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb8Twdo9cWM


Interesting dulcimer cousin (Hungarian citera) backing up an unusual folk arrangement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWDX-ASQTZk
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ah- don’t worry about modes!

You’re kidding, right? Modes are the fundamental basis of the dulcimer. I’m not a fan of chording on the dulcimer, you miss out on those awesome drones!

A great online resource is the hippie classic “In Search of the Wild Dulcimer”, now available free online. Has lots of good info on all 7 modes: http://www.robertforce.com/wp-content/wilddulcimer/


I was just at an Irish session a few nights back, and took my dulcimer out. Tuned DAD, and mostly used it as a “string drum” playing rhythm in the open tunings. Song in D? Just strum back and forth. Song in Em? Fret on the first fret (EBE), and drop to DAD on the turns. Song in G? Fret on 3d Fret, 4th for A. If you have a capo, it’s even easier, and you can fill in some harmonies on the melody string while you let the drones provide rythmn.

Coupla good clips of dulcimer off YouTube:

Cool mix of trad/modern on baritone dulcimer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU2uU5KahP4


Very traditional playing backing up modern dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb8Twdo9cWM


Interesting dulcimer cousin (Hungarian citera) backing up an unusual folk arrangement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWDX-ASQTZk
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Matthew - I was kidding - sorta.

If someone wants to get into theory, then by all means learn modes, etc.

But we often come across people that have never played a musical instrument. They aren’t interested in theory, they just want to make music. The dulcimer is a GREAT instrument for that. They can play a “recognizable” song in 5 minutes. They don’t have to spend months with scales and theory and embrossure and such.

As I said - there’s no right or wrong way to play the dulcimer. If one wants to get heavily into theory, etc. - I would suggest looking up Jerry Rockwell or Steve Seifert. Both have some wonderful books and teachings about theory and mountain dulcimer. But if one wants to just make music, then go for it and don’t worry about modes.

As we tell people - this can be as simple of as complicated an instrument as YOU want to make it. I would never tell those that want to keep it simple that they have to learn modes.

Just chiming in as another Mountain dulcimer player, though I spend more time building than playing. The suggestion to check out everythingdulcimer.com is a good one if you are looking for LOTS of players. But there are quite a few here also.

I have a dulcimer, but it’s no good. I now have a McNally Strumstick. I love it. I try not to worry about modes, either, although I’m curious to learn them in time. I find I’m able to play tunes quite easily on the duclimer/strumstick. It’s really a lot of fun. I don’t think I would bring it to an Irish session, though. They might look at me funny. The session is when I play my flute (which I think is an easy instrument to play, despite what anybody says) and every other spare moment of my time is when I play my strumstick.

Another dulcimer player here! :smiley:

Tim, have you watched these Dulcimer Demos over on Youtube?

[u]Dulcimer Demo: Bing Futch 1[/u]

[u]Dulcimer Demo: Bing Futch 2[/u]

[u]Dulcimer Demo: Bing Futch 3[/u]


:wink: My Yocky is coming, this week!

Cheers
Dick

Thanks Dick, I’ll check those out as soon as I get my speakers working again!