Update - learning the hammered dulcimer

12 years ago

Saturday I had my first lesson with my friend who loaned me his #2 dulcimer - a 2 1/2 hour lesson in scales, tuning, technique, cleaning, etc. And I came home and taught myself two tunes!!! I'm so proud! I'll practice those two tunes until I'm satisfied with them, then move on to learning another tune.

I was quite intimidated by the instrument at first, but feel more comfortable playing it now. It is an instrument of patterns in playing and learning which strings are which notes. I do read music which I think helps me to get the melody of the tune pretty quickly. There are web sites of free dulcimer sheet music to print off, but at some point I will get some books. I want to focus on folk tunes and traditional tunes and hymns.

Teresa

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

dedtired
12 years ago
Good for you! I don't know how you find the time to do all that you do.

My grandmother had a zither and I used to love to play that. Somehow I managed to pick out some simple tunes. I took piano lessons as a child and can read music, although the zither is more like a guitar.

Have fun with your new hobby. Make a video and post it on Youtube for us!
mustangs81
12 years ago
What fun to find and pick up a new skill so quickly! Do you anticipate an audience in the near future?
Related Discussions
Gonna fix it w/ a hammer
Q
Comments (12)
I'm not sure what browser I'm using now. If you look up in the upper left hand corner, you should see what browser you are using. Chances are you are using Internet Explorer, as that is what is most commonly used. but I still don't understand why I can update trade page and not the personal info...??? Hmmm...I'm not sure either, but have been told that sometimes one isn't holding their mouth right. So Sue...you mean I can't take a sledge hammer to it?....LOL No...and not a big ax either. I'm chompin at the bit for you to email me to see if possibly I can get it done, using Firefox browser. When you are aggravated enough to 'give up' email me. Like I said before, often after I get a change made, then there aren't problems after that...I think. Sue...blushin at the above remarks.
...See More
argh update: help! new concrete stairs improperly installed
Q
Comments (12)
I definitely agree with Laag on this one; if the contractor screwed it up the first time, it is highly unlikely he will do any better the second or third time. Unfortunately you have learned a lesson here, and it pays to get good references and check them. Had you also been shown examples of his past work? In general it is important to be consistent with riser and tread measurements, but these can vary between sets of steps if separated by a landing, and the tread widths can vary if the walk is curving or zig zags up a hillside rather than a straight run. It would have been better to have been more precise with your criticism of his first effort, by spelling out that all riser and tread measurements were to be redone to a consistent measurement, and to have indicated all of the steps which didn't meet this criteria and were to be replaced. If it makes you feel any better, I am also dealing with a landscape project in a garden I am landscaping, where the homeowner selected his own contractor to deal the steps/masonary work, and it was shoddy work from day one. I kept telling the homeowner he should have the guy stop work and fix it, but he bought into the guy's spiel that it would be okay when completed. Bottom line, it all got ripped out and is being replaced by another new contractor. My feeling is that this was all preventable if the homeowner had been willing to have it designed in plan with proper levels and measurements, rather than winging it. I should have insisted he let me do so, but for multiple reasons it didn't happen this way. My crew did also need to redo all the imperfect subsurface drain lines and gravel backfill behind newly built wood retaining walls on this same job site, as they didn't connect to the existing outfall drain lines, nor were they located deep enough at the base of the walls. I was shocked at how incompetent the original contractor was, and the client faced paying several thousand more dollars just on drainage and backfill work to get it right. So it definitely pays to check references, and never hire a contractor based on the lowest bid, or at the very least, know something about proper construction methods and be around to inspect the work as it occurs.
...See More
update! de(con)struction has begun!
Q
Comments (54)
The Trilobite rock did not get placed in the wall. I am keeping it as a specimin. Cephalopods are primarily in the lower wall; I will try and get a picture later. I do have a good picture of one of the trace fossils we brough back "in situ:" 450-490 MILLION years ago SOMETHING (probably a trilobite, according to the book I have) was hunting for dinner in the mud. How cool IS that? I have an even larger trace fossil--I got my welder to make a table base for it--it'll be a small side table on the patio. I'll post a picutre of that when it's finished. NOW--a technical query--should I star a new thread when the project is complete? Y'all can e-mail (I have a clickable link on my memeber page) me with your opinions. I'd hate to take up more than my fair share of space...let me know what y'all think. They SWEAR they'll be finished by Friday. I'm not counting on it! melanie
...See More
Girls toys or learning tools
Q
Comments (19)
So wonder how the "forums" people come up with prices. I live in the L.A. area & every shop I've ever been in has price guides behind the counters. Nobody is so smart that they know what every item is worth. But on the other hand it is a ball park figure & varies by area you live in & wealth of people in area. You take a depressed area with 3 houses per block for sale, don't expect to get much for your red glass collection. Same area 10 yrs ago you could have sold it for small fortune. But you know whether it is worth keeping around by seeing a price guide or checking it out on Internet. A little spice cabinet is something I passed up number of times, then I found out some are very valuable so now I will at least look at them. Also more fun to read about antiques than to waste time watching junk on TV. There are a few dealers that I've run into that didn't seem to know what anything was worth,they overpriced or under priced, probably according to how well they liked the item. 1 lady had the worst quilts, poor stitching, faded, stained but apparently her prized possessions as all were priced way over $100. She had a very junky store & I loved to go there as she under-priced a lot of neat things. All of those shops have gone now ,because of recession, old age of owners, health problems, raised rent,etc. Internet has taken it's toll on many shops along East Coast too, I understand. Have fun & enjoy your treasures!
...See More
triciae
12 years ago
What a wonderful new skill! Playing an instrument is such a great stress reducer & the dulcimer is a beautiful sound. Congratulations on your first tunes! The Carter family has left us some of our country's favorite folk tunes...great music for the dulcimer. Try Googling the Carter family & I'll bet you stumble on lots you'd like to learn. Have fun!

/triciae
jude31
12 years ago
Teresa, I'm so impressed! That you could find time and that you are fortunate enough to have the talent to learn to play a new instrument.

Many years ago I took a dulcimer making class, just sure I could learn to play but it sits on a shelf in a bookcase. More recently but still several years ago the craft guild I belonged to had a fellow that made the psaltry. I bought one, it's beautiful.... again just sure I could learn to play it. Now it sits on the top shelf in the entry closet.

Bottom line, I don't read music, used to have a decent voice (long gone) and I love music. Sadly, that was not enough. So congratulations again and I hope you get lots of pleasure out of your hammered dulcimer.

jude
triciae
12 years ago
Jude, have you ever tried reading music by just using the interval method? It's not as tedious for a beginner that just wants to play fun tunes.

I've played one keybord or another since I was four...currently have a Yammaha Clavinova. When it became obvious that my disease process was going to silence the music in our home...I asked DH if he'd like to learn. As long as I played he never felt the need/desire but he also missed the music. Well, that was back in December and this Sat. is his 1st recital. Our kids & grands are coming for a week and they don't know he's been learning so the recital is for them. I started him with playing intervals for a jump start and it worked well for him. Got him playing right away giving him more patience as we went along to learn to read the full staff.

Just a thought...I'll always help enable somebody to learn an instrument! lol DGD #1 is playing piano and flute, DGS#2 is playing drums. DGS#3 is just starting guitar. DDIL is a trained classical pianist. We like music around here! :)

/tricia
jude31
12 years ago
Tricia, if I were your age I might think about that but I don't think I would want to get that involved trying to learn a new skill. Thanks for the suggestion though.

jude
sally2_gw
12 years ago
What fun, Teresa! I'm impressed, too, by all that you accomplish. I hope you continue to get lots of enjoyment from your new hobby.

Sally
annie1992
12 years ago
good for you, Teresa. I'll expect a YouTube video so we can all hear you play! (grin)

I have a couple of guitars, a banjo, a flute, a saxophone, a mandolin and a relatively expensive keyboard. Both of the girls were in band class and can play a variety of instruments. I can't read music, have a horrible singing voice and don't even turn the radio on most of the time.

Ashley has a lovely voice and can play nearly anything she picks up. Amanda has a nice voice and can play the saxophone. Elery can play the keyboard and the guitar. They all read music and also has a good voice. I couldn't carry a tune in a covered bucket and am completely tone deaf. So I end up with a house full of instruments and haven't even figured out how the iPod Elery bought me for my birthday works. He even loaded it with songs, all the ones that he and Ashley put on the playlist, not a single one that I've ever voluntarily listened to, LOL.

I'd listen to you on YouTube, though!

Annie
jessyf
12 years ago
Teresa, enjoy, those are such sweet sounding instruments. Another clamor for a youtube clip!
teresa_nc7
Original Author
12 years ago
No video cam....no youtube.....sorry, fans! LOL!

I joined the Dulcimer School today, online video subscription for both hammered dulcimer and mountain dulcimer, which is strummed. I watched the first few videos and now I learn I'm going to become a drummer? Well, I guess percussionist is the word really. I think this online source will be very helpful as teachers in my area are a distance to travel.

First tunes: Ash Grove and Lavender's Blue; next tune to learn is Simple Gifts!
Teresa
triciae
12 years ago
That sounds like fun, Teresa! Great for the adult student. I need to see if there is something similar for DH. (His first recital on Saturday went well, BTW. I'm proud of him!)

'Simple Gifts' has always been one of my favorite pieces of music. Has such a history, everything from 'Little House on the Prairie' to President Obama's inauguration. I hope you enjoy playing that song for many years to come.

One you might enjoy when searching for a new tune is one of the Carter Family's earliest (late 1930s?), 'You Are My Sunshine'. It's a great song for a lot of instruments but I can just hear it in my mind on the dulcilmer...would be beautiful.

The old English folksong 'Lavender's Blue' (or 'Lavender Blue') was Burl Ives first hit! Got him a nomination for an Academy Award just before I was born. I have memories of being 3-4 & falling asleep listening to Dad play 'Lavender Blue'. Now, I'll be humming it all day! Good first tune!

Have fun, Teresa. I'm enjoying your hammered dulcimer vicariously!

/tricia

Update - learning the hammered dulcimer

Comments (11)

dedtired

mustangs81

Related Discussions

triciae

jude31

triciae

jude31

sally2_gw

annie1992

jessyf

teresa_nc7
Original Author

triciae

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Update - learning the hammered dulcimer

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

teresa_nc7Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

teresa_nc7
Original Author