Mountain Dulcimer
A month ago my husband popped a question out of the blue, “Would you be interested in playing any musical instruments?” I didn’t hesitate, “Oh yes, I would!” He was taken aback. He really shouldn’t have been.
He didn’t know that in the 1960’s I wore my father’s acoustical guitar out while he was in Viet Nam. My father had barely played it. He had also put up a few self-learning music books. Some practices later – I never learned how to strum the guitar, and found that my fingers were too small for the chords, but I could pick a very simple melody. At the same time, I had a small child’s electric organ. It was large enough to sit a bench. I also learned notes, chords, and some tunes on it as well. I taped music, on reel to reel tapes, and mailed them to my father.
So, back to the present. I replied to my husband, “I want to play the dulcimer!” He didn’t know what a dulcimer was. Actually, a lot of folks do not know what one is.
Off we went in search of a dulcimer. It wasn’t too difficult. We do reside in an Appalachian county in Ohio. I did not make the connection, though. We quickly found out that there is a “Mountain Dulcimer” and a “Hammered Dulcimer.” They are very smiliar sounding instructions, but are played in totally different manners. It was the Mountain Dulcimer that I wanted.
After a month, and with the help of 4 dulcimer books, I am picking and strumming a few songs. The one I wanted to play for you tonight is Away In The Manger. Fitting for 9 days before Christmas. But I do not quite get the chords right (yet). So, instead, you are going to hear an old piece called Boil That Cabbage Down.
You will need Windows Media Player, click here: Dulcimer Practice 12-11
I am learning Ode to Joy, which I treasure! I hope to record it on a video soon!
Okay, so, I give my husband so much credit for listening to me practice. He says he loves it. I am glad. I love it too. My thoughts were, this could be like the child learning the tuba in his/her bedroom. With the parents in the next room covering their ears!
Love the humor…life is good!
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Good job!! Love the mountain dulcimer… and the hammered. 🙂 Mountain’s easier, in my eyes, to learn. I’ve had a mountain/lap dulcimer for several years, now. Love, love, love it! We also have a “banjmo.” It’s a banjo/dulcimer combo. Kinda strange… I only know a few songs… are you learning from a book with tablature? I’ve gotta have pictures. lol Have fun!! (What did you use to upload your music?)
I am having the time of my life, Lynnanne. And the dulcimer is part of it. I also want to learn the violin and the banjo. I am not musically talented, but I sure can try. Ha!
Yes, the books that I have include tablature. In fact, the piece that I played in the recording is the first in the book where the tablature begins.
What is very difficult (I play a lot of songs, not so well, further down the books out of sheer boredom, when I get tired of the same tune) is when the piece calls for fret 2 (base) 0 (middle) and 7 (melody). I am only 5′ tall with short stubby fingers! Now there’s a stretch!
Your banjmo sounds cool. I would love to see a photo of it.
How did I record the music? After warming up for a bit I headed to the office. I practiced a few more minutes and then I pulled out the iPhone. I recorded the music via the voice memos app. I emailed the recording to myself and then downloaded it as media to my PC.
I am working on Ode to Joy, the difficult version, where you pluck and strum both. It is beautiful. Not so easy!
Enjoy your day! What projects are you working on?
Ha!! Me too! I bought a student version of the fiddle. Haven’t started on it yet. I’ll have to dig out my book and see which song that I so loved for the dulcimer… it’s been so long, I forget! Seems like it was an old Shaker tune. These family folks get realllll sick of hearing me play, so I’ve given them a little break. lol
I see… I wondered about that recording stuff. I have a webcam on the computer, but not real sure how to go about it all…
Have fun!!
So, how difficult did you find the fiddle to be?
Lynnanne, all of us are going to have musical instruments everywhere in our homes! Ha!
And someday when you visit we’ll have to sit down and pick some tunes out together. When I open the farm up, a small storefront, etc…, I hope to have a farm day, with some light music. Wouldn’t that be fun?
I will record a video in the future, but as simple as this song is, and as green as I am, I wanted the sound recorded first. It came out well, sound-wise.
I enjoy the Shaker tunes too.
I received a student CD with one of my music books. I often listen to it while I make soap. I find it to be very encouraging because then I realize that I am strumming/plucking out the piece in the beat and notes that I should be. And I pick up more tips by hearing someone actually talk about it.
How fun! I have a picture of my niece and a guy at Stone Mountain, GA playing a type of dulcimer, not like the one in your picture.
Amy
It is probably a Hammered Dulcimer. They sound beautiful. I have a couple of CD’s titled Church In The Wildwood, featuring the Hammered Dulcimer. Gorgeous music. Sounds like something God gave to us (He did)!
Yep, that is it! We have Church In The Wildwood CD too.
Amy
I have two of the CD’s Amy. Beautiful music.
I came across your blog through a google search of “mountain dulcimer.” Having just started playing in September, I laughed out loud when I read the part about the child/tuba/next room scenario. Not even 20 minutes ago I sent an email to my mother saying how blessed I am that my husband actually LOVES when I play. It makes it so much easier to pick up the instrument when you know you’re not driving someone else crazy with it! I don’t know what size dulcimer you’re using but I also have shortish fingers so I understand the difficulties of reaching certain chords. McSpadden makes one model called the “Ginger” which has a shorter fret board which might be something you’d be interested in at some point. Anyway, happy music-making and Merry Christmas!
Joy (from Michigan)
Hey Joy,
That’s what I’ve got…. a McSpadden. And, Ginger faintly sounds like a ringing bell. It’s a nice piece, love mine. 🙂
Lynnanne, I love the bell-like sound that some of the dulcimers have. That is pretty much what drew me to them to begin with. I’ll do some measuring so we can compare notes on the fretboard.
How often do you dig yours out? I am down to about once a week, but definitely want to get on the ball a couple of times a week. I cannot move to the banjo or fiddle if I don’t. Ha!
Hi Joy –
I am tickled that you found this blog, and this particular post! My husband says he loves it when I play. He’s fallen asleep to it a few times. I am not sure I would like it if I were in his shoes, but I’ll take it as a blessing!
I have both a smaller dulcimer (in the photo) and a larger one. I’ll measure the fretboard and report back here. I love the sound of the larger instrument, and it tends to not move about so much on my lap; however, the frets can be difficult to reach.
What songs have you learned to play? And did you have any musical background beforehand?
Merry Christmas to you too!
Mary
There’s no “reply” option to your response, Mary. So I have to do it this way as a new post. lol
I haven’t started the fiddle yet. When I purchased my dulcimer, the guy gave me a little of his time to give me a first teaching. I then went back for a second lesson…. and haven’t been back (lack of time, etc). I’m hoping to pick up the fiddle soon (bought a DVD for beginners). Haven’t had much time to play lately.
Visiting and having a music day sounds fun! Do you have a timeframe for opening?
No reply to the reply, huh? LOL!
No time-frame yet for opening. I’ll keep you posted!
I love the sound of a dulcimer, Mary.
And I love the fact that you are having so much fun with it.
I played for 3 hours last night. Broke a string on one of the dulcimers. Hiliarous when it happened!