That was all so good for lifting the spirit .. That Dulcimer is SUPERB and has such a beautiful clarity and silvery tone... Its definitely in the right hands...Thank you Stephen ....and yes, Morning Birds is just lovely ... ... (I've wanted to learn David's 'Here Comes the Sun' for a long time..It's just beautiful...)
Thanks for starting this conversation, Stephen! I love hearing you play that beautiful dulcimer. Sorry I don't know of any books on the subject. You should write one in your spare time! Joy W, in answer to your question I have a SweetWoods teardrop chromatic that was made by David Lynch and the fretboard is 1-1/2" wide. It's just a little wider, and also a little shorter, than my Folkcraft, which makes it ideal for setting up 4 equidistant, and it sounds beautiful. I use a lot of the same fingerings as in Stephen's video (but I have a LONG way to go before I can bar anything with my ring finger!!), and it's also fun to just let the extra melody string ring, depending on what key I'm in. I have slightly heavier strings on it, and different gauges on each melody string (learned both of these things in a class at QDF1) which makes it a little more interesting.
@@ptgolfer4 The VSL on my SweetWoods is just a tad under 26", and the strings that are on there right now are .011, .012, .015 and .026. The body of the instrument is a little wider and deeper than what I think of as standard, as David said he likes to let the wood decide the shape and size. The grain in the maple follows the shape of the instrument, very well-done. It has a big, full sound that I really like.
Really pretty! I just bought a McSpadden. I’m a nurse so there’s no sitting at home for me! I’ve been working on my part for “Funeral March for a Marionette” (I’m part of the Berkeley Dulcimer Orchestra) Whew!!
Nice! I'm happy to see you sharing this method as I've been a fan of playing with four-equidistant strings for years. I'd love to know which dulcimer makers use a slightly wider fret board on their instruments, because I find it can be a challenge on my McSpadden dulcimers. (Definitely easier on my Ron Ewing baritone.) Since I generally do my own arrangements, I'm not up on more recent books in this genre, but the one I have is "Four String Fingerpicking: Sixteen Arrangements for Mountain Dulcimer" by Janita Baker (2008). That said, the tunings in Janita's book vary and do not correspond to using the "inside melody string" idea (no DADD tunings).
I think an acoustic amp is really what you want. There's a lot of good ones. I could recommend so many. I really like the little ones Fishman is making.
I have a request. Would you please cover The Decemberists.. June Hymn and/or Rox in the Box. ? I feel these 2 songs would sound nice on the dulcimer. Thanks
I put 4-ed strings on my first dulcimer in 1976 and learned that way. I can do 3 strings, but having learned on 4, 3-strings always sounded hollow. For me, 4-ed is the only way to go (except when trying to take a lesson when it often real problem). I guess I'll have to get back in to mountaindulcimeratoz.com again. You are talking my language.
There’s an old saying that seems apply to the Dulcimer: It’s “....a lake in which a mosquito can bathe, and an elephant can drown” You better know how to swim before diving in on this lesson😎👍
That was all so good for lifting the spirit .. That Dulcimer is SUPERB and has such a beautiful clarity and silvery tone... Its definitely in the right hands...Thank you Stephen ....and yes, Morning Birds is just lovely ... ... (I've wanted to learn David's 'Here Comes the Sun' for a long time..It's just beautiful...)
Awww Cheers Stephen, am loving messing around with this, great introduction. X
Thanks for starting this conversation, Stephen! I love hearing you play that beautiful dulcimer. Sorry I don't know of any books on the subject. You should write one in your spare time!
Joy W, in answer to your question I have a SweetWoods teardrop chromatic that was made by David Lynch and the fretboard is 1-1/2" wide. It's just a little wider, and also a little shorter, than my Folkcraft, which makes it ideal for setting up 4 equidistant, and it sounds beautiful. I use a lot of the same fingerings as in Stephen's video (but I have a LONG way to go before I can bar anything with my ring finger!!), and it's also fun to just let the extra melody string ring, depending on what key I'm in. I have slightly heavier strings on it, and different gauges on each melody string (learned both of these things in a class at QDF1) which makes it a little more interesting.
Thanks for the info on the David Lynch SweetWoods instrument. I appreciate it.
@@joyw7844 You're welcome!
Now I'm hooked Stephen. I've switched my two MDs to this setup. I think I'm going stick with this setup.
What gauges of strings do you use?
What is your VSL?
@@ptgolfer4 The VSL on my SweetWoods is just a tad under 26", and the strings that are on there right now are .011, .012, .015 and .026. The body of the instrument is a little wider and deeper than what I think of as standard, as David said he likes to let the wood decide the shape and size. The grain in the maple follows the shape of the instrument, very well-done. It has a big, full sound that I really like.
Thank you for this, Stephen. As always, your tone is lush and beautiful. I'm a huge fan!
This is really cool. Keeping us thinking and learning.
Steve, thanks for sharing with us. Love your teaching style. Have been wondering about trying this technique.
Really pretty! I just bought a McSpadden. I’m a nurse so there’s no sitting at home for me! I’ve been working on my part for “Funeral March for a Marionette” (I’m part of the Berkeley Dulcimer Orchestra) Whew!!
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Nice! I'm happy to see you sharing this method as I've been a fan of playing with four-equidistant strings for years. I'd love to know which dulcimer makers use a slightly wider fret board on their instruments, because I find it can be a challenge on my McSpadden dulcimers. (Definitely easier on my Ron Ewing baritone.) Since I generally do my own arrangements, I'm not up on more recent books in this genre, but the one I have is "Four String Fingerpicking: Sixteen Arrangements for Mountain Dulcimer" by Janita Baker (2008). That said, the tunings in Janita's book vary and do not correspond to using the "inside melody string" idea (no DADD tunings).
I bet you could get someone to build you a dulcimer with a wider fingerboard. I'm currently experimenting with making the strings closer together.
Hey Stephen, could you tell me what gauge strings you're using on this setup. Thanks a lot, as always your the man, love your stuff!
Not sure what this had on it. Changing it to 26, 16, 12. With my repair/setup guy right now.
@@stephenseifert
Great thank you my friend!
Sort of off topic question... What kind of amp do you play with? Does it need to be an acoustic amp, or will any amp do? Thanks
I think an acoustic amp is really what you want. There's a lot of good ones. I could recommend so many. I really like the little ones Fishman is making.
Great stuff.... Thanks!
Lovely! Do you have any books?
I do. Head over to stephenseifert.com. Thanks!
I have a request. Would you please cover The Decemberists.. June Hymn and/or Rox in the Box. ? I feel these 2 songs would sound nice on the dulcimer. Thanks
That's a cool idea. I'll add this to my someday/maybe list. Thanks!
I want to tune in CGDA and have it Chromatic. What do you all think?
It's a cool idea. I like the idea of tuning a banjo dulcimer to GDAE for playing Irish tunes.
I put 4-ed strings on my first dulcimer in 1976 and learned that way. I can do 3 strings, but having learned on 4, 3-strings always sounded hollow. For me, 4-ed is the only way to go (except when trying to take a lesson when it often real problem). I guess I'll have to get back in to mountaindulcimeratoz.com again. You are talking my language.
What is the tuning?
I'm pretty sure I'm in DADD.
There’s an old saying that seems apply to the Dulcimer:
It’s “....a lake in which a mosquito can bathe, and an elephant can drown”
You better know how to swim before diving in on this lesson😎👍
Nice