Cherries, Appels, And All The Strings
Good Morning, Y'all & Happy Friday!
A couple of weeks ago I asked for some input on a potential new head design. Here's a reminder photo:
Some Strong Feedback
I often ask for your opinions, and boy did you have some strong opinions on this head shape!
About half of you had replies similar to "Cool, Wow, Awesome!"
And about half of you said something along the lines of "No Way, Awful, Ugh!"
A few of you saw "mandolin" in this shape, and I can see why. I found a mandolin that has a similar curve in several places - twice on the head, once on the body itself:
This one is made by "Montana Lutherie." It's gorgeous, and not cheap. I'll bet it's a great sounding instrument. But since it's chromatic, has too many strings, and would be awkward on my lap, I think I'll stick with my usual 3 (or 4) string diatonic lap dulcimer. For now, at least!
One of you even said the curved head looked "medieval."
Very interesting responses, all of you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm going to go ahead with something along the lines of the sample in the first photo. We'll probably need to refine it some, to make it work well for our instruments. But it's something new, and that's always fun!
Instrument Making Is Underway Up North
Our shop is moving forward rapidly, now. I expect we'll be assembling instruments in the Upper Peninsula within the week. Of course, assembling isn't "shipping finished dulcimers," it's "gluing pieces together." We'll still need to sand, lacquer, rub out, install hardware, and make the nut and bridge.
But we're getting closer by the day, and soon we'll have a fully-functional workshop again!
Thanks for reading, Y'all - have a great, music filled (especially dulcimer-filled) weekend!
Richard Ash, luthier-with-plenty-of-work-to-keep-him-busy-but-if-you-order-your-next-dulcimer-soon-you'll-have-it-for-Christmas!
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: JANE APPEL
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Jane: I saw a dulcimer on my honeymoon in Gatlinburg, TN, in 1977 and picked up a small paperback book about the instrument. In 1981, my father-in-law surprised me with a dulcimer he had made me from a kit he found listed in the back of that book. I played by myself and was frustrated because I couldn't form chords. I learned at my first group event in 1988 at Appalachian State University that the strings on my instrument weren't spaced properly (father-in-law was a carpenter, not a luthier). The dulcimer doctor, Joe Shelton, fixed me up and I began to enjoy the instrument more. So, I've been playing (gulp) for a little over 44 years now.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Jane: Our RV was in for service near Woodburn in 2017 and I thought I'd take a field trip to the Folkcraft shop. I did NOT intend to buy an instrument. However, Richard Ash was very welcoming: He not only showed me through the shop, he also helped me sort out the woods and features I would look for in a "hypothetical" new dulcimer. He brought me many instruments from the showroom walls until I found the combination of woods that felt like my voice: Butternut and walnut. I ordered an instrument when I got back to the RV that afternoon.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Jane: I lead a song circle with my Folkcraft mountain dulcimer at our winter home in Casa Granda, AZ. Through the years I have played with several dulcimer groups, with a friend at nursing homes and libraries, and at...
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF JANE'S STORY AND READ ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE JANE & YOU
FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE WANT TO INTERVIEW YOU!!
No new player to add to our online dulcimer community today, but we are glad to be able to re-feature Jane Appel, who concluded her submission with this beautiful quote: "Mountain dulcimer is my heart and voice, and I'm grateful to Folkcraft for blessing me with a fine instrument." Amen to that, sister!
There's still plenty of room for more of you, folks! Maybe we could feature you and your Folkcraft dulcimer(s) next week?
Who's Going To Write In Next? Keep The Family Growing?
It really is super-easy to join our online dulcimer community. Just three easy steps:
1) Send an email to: newsletter@folkcraft.com
2) With the answers to the four questions below
3) Attach a photo of yourself with your Folkcraft dulcimer(s)
We look forward to receiving your submission & featuring you in our newsletter real soon!
1. How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
2. When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
3. Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
4. What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing dulcimer?
WE'RE OFFERING A $25 FOLKCRAFT GIFT CARD TO ANYONE WHO ANSWERS THE FOUR EASY QUESTIONS LISTED ABOVE, AND SENDS IN A PHOTO (OF YOU WITH YOUR FOLKCRAFT DULCIMER). IT'S REALLY SO EASY TO DO!
WE JUST LOVE HEARING FROM Y'ALL!
This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
In this video, Mandy uses our "Boil Them Cabbage" song to show you a bit of music theory, explaining octaves, for the beginner dulcimer player. Click on the image below to listen & learn.
We have a slew (that's a fancy luthier word for "bunch") of videos for you to watch on our YouTube channel. Click here to see the full list. Be sure to comment on a video, and subscribe to the channel - either action helps us a LOT with YouTube's suggestion algorithms.
We've got a couple of different playing-style books to show you today. The first book, by Butch Ross, takes a more classic approach, strumming all the strings at once. The second book, by Dana Gruber, will teach you how to finger-pick your dulcimer. Whether you want to get your strum on, or get picking, we think you'll enjoy giving one, or both, of these a try. Just click on the book covers to download and start strumming and/or picking today!
ALL THE STRINGS - ALL THE TIME
by Butch Ross
A lot of dulcimer tab books include intricate, complicated (and cool, no doubt) arrangements that sound utterly amazing. But, remember that dulcimer music was originally "melody string only," and the other strings were "drone notes." With this book of classic tunes, Butch Ross (who is perfectly capable of both creating and playing those complicated arrangements) has given us a return-to-the-roots type songbook.
The title of the book - "All The Strings, All The Time" tells it all. No complicated right-hand picking - just strum. All the strings. All the time. The result? Great sounding, traditional versions of outstanding dulcimer music. Enjoy!
FINGER-PICK STYLE PLAYING
by Dana Gruber
But maybe you want to try something a little more complicated. This method book from Dana Gruber has a variety of songs. They're complete pieces, but the focus on each tune isn't the song itself, but rather using the song to develop a specific skill. We've listed the skill introduced for each song next to the title, so you can get a feel for the pace of the book's instruction. (32 pages)
These books are published by Fingers Of Steel, and are made available here as an authorized, licensed download.
Some Of The Songs In This Book:
Shortnin' Bread
Old Joe Clark
Cripple Creek
Little Brown Jug
Grey Cat On A Tennessee Farm
Camptown Races
Liza Jane
Fly Around (My Pretty Little Miss)
Waterbound
Going To Boston
Mississippi Sawyer
Cluck Old Hen
Shady Grove
Ground Hog
Some Of The Techniques You'll Learn:
Mary Had A Little Lamb (Playing A Melody)
You Are My Sunshine (More Chords And Picking Individual Notes)
Brahms' Lullaby (Waltz In 3/4 Time)
All Through The Night (More Pattern Variation)
Lavender Blue (Some Left Hand Techniques - The "Slide")
Plaisir D'Amour (Plucking Chords)
Farewell (More Techniques And Variations Of Patterns)
Wilson's Wilde - Variations On A Theme (Putting It All Together)