Give Us A Call, Amanda...
Good Morning, Y'all - Happy Friday!
Let's talk about dulcimer music, specifically "popular" music. And not just the very broad genre of pop music, but a certain, specific artist by the name of Joni Mitchell.
Joni is the quintessential artist/singer-songwriter/performer. She's amazing at so many facets of music performance. One of her most popular albums, though (which is why I'm talking about her, here...) featured several tunes on which she played the mountain dulcimer. That album, Blue, released in 1971, has been an inspiration for many, many contemporary dulcimer players.
Amanda Plays The Dulcimer (On The Tonight Show)
One contemporary dulcimer player is an actress named Amanda Seyfried. Amanda's acting talents have been featured in a slew (that's a fancy luthier word for "a whole lot") of television shows and movies. Not "I've never heard of this show" movies, but movies with big-name actors and big production budgets. She's not a nobody in Hollywood. She's an A-list performer by every measure.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, on March 5, 2025, Amanda was sitting as a guest on The Tonight Show (yes, I still think of this as Johnny Carson's show, but that just shows my age). The host, Jimmy Fallon (not Johnny Carson...) was chatting with Amanda, as late-night show hosts are prone to do, and after a bit, he reaches behind his desk, and pulls out a mountain dulcimer!
The scene was clearly staged. There was a wireless mic already strapped to the dulcimer, but Amanda dutifully acted surprised, and Jimmy Fallon talked her into playing a tune for the audience. Amanda then played, and sang, an amazing rendition of Joni Mitchell's song "California," from Mitchell's Blue album.
Here's a clip from "The Tonight Show," where Amanda is playing (click on the picture to listen):
Amanda Seyfried was very, very skilled. She sang, played the dulcimer, and probably introduced hundreds of thousands of people to our instrument.
Joni's dulcimers were made by Joellen Lapidus (who I've had the good fortune to jam with a time or two! - and from whom your newsletter editor once took a class at KMW where Joellen taught us how to play Joni's slap-and-strum style), but I have no idea who made Amanda's dulcimer. It wasn't recognizable to my inquisitive luthier-who-wants-to-know-what-everyone-is-playing eyes. But I suspect that Amanda's instrument was made from a Folkcraft dulcimer kit. The head, as well as the overall construction where the sides, head, and fretboard meet sure look like one of ours. Even the machine heads look exactly like the tuners we have custom-made in the Netherlands.
Amanda Seyfried needs to call me up and order a dulcimer with a built-in pickup! (that's 317-539-1855, Amanda...)
But anyway... After watching this video, YouTube started recommending that I enjoy a variety of videos featuring Joni Mitchell's dulcimer tunes. Here's the song "California," but with Helena Hallberg (another stellar artist) teaching us how to play the tune (click on the photo to listen and learn):
I already knew about Helena - she's awesome - and I've shared her videos before. And yes, that's a Folkcraft Custom Series dulcimer that Helena is playing. It has an East Indian rosewood body, an Engelmann spruce top, purpleheart fretboard veneer, dual pickups (both NT-11 and Fishman), with a Galax back. Other than the hummingbird sound holes, Helena's dulcimer would be my dream instrument! I have rosewood in stock right now. Y'all can call and order yours whenever you're ready!
If you want to hear Helena actually perform (not teach) the song "California," click on the link below for a (non-tutorial) version. Helena has tutorials for other Joni Mitchell tunes, too.
Hear Helena perform "California"
A Dulcimer Revival?
Could Amanda Seyfried, or Helena Hallberg, inspire a dulcimer revival, similar to the one that Jean Ritchie inspired so many years ago? Maybe!
Revival or no, I always like hearing our mostly-traditional instrument being used for tunes other than old-time, traditional, or Gospel music. I'm partial to playing Leonard Bernstein tunes on my dulcimer, and although Bernstein isn't "pop" music, he's definitely a contemporary composer. If you don't think that you know Bernstein's work - think of a song from "West Side Story" - that's something he wrote that you probably DO know.
Anyway - thanks for reading, Y'all - go watch those videos! Maybe you'll be inspired to play a Cyndi Lauper song or two on your dulcimer.
Have a great weekend!
Richard Ash - luthier-who-loves-how-versatile-mountain-dulcimers-can-be-with-all-genres-of-music
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TINA BROWN
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Tina: I’m a member of the Woodburn Dulcimer Club, the home of Folkcraft Dulcimers. This is where I play in our Tuesday night jams. Being part of this club with a group of awesome people including Richard Ash, our facilitator, is fortunate for me. I’ve been playing a bit more than 5 years. Once I learned Dave Haas’s songbook, and could keep up with the fast playing, I liked playing fast. These days I’m happy to play several fast songs before I long to slow it down and play some beautiful melodies. I like to play in parts and I do that with the North Webster Players. Adding rhythm instruments is fun. Speaking of rhythm I’m rhythm challenged. Carol Walker patiently helped me with that over Zoom while I learned lots of other cool songs, along with fingerpicking. I especially like Carol’s arrangements. And her teaching.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Tina: I have two Folkcraft dulcimers. The first is a beginning dulcimer, cost-wise, with a bright sound. I was happy with it for many years. My recent second dulcimer is a Custom Series Cadillac of a Folkcraft dulcimer. The ebony fret board feels wonderfully smooth for my fingers as I do slides and general fingering. The rosewood body and sitka spruce top is beautiful providing a mellow, rich tone. The dolphin cut outs symbolize the dolphin’s deep dive as I take when learning.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Tina: Dulcimer festivals are terrific! I can focus a day or a few days on just the dulcimer, learn a lot, have fun, and meet others in the dulcimer community. In June is the Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, KY, which is the next festival I’ll be attending as well as...
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF TINA'S INTERVIEW AND ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE TINA & YOU!
HEY THERE FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!
No new player to add to our online global dulcimer community today, but we're happy to refeature Tina today. How ya been, girlfriend?
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!
This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
Let's have some 1.5 Fret Fun. (You'll need to have a 1.5 fret on your dulcimer for today's lesson, and next week's, too.) This week, Mandy shows you how to play easily in the key of C using your 1.5 fret! We’ll work out our 1,4,5 (I,IV,V) chords in the key of C using that wonderful "extra" fret. Have fun! Just click on the image below to watch.
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.
HYMNS FOR TWO
by Shelley Stevens
Easter's a little less than a month away now. Maybe you still need to work up some hymns or gospel tunes to play for a special service or program? And maybe you'd enjoy playing it with a friend? We invite you to explore the sacred sounds of "Hymns For Two." With arrangements in DAD tuning, by award-winning arranger Shelley Stevens, this collection offers dulcimer duets with both standard notation and tablature. Part of the renowned "Baker's Dozen" series, this book promises to elevate your dulcimer playing to new heights. All 13 of these arrangements are for mountain dulcimer duet. (19 pages)
This book is published by Fingers Of Steel, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.
SONGS INCLUDED:
All Hail The Power • Blessed Assurance • Faith Of Our Fathers • God Be With You • Holy, Holy, Holy • Jesus Loves Me • Nearer My God To Thee • Near The Cross • Precious Memories • Rock Of Ages • Softly And Tenderly • Sweet Hour Of Prayer • Take Time To Be Holy