Love to review the string set ... But not to that stage of the build yet... Bought the Folkcraft teardrop Dulcimer plan and have been building it over the past few weeks... Adding ideas and things to make it the vision I had... So it's wait and see...
This is my favorite book now to just play through and sing familiar hymns. Chords are above the measures, so I can play the individual notes or just strum through the chords. I am so glad Mr. Ash recommended it. Thank you.
Folkcraft® Mountain Dulcimer String Set, Loop Ends (.011" .011" .013" .024"BW)
Traditional Hourglass Style Mountain Dulcimer Plan
The arrangements are wonderful!!
Folkcraft® Mountain Dulcimer String Set, Ball Ends (.012" .015" .024"RW)
The instructions were easy to follow. The book is played out in a progressive manner and helped me to learn fingerpicking. I would recommend this to everyone that is interrested in fingerpicking.
I absolutely love this sturdy gig bag for my teardrop dulcimer! Plenty of nicely padded space for this fragile instrument plus a roomy outer pocket for iPad and other gear. I highly recommend this bag!
I have been playing dulcimer for less than a year but before that , I played banjo. I missed playing melodic style and then I saw a video of Larry Conger’s, Wayfaring Stanger from the September … tab book. It is exactly what I wanted and I have not stopped practicing these beautiful pieces.Thank you, Larry from a very happy picker.
I love how smoothly my fingers slide on these strings!
This is not my first book by AaronO’Rourke. I enjoy the way he writes and teaches. It feels like he talking directly to you. Buy this. You won’t be sorry.
After a really nice talk with Richard he recommended a set of strings for my dulcimer. I couldn’t believe how much better my dulcimer sounds. Thankyou so much, Dennis
I really like the lighter-weight “11’s”. Adds a wonderful brilliant tone and easier on my “old” fingers. As always, the quality is a given.
I've used GHS Phosphor Bronze strings on guitars for 50 years and they are the best. I was so blessed when I found the base string in this set to be roll wound. Hardly any sqeeky finger noise when playing. Very nice tone acoustics and if running into an amp. Thank you Folkcraft.
Product and delivery was very good... highly recommend
I chose to make my 6 string at a college nearby in the early 1980's. And with their excellent guidance it was very good build. And then I progressed to desiring to make 5 string banjos. So I have amassed many sets of strings without a clear knowledge of the science of acoustics. Particularly when all sales for dulcimers centered on 4 strings and not 6. But I had my share of the pain of broken strings(both meanings, hence lots of sets ordered. It was decades before I tried to put that instruments back in service. Because, I found the Folkcraft website. Lo and behold, they had a set a set of 6 strings. I call it the no brain method. But they have brought my church dulcimer back to its beautifully rich sound. For that, I am grateful. I would recommend that listing a sample of the notes(including octave notation) of say the Key of G or C. That way, it helps the beginner not give up and not wait decades to rekindle a love of the harmonics generated.But obviously they are well pick to provide clear sounds and balances for appropriate tensions or your soundboard may decide to get closer to you face.
For the 25 + years I have played MD, I have tried a variety of picks but once I found Herdim picks that has become my go-to choice. When I teach new students I gift them 2 Herdim picks and a strip of the vinyl non skid shelf liner.
I like the book and plan to order Volume 1 later.
I have been playing dulcimers tuned DAA for many years and when I started I tried many types and brands of picks. I found that the Thin Yellow Herdim Nylon Pick, 3-in-1 Style was the best one for me to play as it was easy to hold, strummed easily and sounded nice. I also play a DAD tuned dulcimer and use the Red Herdim Nylon Pick playing there.
Loved the quality of this strap. Nice leather ends, and the quick-release is such a smart design.
I decided to try a lighter set of strings and it was a learning experience. My first attempt is always without directions, kind of like playing music by ear. The strings broke. Then I watched Mandy Tyners’ video and the key is using wire snips to adjust the length first, but don't make them too short. Sigh.
All things are in place now and the dulcimer sings beautifully once again. The strings were packaged nicely and arrived on schedule.
Dulcimer instruction book
It fits the intermediate skill set range of players. It has a very good variety of songs, from Celtic to Christian to early Americana. It has been a joy to practice and I recommend getting it.
The songs, for me, were too odd, too long, didnt really appeal to me at all. Gave my book away.