Everything Dulcimer

by **folkfan** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:22 pm

rendesvous1840 wrote:"(although taking off shoes and fretting with those extra digits is frowned upon)."
! ed upon? There's no frowning in dulcimer! That's the most unheard of thing I ever heard of! If you can get extra notes with your toes, go for it. I can't get my feet up to my lap without using my hands, but some are more agile than I.
Paul

Mayhap 'tis the stench from the shoes that 'tis frowned upon. :twisted:

by **Gardenplayer** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:45 pm

Every workshop that I have attended also has taught "whatever works for you"!

by **frets alot** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:59 pm

Peter,
I know exactly where you are coming from. I learned guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, and the idea of what fingers to use was very structured, for very good reasons. Then, when I got into mountain dulcimer, I found that there was much less structure. What you have learned on previous instruments....the reasonings to limit hand movement, increase speed, etc.....will be very helpful on mountain dulcimer, in choosing how to fret chords and what fingers to use. But, in the end, it's what feels the best for you, again, to limit hand movement so you are able to increase your speed. Also, you may find that a chord in one song may be played with slightly different fingers than the same chord in another song, depending on the transitioning that comes during and after that chord is played (hope that makes sense). After my learning instruments that were more disciplined in terms of fingering, the dulcimer is a nice change.

by **DroneAlone** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:23 pm

frets alot wrote:Peter,
I know exactly where you are coming from. I learned guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, and the idea of what fingers to use was very structured, for very good reasons. Then, when I got into mountain dulcimer, I found that there was much less structure. What you have learned on previous instruments....the reasonings to limit hand movement, increase speed, etc.....will be very helpful on mountain dulcimer, in choosing how to fret chords and what fingers to use. But, in the end, it's what feels the best for you, again, to limit hand movement so you are able to increase your speed. Also, you may find that a chord in one song may be played with slightly different fingers than the same chord in another song, depending on the transitioning that comes during and after that chord is played (hope that makes sense). After my learning instruments that were more disciplined in terms of fingering, the dulcimer is a nice change.

I agree with what you've said above.

I'm not looking for strict rules of dulcimer technique in the fashion of 19th century violin methods, but rather for "best practices". I guess there's a lot to learn from people that play the instrument well. I think music is much more important than technique. But one's technical skills should be developed enough so that the music doesn't suffer.

I've been working a bit on the three finger technique as described by tentmaker and folkfan. As dull as it may seem, excercising scales with increasing metronome speed helps internalizing the movements and getting more flow into it.

Peter

by **rendesvous1840** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:55 pm

Some of the techniques used in the other stringed instruments are perfectly logical when reaching up from below the fret board. But most dulcimer players place the instrument low and play from above. The hand positions are so different that we learn to play in a different way. But that's just a matter of learning something new-which we probably do every day any how. Don't sweat the difference, just go along with it. It's not a big deal at all. Just one more thing to learn.
Paul

by **DroneAlone** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:28 am

rendesvous1840 wrote:Some of the techniques used in the other stringed instruments are perfectly logical when reaching up from below the fret board. But most dulcimer players place the instrument low and play from above. The hand positions are so different that we learn to play in a different way. But that's just a matter of learning something new-which we probably do every day any how. Don't sweat the difference, just go along with it. It's not a big deal at all. Just one more thing to learn.
Paul

The different hand position (from above, pinky towards the nut) is not a problem at all. On the contrary, I really enjoy playing that way. Interestingly swapping between bass/ukulele and dulcimer works without having to readapt my mind. One of the reasons for learning dulcimer was that I was looking for a stringed instrument different than a guitar/bass/ukulele, as I enjoy the process of learning and exploring.

With regard to good fingering technique, my learning strategy for the time being is:

* as a warm-up exercise with a metronome I play scales and other patterns using 2 fingers, 3 fingers, 2 fingers & the thumb etc. in different positions on the fretboard. I've been doing that for a couple of days now and it already seems to pay off...
* I've been closely watching youtube videos of people who seem to know what they're doing (Stephen Seifert, Bing Futch, Don Pedi...). They can't be entirely wrong ;-)

* I've bought "Hands-On Dulcimer: Developing Technique Through Exercises and Studies" by Mike Casey. I've just got it yesterday... seems to be filled with all kinds of technical exercises.

What do you think?

Peter

by **Banjimer** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:04 pm

If you are comfortable playing with the pinky of your left hand, then the series of notes can proceed from left to right beginning with the pinky on the far left. If you are not comfortable using the pinky as a fretting finger, then begin your series of notes with the left hand ring finger.

For example, to get three notes with only a single strum:

Strum across the melody string while holding the melody string down with the left hand ring finger at the 3rd fret. Thump the middle finger of the left hand down at the 4th fret. Then, immediately thump the index finger of the left hand down at the 5th fret. You'll get (Do-Re-Mi).

It doesn't matter which finger is used for which fret, the key is to get your hand set up to play three or four notes in rapid succession.

If your series of notes begins at the 2nd fret, start there with your left hand pinky or ring finger.
If your series of notes begins at the 7th fret, start there with your left hand pinky or ring finger.

Whether you use the thumb or not is a matter of personal preference.

If the notes are going down in pitch the opposite is true. Begin the series of notes with your left hand thumb or index finger.

Greg

by **Linda Collins** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:44 pm

Hi Peter,
I'm late to this discussion, but I must say: I think you'd be a great student to work with!!
You are well on your way to developing solid technique. My guiding principle with fingering is Efficiency. That includes, as Stephen Seifert teaches, "handfuls of notes." It also allows for individual differences. What is efficient for one person on a particular dulcimer may not be efficient for someone else. Limiting shifting seems a good goal for everyone, however that may be accomplished.
Linda

by **The Mousetrapezoid** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:30 pm

rendesvous said:
"(although taking off shoes and fretting with those extra digits is frowned upon)."
...There's no frowning in dulcimer! That's the most unheard of thing I ever heard of! If you can get extra notes with your toes, go for it. I can't get my feet up to my lap without using my hands, but some are more agile than I.

--Sharon

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