Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer

Subject: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Kernow John
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:12 PM

I've just been loaned a lap dulcimer by my local music shop. I love the sound and found it easy to pick out a first tune (Soldiers Return).
I've only got it for a few days, so can anyone point me in the direction of a web site that explains different tunings etc.
If I decide to buy then I will follow the advice on some older threads and get Jean Ritchie's book and tapes. But meanwhile I guess I'm looking to see how versatile the instrument is.
Any help would be welcome
Thanks KJ

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:17 PM

The Mudcat forum search will bring up lots of information as would a decent seach engine ie www.google.com

I could give you some links, but only you know exactly what you want, so searching for yourself will probably be more productive.

Good luck, and buy it!

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:36 PM

There are a number of 'styles' in playing...noter, chording, fingerpicking....and various tuning/string arrangements....I simply bought books, but I'll bet there are sites with detailed info...

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Kernow John
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:39 PM

Thanks Guest
I had already searched the previous threads and yep used Google but it didn't help. There is such an array of expertise here on the 'cat that I thought someone may already know of a good site.
KJ

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:43 PM

It's about as versatile as you want it to be. As Bill said, there are modal tunings and a lot of one-off tunings, and you can single note strum, fingerpick, learn chords and other strums and picking patterns, use it to play solos or only as a highlight in a cappella songs..........Fun instruments and they can be as easy or as hard as you want.....Just depends on what you want to do.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:45 PM

Your search may have already turned these up, but they seem like good starting points:

Click here

Click here too

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 06:05 PM

Go to Google, type in "dulcimer players news" and hopefully, their magazine web site will pop up. The web sites mentioned in the above note seem to be pretty good as well.

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Kernow John
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 07:28 PM

Thanks again Guest
Had come up with those links but what a bummer the links on from the sites all seem to be down!
some days you can't win.

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dancer
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 08:06 PM

Bring lots of dollar bills. Its more fun in the "Champaigne Room" And "Candy" is not her real name.

Sorry I couldn't resist. every time I scanned the topic it looked like........Help, urgent advice on lap dancer

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 08:56 PM

KJ, buy it and buy the books, they are worth it. I got my first one this year and am amazed at the versatility of the instrument and if you have a good ear it is easy to pick the tunes out.

There's some more information in a thread I started called, "Finally Found My Instrument."

Here is a page which has the different tunings and the homepage has a lot more information: click here

kat

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: GUEST,KickyC
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 11:06 PM

The page of links from Sweet Music Index is not the page that is currently in the Bearmeadow site. Go to Bearmeadow.com and you can get into the Sweet Music Index from there. Lots of information.

You will never be sorry you bought a dulcimer. I started playing 6 years ago and I have never enjoyed anything so much. Talk about versatility. I play traditional fiddle tunes, classical, and swing music. You can play anything.

Go for it and good luck!

KickyC

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Kernow John
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 03:20 AM

Many thanks everyone.
Kat and KickyC them was the links I needed.
Thanks to you folks it looks like I'm going to own it but explaining why I need another instrument to Marion will take more dexterity than playing it.
Mind you I have more chance of owning the Lap Duilcimer than the Lap Dancer!
Thanks again all.
John

Subject: RE: Help, urgent advice on lap dulcimer
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 04:38 PM

A very good country bass player once said that if all of his basses he loaned out ever came back at once, his wife would probably throw him out of the house!

I have just one suggestion. If your shop was willing to loan you an instrument on trial, you might want to try any others they have to see which one you really want. Different woods, lengths, fret and string numbers, and shapes all produce different sounds. The 'action' might be different as well.

Have fun with your dulceemore, you'll not regret getting it.