appalachian dulcimer - what to play

Subject: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:43 AM

I am new to learning appalachian dulcimer and have three or four tunes/songs I am learning but I am interested in some others - any suggestions?

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: John P
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 09:06 AM

Scottish pipe tunes often sound great on the dulcimer. So do most of the Cantigas de Santa Maria from 12th century Spain.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 09:41 AM

What a coincidence! I just received the Appalachian Dulcimer that I ordered and it is lovely - a cherry teardrop with hummingbird cutouts. I concur that Scottish songs (any pipe tune) will come out wonderfully on the dulcimer. The first song I managed to pick out was "53rd Highlander's Farewell to Sicily" and the next was "Willie Moore". Also "Old Joe Clark" and I'm working on "Annie Laurie", "Loch Lomond" etc. I just love the sound. You might want to check out this site http://www.everythingdulcimer.com . They have lots of free tablature, articles, etc. Also I recommend Jean Richie's Dulcimer Book, which is what I'm using. She teaches the traditional style of playing melody and drones with a noter. I also got a Dulcimer Chord Book (from Amazon.com, I think, and it was only around $5.00 which gives you lots of chords if you want to play that way.) I find it difficult to get used to the position of holding the dulcimer in your lap and pressing down on the strings from above, as opposed to the way you would hold a guitar, but I'm slowly getting used to it. Good luck with your dulcimer! Keep in touch and let us know how you are progressing!

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 09:58 AM

I've been waiting for someone to ask this!

Here is the list of tunes I have compiled, first for D-A-A tuning and then for D-A-G tuning. The letter after the name is the first note of the song. If you tune differently, you can still probably use the list, but the first note may need to be changed.

---------------------------------
Songs for dulcimer in D-A-A tuning

Across the wide Missouri---------------------------        A
Ah, had I a golden thread        F#
All creatures of our God and king------------------        D
All my sorrows        A
All through the night---------------------------------        D
Annie Laurie        F#
As we march-ed down to Fenario        D
Beautiful savior---------------------------------------        D
Believe me, if all these endearing young charms        F#
Bendemeer's stream---------------------------------        A
Blind Mary        E
Bright morning stars are shining--------------------        A
Camptown races...............................................E
Cockles and mussels        A
Come Christians, for to sing------------------------        D
Come ye shepherds (Infant lowly)......................A lo
Dainty Davy        D
Down by the Riverside.......................................F#
Down by the sally gardens--------------------------        D
Drink to me only with thine eyes                         C#
Country gardens................................................A hi
Farewell to Tarawathie        D
Flow gently, sweet Afton---------------------------        A
For the beauty of the earth        D
Galway Bay------------------------------------------        E
Go tell aunt Rhodie        F#
Great storm is over----------------------------------        A hi
Guantanamera        D
Hard times--------------------------------------------        D
He shall feed his flock        A hi
Hector the hero.................................................A lo
Holly and the Ivy                                              D
Holy God, we praise thy name----------------------D
Holy, holy, holy        D
Holy manna......................................................A lo
How brightly beams the morning star--------------        D
Huna blentyn.....................................................A
I gave my love a cherry        A
I know where I'm going-----------------------------        D
I see the moon        A
In the bleak midwinter........................................F#
Irish washerwoman-----------------------------------A hi
Jacob's ladder                                                    F#
Jamaica farewell-------------------------------------        E
Kelvingrove        D
King of love my shepherd is------------------------        D
Kum by Yah                                                    D or A
Last thing on my mind........................................E
Lavender's blue--------------------------------------        A hi
Leaving of Liverpool                                          D
Lo how a rose e'er blooming        A hi
Loch Lomond-----------------------------------------        D
Long, long ago        D
Lord Haddon's favorite------------------------------        E
Lord of all hopefulness/be thou my vision        D
Mama don't allow------------------------------------        A
Mary Hamilton        A hi
Merry Widow Waltz--------------------------------        A
Miss Thompson                                                 A hi
Morning has broken        D or A
Never love thee more-------------------------------        A
O come, little children                                        A hi
Oh, Susannah....................................................D
Old black Joe                                                    D
On the bridge of Avignon        D
On top of Old Smokey.......................................A
Pack up your sorrows-------------------------------        F#
Polly-wolly doodle        D
Praise to the Lord------------------------------------        D
Red river valley        A
Ring, ring the banjo----------------------------------        A hi
River (Bill Staines)        D
Shores of Ponchatrain-------------------------------        A
Southwind.........................................................A hi
Spring has now unwrapped the flowers        D
Stars of the summer night---------------------------        A
10th Batn Highland Light infantry c'ing the Rhine        D
Stewball-----------------------------------------------        A
This joyful Eastertide        A lo
Ting, ting, ting-----------------------------------------        F#
'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry                            D
There is a tavern in the town                               ?
There's a wideness in God's mercy.....................D
Water is wide-----------------------------------------        A
When you and I were young, Maggie        A hi
Who's gonna hold her hand?------------------------        A
Wreck of the sloop John B        A

Songs in D-A-G tuning

Banks and braes of Bonnie Doon        A 1st fret
Black is the color of my true love's hair-----------        E 5th
Blow the candle out        A 1st
Can't help but wonder where I'm bound-----------        E 5th
Come all you pretty maidens, wherever you be        C 3rd
Darlin' Corey-----------------------------------------        G 0
Erie Canal        A 1st
Elm tree branches------------------------------------        C 3rd
A hundred miles (if you miss the train I'm on)        C 3rd
Froggie went a-courting-----------------------------        A 1st
The great silkie        D 4th
Here I sit on Buttermilk hill................................        F 6th
Icelandic horseman        A 1st
Johnny, I hardly knew you/when J. comes mar...        A 1st
Masters in this hall        A 1st
My lord, what a morning----------------------------        F# 6 1/2
Now the green blade rises (Noel, nouvelet)        A 1st
Old Chisholm trail------------------------------------        A 1st
Scarborough Fair        A 1st
Star of the County Down---------------------------        C 3rd
Sweet Willie and Lady Margot        E 5th
Swing low, sweet chariot----------------------------        F# 6 1/2
The Cuckoo's Nest (Welsh tune)        C 3rd
Turn ye to me----------------------------------------        A 1st
Two young brothers marched away        D 4th
Wayfaring stranger----------------------------------        A 1st
Wild Rover        E 5th

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:11 AM

I used to play a bit some years back. I'll see what I can recall and chat with you at Whitby.
I suspect that a certain song about massacre of a Scot might fit ;O)
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: KateG
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:11 AM

Stephen Seifert's books have excellent tips for beginners, and his book "Join the Jam" has most of the standards that you will encounter playing with others. His website is Stephen Seifert


I'm posting the Join the Jam table of contents below. Nine out of ten songs on this list are songs that I either play regularly or have on my "to learn" list. Have fun and keep strumming!

1. Amazing Grace
2. Angelina Baker
3. Arkansas Traveler
4. Aunt Rhodie
5. Barlow Knife
6. Bile Them Cabbage Down
7. Black Mountain Rag
8. Boatman
9. Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine
10. Bonapart's Retreat
11. Buffalo Gals
12. Cherokee Shuffle
13. Chinese Breakdown
14. Cluck Old Hen
15. Cold Frosty Morning
16. Columbus Stockade Blues
17. Cripple Creek
18. Cucharin's Cross
19. Dixie
20. Dubuque
21. Eighth Of January
22. Fisher's Hornpipe
23. Flop Eared Mule
24. Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
25. Forked Deer
26. Goin' To Boston
27. Golden Slippers
28. Grey Cat On A Tennessee Farm
29. Ground Hog
30. Hangman's Reel
31. I'll Fly Away
32. Johnson Boys
33. June Apple
34. Kitchen Girl
35. Liberty
36. Little Liza Jane
37. Liza Jane
38. May The Circle Be Unbroken
39. Midnight On The Water
40. Mississippi Sawyer
41. Nail That Catfish To A Tree
42. Nonesuch
43. Oh, Susannah
44. Old Joe Clark
45. Over The Waterfall
46. Ragtime Annie
47. Red Haired Boy
48. Red Wing
49. Reuben's Train
50. Rock The Cradle Joe
51. Rosin The Beau
52. Sail Away Ladies
53. Saint Anne's Reel
54. Sandy Boys
55. Sandy River Belle
56. Scotland The Brave
57. Seneca Square Dance
58. Shady Grove
59. Shortnin' Bread
60. Silly Bill
61. Soldier's Joy
62. Southern Aristocracy
63. Southwind
64. Spotted Pony
65. Sugar Hill
66. The Fiddler Has Played His
      Last Waltz For The Night
67. The Girl I Left Behind Me
68. Turkey In The Straw
69. Waterbound
70. Westfalia Waltz
71. Westfork Gals
72. Whiskey Before Breakfast
73. Wildwood Flower
74. Year Of Jubilo
75. Yellow Rose Of Texas

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:19 AM

Jim Couza has shown that, with application, one can play just about anything on the dulcimer; from "Three Blind Mice" to Beethoven`s 5th. He makes it as versatile as the piano.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:30 AM

Thanks for posting your list, KateG. I plan to work on those tunes.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:31 AM

Hugh - Jim Couza plays Hammered Dulcimer - like a table with dozens of strings on the top and hit with toothbrush shaped sticks.
Apalachian dulcomer is more like a guitar which has been squashed laterally and has usually got four strings, a pair for the melody and two drones.
I should know - I've made and played both sorts.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 10:37 AM

GtD, Silly me. Having seen both played I should have known better.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 11:24 AM

BTW is the appalachian dulcimer a popular instrument in the UK?

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Tracker
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 12:18 PM

I recommend Amazing Grace as an early tune to learn. Whatever tempo you play usually sounds great -- the slower the better. Pauses as you try to remember what comes next just make it sound more dramatic and heart-rending. It also has a very limited range -- a simple version only uses one octave and 6 notes (degabd).

Shenandoah and the Water is Wide also sound great slow and moody (i.e., picking your way slowly through practices).

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 04:25 AM

Thanks - the Appalachian dulcimer is not particularly popular in the UK you hardly see anyone playing it but I think it is beginning to be of interest. When I bought mine and MCfat was sat outside the pub playing it loads of people were interested in what ot was.

I have taken it up because it should be quite a good instrument to use with deaf kids with the sound box resting on your knee and since it is apparently so easy for children to learn it should be a good instrument for my workshops. Besides I like a challenge of learning new instruments

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 05:17 AM

Appalachian Dulcimer is another of the 'Folk' instruments which are relatively easy to play , and so tend to only get used for 'simple' tunes , as is the whistle . I used to know a lad who play Jigs and Reels at breakneck speed on App Dulc , and was also know to play Blues on it as well . My advice is play what the Hell you feel like playing ,regardless of people who say "Thats NOT an Appalachian Dulcimer Tune".

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: KateG
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 09:59 AM

Leenia - I like your list too. It's always interesting to see what others are up to. Siefert played for our club on Monday night...mind bending. What he does seems so simple, but then he adds in little flourishes like string bends that just make the piece. His version of "Mama don't allow" had us in stitches as he made his dulcimer imitate all the instruments that Mama didn't allow: guitar, bass, mandolin, dulcimer ..complete with wah-wahs created by rapidly turning a tuning peg--and getting it back in pitch without losing a beat!

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 10:41 AM

That sounds great. I'll be sure to catch Siefert's act if I can.

There's an American performer named Steven (or was it Stephen?) K. Smith who's also versatile. I've heard him play blues and do a round by playing the different parts on different strings. We were amazed.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: harpgirl
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 11:03 AM

great list, leeneia, thanks!

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 05:09 PM

You should be able to play just about any music you choose. One of the major limitations is that you may not always be able to play in the key you might choose. Listen to Jean Ritchie if you are interested in the tradtional music that was played on the dulcimer. Folk like David Schnaffer, who was/is Stephen Seifert's mentor, Tull Glazener, Rob Brereton, and Jerry Rockwell have all expanded the concept of what one might expect to hear on the dulcimer. Roger Nicholson, an English mountain dulcimer player, had an excellent recording at one time and he might still be active in music.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Malachy
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 08:51 PM

I agree with Arkie. With a bit of practice, you can play almost anything you want on it.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Joni Mitchells dulcimer playing on 'Blue'. That inspired me to look further into what this instrument is capable of.
And I'm still learning...
Mal.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:44 AM

I'm inspired to try again to organize a local club. I've heard several of the people mentioned above, and they are fantastic.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 11:07 AM

I should have said you cannot always play or tune to the pitch you might choose. If one can read music, the Appalachian Dulcimer, can play music written in a variety of keys. But since the dulcimer is usually tuned to open tunings one is limited to a rather small range of scales.

While Joni Mitchell made a rather limited use of the dulcimer, she did indeed attract attention to the instrument. Richard Farina was even more influential and I still like to listen to his recordings and play several of his songs particularly "Pack Up Your Sorrows" and "Children of Darkness". A co-worker mentioned yesterday having seen Cyndi Lauper close out a concert with the dulcimer. (Which she learned from David Schnauffer). David has played dulcimer with the Judds and Dan Seals as well. He even had a video track of "Fisher's Hornpipe" which played on one or two of the video channels.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: KateG
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 11:40 AM

Mary in Kentucky -

According to the Dulcimer Player News website DPN there are at least six active clubs in Kentucky. If one of them is near where you live, you might want to check them out. My experience with the groups in the NJ/PA area has been uniformly positive.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Mudlark
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 02:33 PM

Lots of good songs, players listed here. In order to really get an idea of the range of possibilities the dulcimer offers, I suggest getting one of Janita Baker's recordings (www.bluelioninstruments.com). She plays everything from classical to ragtime...Neal Hellman also an inventive, excellent player. Aside from established melodies, I think one of the nicest things about this instrument is that you can make up your own tunes as you go along...it's so relaxing it's almost mesmerizing, just noodling on a dulcimer on a hot summer afternoon. It's a little like picking out melodies on a piano, note by note, except it sounds al lot more interesting, and once you learn a few chords to add in, homemade music can be very effective.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Sean R-B
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 04:01 PM

About any tune one would play on the fiddle or banjo works well on the mountain dulcimer. The instrument has such a great sound with the drones and the possibilities for rhythmic drive.

For anyone interested, I'll be teaching a couple of short workshops on the dulcimer at the Great River Road Festival in Grafton, Illinois next week, August 20 and 21. One for absolute beginners and one teaching a couple of tunes in A. Probably Art Stamper's version of "Goodbye Girls, I'm Going To Boston", and either "Wolves a'Howlin'" or "Horse and Buggy-O".

Peace,
Sean R-B

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Joybell
Date: 13 Aug 04 - 06:51 PM

I play mine by holding it in what is called - in one book, "The Volkeswagon Style". You place the dulcimer upright against your left shoulder. Gives you interesting possibilities with your right hand and it stays in place nicely. Worth a try anyway. Joy

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 11:37 AM

Kate, I've been to gatherings where the Louisville club is present, and they are quite good. I've been trying for two years to get several friends locally to get together once a month. It just takes someone to keep reminding people.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 08:00 AM

Carolan

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 07:59 AM

At our summer camp near Peterborough last week we had around 70 Old Time musicians, including maybe three or four lap dulcimers. I think in the UK, the emphasis among dulcimer players is more on British folk music, although I really enjoy hearing Appalachian tunes and songs played on them.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 06:13 PM

Neal Hellman just sent to me his latest book, CELTIC SONGS & SLOW AIRS FOR MOUNTAIN DULCIMER, published by Mel Bay. It's very beautiful, and there are 55 titles listed for the accompanying cd. In his author's note he says he has arranged the compositions so that each will work both as an air and as a song. A very few (e.g."Si Beag Si Mor)have no lyrics, of course. Here are a few of the songs:

The Banks of Claudy
Bonny Light Horseman
Courting is a Pleasure
Down By the Sally Gardens
Farewell to Tarwathie
The Flower of Magherally
The Flowers of the Forest
The Lowlands of Holland
MacPherson's Farewell
Mo Ghile Mear
The Month of January
The Parting Glass
Planxty Connor
Si Beag Si Mor
The Snows They Melt the Soonest
Star of the County Down
Such a Parcel of Rogues
When I Was on Horseback
Will Ye No Come Back Again?
Ye Banks and Braes

I wouldn't say this is a book for beginners; more for repertoire. But I'm glad that Neal, not a singer (as I have ever heard- I may be wrong!)included the lyrics to those which have words.

I'm enjoying the book, and working my way through the melodies. How can I not like it? It's dedicated to me! Thanks, Neal...

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Maryrrf
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 06:48 PM

Jean, this book sounds wonderful! (I have your book, by the way, and it has been a big help in getting me started). Does it have tablature or is it only for folks who can read music? I am a beginner but those songs are so great I would like to tackle them.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 03:28 AM

There's been some great ideas and I have enjoyed trying a few out

I am finding the slow airs and harp tunes lovely to play

thanks again

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 08:28 PM

Neal has given chord names at places where chords change, and fret numbers on a line underneath the lyrics...that's a kind of tablature, I guess. Regular music notation also, in its regular place.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: Scoville
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 10:31 PM

Michael Rugg is one of my favorite players, too. There's also a guy named Mike Anderson (has is own website somewhere) who records a lot of children's songs and such. He plays about a dozen instruments but is actually a good dulcimer player. Among "older" music (not REALLY old), Richard Farina and Bob and Evelyne Beers also used dulcimers to good advantage.

You can learn to play almost anything, but if you're just starting, pretty much anything that is arranged for clawhammer/frailed banjo will work well, once you have the tuning figured out. Not surprising since both instruments are heavily rhythm-driven.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: NH Dave
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 01:51 AM

Perhaps we could ALL stop off at the Folk Legacy web site and ask Carolyn and Sandy to reissue Howie Mitchel's book and record on the Plucked/Appalachian Dulcimer, and Hammered Dulcimer as well, on book and CD. The Appalachian Dulcimer combination not only discussed the building of one of these instruments but several styles of playing from the strum and noting style popularized by Jean Richie, to chording the instrument like any other necked, stringed, instrument and playing double thumbing and other styles of finger picking. He also discusses and demonstrates on his instruments the various modes or modal playing in the dulcimer by retuning slightly, and starting your scale on a diferent note. Most of these modal tunings are further illustrated by the same tune done in each mode, as well as other tunes done in a mode that he feels most suits it.

Dave

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: MaineDog
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 08:27 AM

tune it d-a c and play bagpipe tunes!!!

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: KateG
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 09:29 AM

DAC is a wonderful tuning. I use it for Shady Grove, Black is the Color, The Orphan (an Irish jig), Suil Aroon and a few other minor tunes I can't recall at the moment, since my tunebook isn't handy. Something about lowering the tension of the melody strings does wonderful things to the resonance of the instrument.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 03:57 PM

Thanks, MaineDog - DAC is indeed a great tuning. I was getting a little bit bored with DAD but DAC has opened up a new world for me.

Subject: RE: appalachain dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,chuck hemrick
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 11:56 PM

i play the songs that appeal to me...i do not plkay the scotch-iris tunes,not that i don't like them.i love watching and listening to other dulcimer players perform those solid tunes on the dulcimer...i just play the simple tunes that ap[peal to me and the audience has come to expect me to play...a lot of old fiddle tunes...redwing is one of my favorites,wildwood flower,lots of old gospel songs and rosewood casket is a favorite, too!...home sweet home is another one! shamus o'brien is one i'm working on now...dang,i love that melody!anyway,it's a versatile instrument!love it!play it till your heart contents!
i play it every week at the downtown cinema in mt.airy,n.c.,each saturday morning, 9:00 to 11:00 am,EDT,along with other great local musicians that have been doing this with me for over 10 years now!
if you happen to be in the area this fall,drtop by!...its open to the public and is FREE!...also the WPAQ merry-go-round live radio show follows at 11:00am til 1:30pm,EDT and is open to the public and is FREE to all!!!

Subject: RE: appalachian dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 10:30 AM

My favourite songs (it is the first song that I have arranged for dulcimer) is "Pretty Polly".
I play it on Daa tuning with the Capo on the 1° fret (this way I can play on the "minor" modes).
Just last week I arranged (same tuning and Capo) an ancient French song: "Belle qui tiens ma vie".

On dulcimer you can play more or less everything, just try to change tuning (or use the capo) for to find the right mode and... fret the strings with your fingers.

Marco.

Subject: RE: appalachian dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 01:03 PM

You can play anthing on a lap dulcimer. It all sounds equally bad:)

Russ (who plays dulcimer)

Subject: RE: appalachian dulcimer - what to play
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 01:04 PM

the devil made me do that