|
24 Sep 20 - 05:51 PM (#4073031) Subject: dulcimer redux From: leeneia 'Reduc' means 'brought back or revived.' Finally I know. My fretted or mountain dulcimer has been sitting unused for a long time, partly because of a problem with my thumb, and partly because of habit. But three hours ago I underwent cataract surgery, and I'm floating about in a fog. I decided that now would be a good afternoon to get out the dulcie and brush up my techniques. I think the instrument, which I tune D-A-A, has been sitting unused for at least two years. I got out the tuner, and the low D string was a few cents flat, so was the middle A string, and the melody A string was spot on. What an amazing instrument. The thumb problem is that the cuticle is pulling away from the nail, probably from being rubbed by my thumb pick. This troubled my dermatologist and scared me into not playing. But then I had an idea. I put a Dr. Scholl's corn pad over my cuticle, so there's open air between it and the tight band of the thumbpick. And I'm going to keep an eye on how long a session lasts. No more playing for two hours. Tunes: Hector the Hero Holy Manna Cockles and mussels He is an Englishman That's not many, but I played them each a few times, reviewing where the chords are. Doing this perked up my soul. |
|
25 Sep 20 - 10:23 AM (#4073075) Subject: RE: dulcimer redux From: Nick Hope you sort all your problems out soon. Must sort mine out one day... |
|
25 Sep 20 - 10:40 AM (#4073078) Subject: RE: dulcimer redux From: Waddon Pete Good for you Leenia! Little and often! |
|
25 Sep 20 - 05:18 PM (#4073104) Subject: RE: dulcimer redux From: leeneia Thanks, Nick and Pete. I believe I'll play a number for Monday's Singaround. |
|
26 Sep 20 - 10:17 AM (#4073184) Subject: RE: dulcimer redux From: Waddon Pete Look forward to it! |
|
26 Sep 20 - 03:31 PM (#4073220) Subject: RE: dulcimer redux From: leeneia My Dear Husband just helped me with my thumbpicks, which are now too small to go over my thumb plus the corn pad. He put a small piece of wood in the "jaw", then put the pick plus the wood in a bowl of water. Another bowl of water on top of that kept the thing submerged, so it didn't overheat. After 55 seconds in a 700-watt microwave on High, the pick is looser, but not too loose. The piece of wood is about 1/4 inch thick. Turns out the instrument I've been playing is one somebody gave me a couple years ago. My own was in its case in an upstairs closet, safe from the dust of a home renovation. I wondered where the stickers had gone that show me where the chords are for D-A-G. Flow gently sweet Afton - 2 diff. melodies Finiculi, finicula As we marched down to Fenario 'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry All my trials O du froehliche |