Tenting Tonight -- mountain dulcimer Civil War song

[guitmartiman]

Beautifully done! That's the way I'd want to play the dulcimer if I had one!

[oneofanceantproficy]

gonna buy one of these and use it in my music. i make alternative rock/heavy metal but this would be an amazing addition to the alternative rock side. btw not the shitty new alternative rock. 90's sounding stuff.

[gavocrazy]

Tom, could you please put up a video tutorial of how you play this song. This song almost brought me to tears and I can't quit replaying it. I would really appreciate it and it would really make my day if I learned how to play this song your way!

[tjm3]

@gavocrazy Your comment made my day, thanks! I'll try and do that. It will be at least a week or 10 days. I might have something in writing already on my computer, too. Message me with an email address and I'll send anything I find.

[prsguitars100]

what thing? it looks like a cross bread between a guitar, a vilon and a boat padl, whatever that thing is you did awesome with it dude

[tjm3]

@prsguitars100 Thanks! I never thought of the paddle shape.

Its a mountain dulcimer, which is an original American instrument dating from the mid to late 1800's. (It almost died out, but enjoyed a revival in the 1960's, and is pretty common today). Mine is custom built, and a little smaller than most. They're easy to play, as stringed instruments go. No amp, just audio straight from my little digital camera with its crappy mic.

Thanks for watching, and for asking.

Tom

[wurly164]

Very nice, I have this song posted also and I hope you look at it, its played on a Wurlitzer band organ.

[ladyirish1860]

I can't find dulcimer tab for this song! Can you post yours? Or direct me to a good place to find it? Thanks. Your version is beautiful! As is your dulcimer!

[tjm3]

Thanks, and glad to help. None of these match my version, but here they are. Google for the links.

1. Songs of the Civil War by Maureen Sellers

2. Larry Conger teaches this in seminars and sells single copies of music

3. everythingdulcimer has one in the tab section, and

4. 'yet another digital tradition' search the title and follow links to two versions. Select AEA tuning, and don't worry that you are tuned DAD, just play the tab.

Hope this helps.

[nynascarkid]

i can play this on my guitar

[Elensila2718]

Thank you for sharing this! Do you know any other songs by the Hutchinson Family Singers (or individual members)?

[tjm3]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

To answer your question, I've got two versions of Battle Cry of Freedom posted, both linked to this piece as replies. I used to play Kingdom Coming on harmonica, but would need to re-learn it.

I did some research, but haven't found a really complete list of Hutchinson songs. I'm always up for learning new material, though. What would you like to hear?

[dholeton]

Beautiful song and dulcimer, Tom. I also appreciate the text history behind the song.

Well done.

Dave

[tjm3]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you liked the history, too.

[6127100]

A bit unusual, however, is your mountain dulcimer. No sound holes, looks like perhaps they are under the fretboard, those little scallops? Also board stops entirely, with a separate bridge section, instead of the more typical "sound hallow." Are these features to create a certain tone or type of sound? Seems innovative. Who is the luthier? What are the woods. Sounds beautiful, good job.

[tjm3]

Good eye, and thanks!

The sound holes are naturally occurring knotholes in both the maple soundboard and walnut sides near the bridge. There is also a split of about a half inch under the fretboard, so the scallops do function as soundholes. The hollow fretboard gets thicker toward the nut. All intended to get full sound out of a small instrument.

By my friend Ed Weiss. He's stage right in watch?v=GmLNuK4vtOA and also built the banjimer being played by the lady in white in that video.

[NamelessFTW]

what instrument is this? and do you have it hooked up to an amplifier?

[tjm3]

Its a mountain dulcimer, which is an original American instrument dating from the mid to late 1800's. (It almost died out, but enjoyed a revival in the 1960's, and is pretty common today). Mine is custom built, and a little smaller than most. They're easy to play, as stringed instruments go. No amp, just audio straight from my little digital camera. It does overdrive the camera mic a little, though, making it sound like some reverb maybe.

Thanks for watching, and for asking.

Tom