Kitd56, you only had it a week when you recorded this video? I am thoroughly impressed! Do you play other instruments? I'm getting ready to have one made my Mr. Wendell Powell and I am so excited. Do you find the tab to be hard? Can you play songs written for the guitar?
Yeah, neptune - I got my first dulcitar in early Nov 2009 - that's this one I'm playing here. I got a McNally a couple months later, and then I started making my own. I most just play the ones I make now. I don't read tabs. The instrument is very intuitive, so if you're just wanting to play simple melody you probably won't even need tabs. Some folks play alot more fancified than I do and you might need tabs for those.
The chords would be different fingering for the guitar - the dulcitar is essentially a guitar fretboard with a few of the frets removed, making it a diatonic instrument instead of chromatic like a guitar. They are REAL easy to play. Let me know if you have any questions - I certainly don't have all the answers but I love talking about dulcitars and playing them!
That dulcitar sounds so beautiful. I wish I could learn to play one like that! You do an excellent job! How do you have it tuned..... if you don't mind me asking?
Mind you asking??? Man, I can talk about these little dulcitars all day long!!! I switch the tuning around from time to time, but I'm thinking this song is tuned F-C-F or thereabouts - I'm not much of a musician. I need to put a different string on the base so I can do a D-A-D - I'm so glad you enjoyed the video - I've just finished a dulcimer that was given to me half built and it turned out fairly good, but I don't know how to drive the darn thing yet!! Wish me luck!!!!
Your video response is SO beautiful, Roeleke - I don't know how I had missed this one before!! Thanks so much! Your rendition is priceless!!! There are so many ways to sing/play this wonderful old tune - your was one of the very finest I've ever heard! Anyone reading this, please visit Twitterwarre's video response - it is just GORGEOUS!!
I'll be looking for it! In the meantime, check out Blaine's page - google Smokey Mountain Dulcimer Works - he's GREAT - VERY reasonable, VERY responsive, and I think he makes as fine a dulcitar as anyone! Talk with you soon, Tim!
Hey, Tim - no - it's nothing like a guitar except how you hold it. VERY easy to play - I've only had this about a week now. There are those who know much more intricate ways to play, but you can get a nice little tune out of it immediately - send me a message if you have additional questions - I can talk about these things all day but I'm about out of characters! And thanks so much for your comment!!
Let's pack our bags - I'm ready when you are, JP!!! We'll sneak over there, knock on her door, and when she opens up we'll scream "SURPRISE!!!" Hmmm. Now that I think on it, I wonder if she'd be able to handle the both of us - HAHAHAHA! Well, we'd have a mess of fun, wouldn't we!!!
Kitd56, you only had it a week when you recorded this video? I am thoroughly impressed! Do you play other instruments? I'm getting ready to have one made my Mr. Wendell Powell and I am so excited. Do you find the tab to be hard? Can you play songs written for the guitar?
neptunedarling 2 years ago
Yeah, neptune - I got my first dulcitar in early Nov 2009 - that's this one I'm playing here. I got a McNally a couple months later, and then I started making my own. I most just play the ones I make now. I don't read tabs. The instrument is very intuitive, so if you're just wanting to play simple melody you probably won't even need tabs. Some folks play alot more fancified than I do and you might need tabs for those.
kitd56 2 years ago
The chords would be different fingering for the guitar - the dulcitar is essentially a guitar fretboard with a few of the frets removed, making it a diatonic instrument instead of chromatic like a guitar. They are REAL easy to play. Let me know if you have any questions - I certainly don't have all the answers but I love talking about dulcitars and playing them!
kitd56 2 years ago
That dulcitar sounds so beautiful. I wish I could learn to play one like that! You do an excellent job! How do you have it tuned..... if you don't mind me asking?
SlateCreekDulcimers 2 years ago
Mind you asking??? Man, I can talk about these little dulcitars all day long!!! I switch the tuning around from time to time, but I'm thinking this song is tuned F-C-F or thereabouts - I'm not much of a musician. I need to put a different string on the base so I can do a D-A-D - I'm so glad you enjoyed the video - I've just finished a dulcimer that was given to me half built and it turned out fairly good, but I don't know how to drive the darn thing yet!! Wish me luck!!!!
kitd56 2 years ago
Wow, I love it, dear Kit!
(sent you a videoreaction to this one, I think you will like it!)
Roeleke :-)
Twirretwarre 2 years ago
Your video response is SO beautiful, Roeleke - I don't know how I had missed this one before!! Thanks so much! Your rendition is priceless!!! There are so many ways to sing/play this wonderful old tune - your was one of the very finest I've ever heard! Anyone reading this, please visit Twitterwarre's video response - it is just GORGEOUS!!
kitd56 2 years ago
I will send you a pm tomorrow. Thanks!
chessdude67 2 years ago
I'll be looking for it! In the meantime, check out Blaine's page - google Smokey Mountain Dulcimer Works - he's GREAT - VERY reasonable, VERY responsive, and I think he makes as fine a dulcitar as anyone! Talk with you soon, Tim!
kitd56 2 years ago
Cool instrument. Can you tell me how hard it is to play? It looks very easy, but you must need to know the basic chords on a guitar, right?
Thanks for any feedback. You sound great.
Tim
chessdude67 2 years ago
Hey, Tim - no - it's nothing like a guitar except how you hold it. VERY easy to play - I've only had this about a week now. There are those who know much more intricate ways to play, but you can get a nice little tune out of it immediately - send me a message if you have additional questions - I can talk about these things all day but I'm about out of characters! And thanks so much for your comment!!
kitd56 2 years ago
I have always dreamed of going to Ireland and hope one day we can visit your friend together. Wonderful performance dear sister
LOVE2Flute 2 years ago
Let's pack our bags - I'm ready when you are, JP!!! We'll sneak over there, knock on her door, and when she opens up we'll scream "SURPRISE!!!" Hmmm. Now that I think on it, I wonder if she'd be able to handle the both of us - HAHAHAHA! Well, we'd have a mess of fun, wouldn't we!!!
kitd56 2 years ago