Arkansas Traveler on Mountain Dulcimer

[jazzmaneast]

I love it. Great video, too, because it's so clear what you are doing. Thanks for sharing.

[dholeton]

@jazzmaneast

Thank you JazzMan

Singing along on this one kinda' slows it down, but for me it makes it more fun to play.

Dave

[dlay436]

That was great never heard this one made me smile to here you play it thanks

[dholeton]

@dlay436

Thanks DLAY436. Arkansas Traveler has that wit about it that makes me smile every time I play it!

Dave

[Travisthetruth1]

So this song is about a lazy guy who makes excuses to not fix his roof.......I LOVE IT!!!! (replay)

[dholeton]

@Travisthetruth1

Thanks Travis

Yep, I think I would rather play music than fix a roof too.

Dave

[dholeton]

Thanks John

This song is normally played at a much faster pace but I like to sing it so in this case I call it played at "singing speed".

I have been to Cades Cove and it is one of those places that connects us to the lifestyle that existed here in Tennessee in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. I love to go to such places that display history and transmit such a strong feeling of the past.

Dave

[johnhenry176]

Just found this Dave!  As previous comments, I like the pace at which you play it,and intend to try it at that speed henceforth !, thanks ! Co-incidentaly, I received a gift in the post two days ago, a book of art photos with appropriate notes, featuring 'Cade's Cove' !!!

jh176

[mtnpelican]

Thanks - got the tabs. I have to say, watching your videos has helped me a lot. One thing is clear - a lot of people, probably mostly beginners like me, fall into thinking that playing faster is always better. This is frustrating (more mistakes, erratic rhythm) and doesn't sound good anyway. For example almost everyone plays "Boil them Cabbage" very fast, but your version (with "Aunt Rhody") sounds so much better.

[dholeton]

@mtnpelican

Thanks Clark

I remember listening to a famous musician once and I realized he took the time to play it and sing it right (he made great sounds and he wasn't playing fast). That realization has motivated me to play music at a speed that is comfortable for me. I enjoy playing songs at what I'll call "singing speed". If you sing or think the lyrics while learning, you might find yourself playing the song slower and learning it faster.

Good Luck learning Arkansas Traveler.

Dave

[mtnpelican]

Really great, as always. I have a few questions: Are the pictures at the Museum of Appalachia in eastern Tennessee? It's a wonderful place! What kind of dulcimer is that? And finally, do you know of a fairly simple noter-and-drone version of Arkansas Traveler? I'm pretty new.

Clark

[dholeton]

@mtnpelican

Clark....Some pictures are from the Museum of Appalachia in Norris TN and some are from Cades Cove in Smoky Mountain National Park.

The dulcimer is a box dulcimer that I built from scratch after seeing some box dulcimers at the Museum of Appalachia.

To play this with a noter I think you will need a tab version in DAA (like the video). I found a simple DAA version at the Strum Hollow Acoustic Music web site. You can also email me and I can reply with one.

Thanks

Dave

[karcnikg]

Thank you for presenting not only the melody & instrumental but also the lyrics. I recall reading the lyrics when i was a kid taking piano lessons from the old John Thompson books. Only the 1st stanza was presented & always wondered what the remainder of the lyrics were. Here's a tidbit: The Thompson version ad libbed to play a L-handed (lower octave part) a la Bazooka which I later learned was an Bassoon-like instrument after which the US army weapon was named!

[dholeton]

@karcnikg

Thanks Karcnikg

I love how these old songs are connected to such interesting memorabilia. I never knew of the origin of the bazooka before now but I searched the internet and it has some Arkansas history.

What a connection!

Dave

[karcnikg]

@dholeton

My compliments, dholeton for your kind reply & good information.

I'll be looking up in Wikipedia more about bazooka.

Best wishes.

[dholeton]

Thank You Blue Bonnett

[Bluebonnett52]

Good job!

[DianeKY]

I haven't heard this song in years! Made me laugh. I needed that today. Like always, great job Dave

[dholeton]

@DianeKY

Thanks Diane

The wit and humor in the lyrics made this one so mucy fun to make.

Dave

[thoeckel]

Loved the playing and the singing! Great job!! The lyrics remind me of my husband!! (Although we did fix a leaky roof!) Wonderful sounding dulcimer - your playing looks so easy!

[dholeton]

@thoeckel

Thanks Trish

Yea, us husbands can find lots of excuses for not performing the fixes around the house. I'll bet your roof did not leak when it wasn't raining, too!

Dave

[duckscli]

That was fantastic, I've always thought that the dulcimer is one of the nicest sounding instruments. Only heard this one as an instrumental before so the lyrics were a great addition, fantastic vocals. Great stuff.

[dholeton]

@duckscli

Thanks Duncan

I have been moody the first 7 months of this year and creating moody music, so this was a break out and be happy song for me.

Dave

[Fabyr]

Great, Dave! You've sung very well this lovely song and the sound of the dulcimer is fantastic!*****

[dholeton]

@Fabyr

Thank You Fabyr

I think this song is used in many variations to demonstrate the differences between the people that existed in the rural hill country and the supposedly educated people (travelers) from the city in the USA. Whose common sense? might be a question that gets asked related to the lyrics in this song.

Dave

[Bidyyy]

* * * VERY GREAT !!!! * * *

[dholeton]

@Bidyyy

Thank You Ernest and Sarah

Greetings from Tennessee, USA!

Dave

[rhopen]

Hey Dave. this was just great. You have some the best folk instruments. I hate to admit it but I had never heard The Arkansas Traveler with lyrics before, so this was especially great to hear. The vocal was excellent. -Ron

[dholeton]

@rhopen

Thanks Ron

I never heard a sung version of Arknasas Traveler before working on this video either (other than the old Looney Tunes cartoon "I'm looking for a baby bumble bee" that used part of the melody).  I think there are a lot of fiddle tunes that are just played as instrumentals and the sung versions are almost forgotten. They can be as much fun to sing as they are to play and I think I was overdue for posting a fun song.

Thanks again for your kind comments.

Dave

[davidsummerford]

High quality and very entertaining presentation

[dholeton]

@davidsummerford

Thanks David

[TanteA]

Hi Dave, you always upload high quality videos. I never heard this song before. It is a very nice song. I like it very much and I love the way you perform it. Great that you also showed the lyrics.

Very nice greetings from Germany, - Anette

[dholeton]

@TanteA

Thanks Anette

Arkansas Traveler is an old bluegrass fiddle tune. It usually is played with a fiddle and seldom sung, so I wanted to provide a sung version. It also was the state song for Arkansas at one time (with different lyrics). It was great fun arranging a rainy song on a rainy day.

Greetings from Tennessee

Dave

[ArmenianLegion]

I love the sound of that instrument!

[dholeton]

@ArmenianLegion

Thanks Michael

This box dulcimer has become one of my favorite instruments for songs that I can arrange in the dulcimer DAA tuning.

Dave

[michaeljking]

great arrangement, nice dulcimer sound!! thanks!!

[dholeton]

@michaeljking

Thanks Michael

I have been stuck in an Aeolian/Dorian/Phrygian Mode (mood?) lately and then in spite of the rainy day I found myself playing an Ionian fun tune.

Dave