Flop-Earred Mule

[789holland]

Hi again Kimberly, i can play a little, like composing in my head moved by the spirit

if you like, There is a sea of words waiting to be put to the dulcimers sound, wonderful instrument that talks back to you, it begins to breathe as soon as ones hand starts to glide across the strings. Keep playing you are good to my ear, Russ.

[789holland]

Hi I listened to you about three years ago and it inspired me to make a dulcimer, love the sound, since then made myself guitar and uke, love your playing.USA influence now here in the uk. Bless you, Russ.

[VaDulcimer]

@789holland

Russ, I am so happy to hear that I inspired you to make a dulcimer!! I take that as a monumental compliment! Do you play also? You should post some vids of your playing!!!!

Kimberly

[vektorblue]

i stand by my previous comment. you rock.

[VaDulcimer]

I am using a goose quill from which I have stripped the vanes.

[xXaltowolfXxmp3]

what are you strumming with?

[Hako2004]

Amazing to hear and watch. Its so nice to see people keeping these traditional forms of music alive.

[Heath75032]

I think I've fallen in love

[heybulldog13]

got mine in east tennessee for 189.00  sounds great...this woman is awesome..wicked good strumming.

[caholaway]

Awesome! How much do one of those cost?

[VaDulcimer]

@caholaway

I purchased this particular dulcimer 5 years ago and it was around $600

[caholaway]

How much do those dulcimer cost?

[MauroPavanelli]

great! Love it!

[paintedhorse1957]

great playin

[creif]

Wow! I've tried playing w a quill and noter and it never sounds this good! How do you strum so evenly with the quill?

[norwood532]

That's great! I don't typically play as traditionally as this. However, that was a wonderful performance!!

[agrlfmtx]

This is GREAT!! Love it!! t:)

[wlkerns]

wonderful music!!!!

[NiteBlogger]

Very talented

and most enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you

[kssharpe78]

hello im just gettin started an i love it i live in pulaski va just seen you had va in you addy so i was wondering if your were close

[VaDulcimer]

I live in Roanoke VA

[Boondockflyfish]

5 stars for your skill and talent for making incredible music

[VaDulcimer]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!

[dread66mon]

Wonderful!

[VaDulcimer]

Thank you! :)

[MDMstudio]

Love listening to the galax style dulcimer. I remember talking to David Schnaufer and he said that his favorite CD was Mountain Galax Styled Dulcimer with Bonnie Russel and family. Keep strumming!

[VaDulcimer]

Thank you. Bonnie Russell's cd is also my favorite. If it was possible to wear a hole in a CD from playing it so much, mine would have several holes! I use the cd to learn tunes by too.

[flossiekat]

You go, gal!!! I love your videos. Flop eared Mule is one of my favorites and you did a fantastic job! I have not tried a feather yet. Gotta, gotta!!!

[ulricus1]

Hey, great this traditionel way of using a feather from a goose. I often use this on my Hummel.

Greetings from Germany.

[abstractthreat]

A Hummel?! How difficult was that to learn?

[VaDulcimer]

It is always great to hear from folks from other countries! I am very interested to hear that you use a feather when playing your hummel, especially since the dulcimer and the hummel are "cousins"!

[ulricus1]

Hello,

The Hummel is not the cousin but the great- grandfather of the Dulcimer. The first Hummel is mentioned in 1508 !

[Dulcimerist]

Please post more videos! I love your recordings! What are you using for a noter?

[VaDulcimer]

My noter is actually a craft stick! I used to use popscicle sticks, but when I was in the craft department thinking about buying a whole bag of them, I saw the really skinny craft sticks and bought them instead. I have some really fancy noters, round noters, half-round noters etc, but my favorite is my craft sticks!

[Dulcimerist]

Cool! Thanks! I will have to check a local craft store to pick a few up! If I ask for craft sticks, they'll know what I'm asking for?

[VaDulcimer]

Probably. The craft stick that I use is about half the width of a regular popscicle stick and about the same length. They should be on the shelf near each other at any craft store.

[dulcajack]

Great Job. That dulcimer looks very large. Nice sound.

Take care Jack

[VaDulcimer]

Thanks Jack. The dulcimer is a Galax-style dulcimer and it does have a larege body!

[dulcimerlover]

Where did you get this/these feather/s ? It sound nice using feathers but i have problems finding them in Singapore.

Ivan Ng

Singapore

[VaDulcimer]

Hi,

I used to take care of four geese, so I saved their feathers when they shed them. I have a small number of them saved up, but I'm not sure where I am going to get quills after that! You might try to check with poultry breeders in your area.

[jemflower]

Seems the goose quill is the traditional way of playing. The speed at which you strum the strings gives it almost a hurdy gurdy like sound.

Thanks for posting this beautiful piece of music.

[VaDulcimer]

Most of the folks that I know that play in the Galax style use a turkey quill. I prefer goose because 1. they are more flexible and left much longer 2. I used to have geese, so I have a HUGE supply of feathers! 3. the goose doesn't have to die for you to get their feathers, they just shed them and I pick them up from the ground!

[philxbx]

Beautiful!! All of it!!! Now where's that Goose gone???

[VaDulcimer]

Thank you! You know, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, you better make sure that the goose is not headed to the dinner table! :)