Built a cigar box Dulcimette (1/2 size). Found your videos to help me learn to play. Thanks for this one. Every time I even begin to feel my arm starting to move when I strum I get the giggles. I don't ever believe I will forget proper strum technique now. You have a very good teaching style. Thanks loads.
I really wanted to thank you for posting these videos. I am 32 years old and have always wanted to learn to play the mountain dulcimer. I am going through chemo right now, and can't leave the house very much because of a weakened immune system. A family member made me a dulcimer, and learning to play is helping to keep me occupied. No one I know personally knows how to play, and I'm not able to take lessons, so these videos have helped alot!! Thank you so much!
Your videos are great! Very informative and you have a great gift for teaching. Thank you so much. I have had my dulcimer for about a year but have not played a bunch. Just learning and your videos have me excited to play. Thank You!
Your videos are excellent as are your instructions; I agree that a "loose" and "relaxed" arm is very important and "let the pick work for you" but remember that rotating your wrist as you demonstrate is physically very dangerous and WILL cause carpal-tunnel syndrome. I advice against "painting" with the pick and just move gently back and forth loosely without rotating the wrist trying to keep the pick perpendicular to the fingerboard. These are only my suggestions.... Again, you are an EXCELLENT teacher and your video in both content, explanation, demonstration, and clarity are much appreciated.
Hi Paul, I agree that one should not twist the wrist the same way as people do with computer mice. I try to advocate rotating the whole forearm along with the wrist and hand, in a fluid manner, not twisting the wrist itself. If you watch me you will see that I am not twisting my wrist separately. Thanks so much for your kind input! :)
Hi Joel, I'm so glad you are finding this helpful. Maybe you and your Dad will both play together some day! Be sure to read the accompanying blog posts that are intended to go side by side with my dulcimer videos- go to: dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot (dot com) and you'll find more in depth information for beginners, links to other examples, and over 30 completely free tabs you can practice with! :) Best of luck
Joel Stands Joel, look in the blog's right hand column where you can sort posts by tags/keyword. Sort by "TAB" and you'll see all the posts that have tab included. Everything is free and you needn't sign up for anything. :)
Just now getting to this.. guitarist here.. OK tell me everything! How much to buy one, where to get it, what is best wood, best shape, can you play chords on it, too? Tell me everything!!
Very nice video great info on technical aspect of strumming.... see now I've never played an instrument so I'm looking to get a very traditional dulcimer I like used stuff you're older stuff not real Old Navy 20 years older so what can I expect can I expect to find something about 20 years old good quality good condition and where would I find something like that and what would you think that I would expect to pay I realized sky's the limit but that's not what I'm asking you and also it Tennessee box dulcimer? What would be the difference between that and what you play and why would I want one or the other and does it matter alright well thank you and I hope to hear back from you do you have any more new videos out could you send me a link to him if you do not really that computer savvy on looking for stuff
Finally learned what I was doing wrong when strumming. Thanks.
So, spread butter, not scrape toast.
Built a cigar box Dulcimette (1/2 size). Found your videos to help me learn to play. Thanks for this one. Every time I even begin to feel my arm starting to move when I strum I get the giggles. I don't ever believe I will forget proper strum technique now. You have a very good teaching style. Thanks loads.
I really wanted to thank you for posting these videos. I am 32 years old and have always wanted to learn to play the mountain dulcimer. I am going through chemo right now, and can't leave the house very much because of a weakened immune system. A family member made me a dulcimer, and learning to play is helping to keep me occupied. No one I know personally knows how to play, and I'm not able to take lessons, so these videos have helped alot!! Thank you so much!
Your videos are great! Very informative and you have a great gift for teaching. Thank you so much. I have had my dulcimer for about a year but have not played a bunch. Just learning and your videos have me excited to play. Thank You!
Thank you. Seeing this helped clarify what I need to do.
This was just what I've been looking for. Thank you!
You really helped me out the strumming. Thank you very much. Like your presentation.
Your videos are excellent as are your instructions; I agree that a "loose" and "relaxed" arm is very important and "let the pick work for you" but remember that rotating your wrist as you demonstrate is physically very dangerous and WILL cause carpal-tunnel syndrome. I advice against "painting" with the pick and just move gently back and forth loosely without rotating the wrist trying to keep the pick perpendicular to the fingerboard. These are only my suggestions.... Again, you are an EXCELLENT teacher and your video in both content, explanation, demonstration, and clarity are much appreciated.
Hi Paul, I agree that one should not twist the wrist the same way as people do with computer mice. I try to advocate rotating the whole forearm along with the wrist and hand, in a fluid manner, not twisting the wrist itself. If you watch me you will see that I am not twisting my wrist separately.
Thanks so much for your kind input! :)
Excellent video.The best I've seen yet...thank you so much!!!
Thank you! These videos are so helpful ! I love your teaching style and wit!
Use your right hand strum like a watercolor paintbrush: soft brush strokes up and down, touching the paper (dulcimer) in both direction or just one.
I like, "you're not thowing rice at a wedding"
very imformative
Hi Joel, I'm so glad you are finding this helpful. Maybe you and your Dad will both play together some day!
Be sure to read the accompanying blog posts that are intended to go side by side with my dulcimer videos- go to: dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot (dot com) and you'll find more in depth information for beginners, links to other examples, and over 30 completely free tabs you can practice with! :) Best of luck
Strumelia found the blog where are the tabs
Joel Stands
Joel, look in the blog's right hand column where you can sort posts by tags/keyword. Sort by "TAB" and you'll see all the posts that have tab included. Everything is free and you needn't sign up for anything. :)
thanks found those and I found others as well so its been interesting and fun so far
Just now getting to this.. guitarist here.. OK tell me everything! How much to buy one, where to get it, what is best wood, best shape, can you play chords on it, too? Tell me everything!!
Very nice video great info on technical aspect of strumming.... see now I've never played an instrument so I'm looking to get a very traditional dulcimer I like used stuff you're older stuff not real Old Navy 20 years older so what can I expect can I expect to find something about 20 years old good quality good condition and where would I find something like that and what would you think that I would expect to pay I realized sky's the limit but that's not what I'm asking you and also it Tennessee box dulcimer?
What would be the difference between that and what you play and why would I want one or the other and does it matter alright well thank you and I hope to hear back from you do you have any more new videos out could you send me a link to him if you do not really that computer savvy on looking for stuff