Hey Merlin players, just a little tip if maybe you don't change strings as often like myself or you're looking for a more warm and mellow sound. Try tuning the whole thing down a half step or whole step and it sounds really nice, especially when picking. Just a little nugget I discovered recently and find the sound much more enjoyable. Cheers and happy jamming!
I have just bought a Seagull Merlin M4 dulcimer in mahogany as it sounds a bit more mellow than the natural finish model. As an older basic guitar player I can see this instrument being of great assistance to young beginners who are just starting to learn, and as they said it seem quite easy to pick up basic melody of tunes and train the ear. I also own a Seagull S6 spruce acoustic and a Godin Sessions electric guitar, the Godin brands have to be some of the best value for money instruments in the world, and by value for money I don't mean cheap, they own their woods and forests where the wood comes from so they can control from the sapling to the finished guitar, truly unique.
Grrr. America did not 'invent' the dulcimer, long ago, medieval days and onward we in Europe were playing the hammered dulcimer as a normal instrument. In Bavaria it remains probably the most popular to play after the zither. Your invention was the mountain dulcimer which we enjoyed up in the wilds of Kentucky.
The Appalachian dulcimer has many variant names. Most often it is simply called a dulcimer. It is not a hammered dulcimer and looks nothing like one, and neither a zither, guitar, or a violin. Although the Appalachian dulcimer first appeared in the early 19th century among Scotch-Irish immigrant communities in the Appalachian Mountains, the instrument has no known precedent in Ireland or Scotland.
A good video as far as it goes but you spend half of it emphasizing how easy it is to play and then play in a way that only at least an intermediately skilled guitar player could handle, if then. Somewhat contradictory and discouraging for anyone considering buying one.
I disagree. Some of what he plays is very simple, and for a beginner, they'd just need a friend who has some experience with strummy stringed instruments to help them along, as opposed to paying for guitar lessons to learn the somewhat more complex stuff he plays.
If the demo had been at the beginning I needn't have wasted time on this. As soon as I heard it I thought what a piece of junk. The fact that it's played so badly doesn't help.
I love my Merlin.
Adore it.
The first day I got her I played for 8h straight.
Hey Merlin players, just a little tip if maybe you don't change strings as often like myself or you're looking for a more warm and mellow sound. Try tuning the whole thing down a half step or whole step and it sounds really nice, especially when picking. Just a little nugget I discovered recently and find the sound much more enjoyable. Cheers and happy jamming!
I have it tuned DAD right now. What do I tune it to if I want it tuned down a whole step? Thanks
I have just bought a Seagull Merlin M4 dulcimer in mahogany as it sounds a bit more mellow than the natural finish model. As an older basic guitar player I can see this instrument being of great assistance to young beginners who are just starting to learn, and as they said it seem quite easy to pick up basic melody of tunes and train the ear. I also own a Seagull S6 spruce acoustic and a Godin Sessions electric guitar, the Godin brands have to be some of the best value for money instruments in the world, and by value for money I don't mean cheap, they own their woods and forests where the wood comes from so they can control from the sapling to the finished guitar, truly unique.
when you tune it in D A C you can make medieval music. Sounds great!👍
He is free styling when he is playing. I would love to learn what tune he was playing. Sounded beautiful
Pm
Grrr. America did not 'invent' the dulcimer, long ago, medieval days and onward we in Europe were playing the hammered dulcimer as a normal instrument. In Bavaria it remains probably the most popular to play after the zither. Your invention was the mountain dulcimer which we enjoyed up in the wilds of Kentucky.
moutain dulcimer is also an european instrument ! with many family members in France, Norway, Deutchland, Belgium...
The Appalachian dulcimer has many variant names. Most often it is simply called a dulcimer. It is not a hammered dulcimer and looks nothing like one, and neither a zither, guitar, or a violin. Although the Appalachian dulcimer first appeared in the early 19th century among Scotch-Irish immigrant communities in the Appalachian Mountains, the instrument has no known precedent in Ireland or Scotland.
Where can I find a carrying case for it?
Thomann, Musicstore, ℹ️
Skip to 3:12 if you just want to hear them play the damn thing
Good video, but what's lacking is an instrument review by the player at the end.
I think it sounds better when you play it like a banjo than playing it like a guitar.
Let me know when you get a lefty model. Love it.
Keef Kaye just re-string it lefty and switch the nut and everything to a lefty, there ya go
+Keef Kaye There are left handed versions now!
+ncoco252 - yes thanks for that - I've got mine now (January 2016).
@@andreosterlindh and what about the bridge?... You can't just turn that over
A good video as far as it goes but you spend half of it emphasizing how easy it is to play and then play in a way that only at least an intermediately skilled guitar player could handle, if then. Somewhat contradictory and discouraging for anyone considering buying one.
I disagree. Some of what he plays is very simple, and for a beginner, they'd just need a friend who has some experience with strummy stringed instruments to help them along, as opposed to paying for guitar lessons to learn the somewhat more complex stuff he plays.
If the demo had been at the beginning I needn't have wasted time on this. As soon as I heard it I thought what a piece of junk. The fact that it's played so badly doesn't help.