Thank you for your fast responce, it was helpful. I love the twang , I was holding the slide at an angle the whole time.Starting to see the difference and sounding better. Found that using a strap is a good ideal cause the slide was affecting how I held the neck.
I have a Macnally Strumstick, but really want one of these with the double string and bigger body (and a pickup!) I love the sound of them - this slide sounds great on it
I too have a strumstick. It certainly has its place. There are more frets for melodies, for example. But I know what you mean by the Merlin's deeper sounding body. The mahogany body sounds even deeper, but that wasn't available when I got mine.
@@berniarmstrong oh so would you recommend the mahogany? I thought the spruce would be more brighter and resonant and loud. My biggest issue with my beloved strumstick is that it's neck-heavy and keeps up-ending itself, other than that I do love it!
@@berniarmstrong 😆you are indeed tempting me with that notion 😈😈 - anyway thank you for your great slide demo. I know this video a few years old but it popped up on my recommendations!
Ok I went out and got myself a Merlin and a Dunlop 213 slide cause I liked your video. I am trying really hard but not really following you. Are you picking all 3 of the A D D stings and sliding on the A D D or just the D D . I have never played an instrument or have any music back round so bear with me. Also make more videos please.
Hi Mark. Wow, I should be on commission then ;). I am more often than not just picking the D & DD strings, but throw in the occasional A string. In theory, the A string (as the relative 5th - That just means it is five tones (notes) above the D string) should always sound OK too, hence the slide covers all the strings most of the time, except when I want to "solo" then I only use the DD strings and angle the slide up to avoid touching the D & A strings. On the turnaround I use at the end I actually only pick either the A string or the D as I slide. Experiment! That way you should get a feel for when it is better to avoid sounding all three strings and when not. Play around, that is the main thing. And thanks for the encouragement to post more videos. PS I just looked carefully at the video again and you can see that I use a different finger to bring in the A string during the "RIFF" - that might help you judge when I brought in the middle string and when not.
-Is this in D A DD tuning? - what type of string does it take? Could I use acoustic guitar strings and if yes which ones? Thank you pls make more vids with this little thing its awesome!
Yes, Martin it's in DAdd where the capital letters are wound strings and the small letters are plain. For the answer to all your Merlin queries - join us on the Google+ Merlin Community plus.google.com/u/0/communities/118439335147665343514?cfem=1
thanks for this. I'm pretty new to the Merlin and a big Delta blues fan so I was really thrilled to find this.
My pleasure. Let me know if you post a video putting what you learned into practice.
Thank you for your fast responce, it was helpful. I love the twang , I was holding the slide at an angle the whole time.Starting to see the difference and sounding better. Found that using a strap is a good ideal cause the slide was affecting how I held the neck.
Also try to just use the weight of the slide, don't force it down too much onto the strings.
I was struggling to do slide blues on the mounatin dulcimer ... Bernie you have set me on it, I'm wailin' now, thanks! I'm your fan!
Glad yo be of service, SF. .....Wail away!
Good job Bernie. Have one and it's a blast to play around with.
Cheers Johnny. Post me a link if you do anything with it. I'd love to hear my slide tutorial put in practice :).
New subscriber. Thank you for spreading joy.
Cheers Max. I hope you found it useful.
Sweet sounds. Thanks, Berni. :) I'm going for the mahogany. I like the somewhat deeper tone.
That's what i got. Sounds great
Interesting strum.....thanks for sharing some innovative ideas; sounds cool
Jason Blazina - Dulcimer My pleasure. This video is becoming my most popular one. Glad to help inspire people to extend their Merlin playing.
i don't have one of those great instruments, but i thoroughly enjoyed this vid! fab song too!
Thanks Lynda. You should get a Merlin, they are fun.
@@berniarmstrong just got one and i didn't thought about playing blues slide on it, but you just opened a new world for me.
Cool and psychedelic!
ktschp Merlins blow your mind, man! ;)
Excellent - thank you :)
David Jazay Hope it is useful to you. Thanks for stopping by.
I have a Macnally Strumstick, but really want one of these with the double string and bigger body (and a pickup!) I love the sound of them - this slide sounds great on it
I too have a strumstick. It certainly has its place. There are more frets for melodies, for example. But I know what you mean by the Merlin's deeper sounding body. The mahogany body sounds even deeper, but that wasn't available when I got mine.
@@berniarmstrong oh so would you recommend the mahogany? I thought the spruce would be more brighter and resonant and loud. My biggest issue with my beloved strumstick is that it's neck-heavy and keeps up-ending itself, other than that I do love it!
@@ElenaDuffMusic If you want a darker sound go for the mahogany, if you prefer a brighter sound then it's the spruce. Or treat yourself to both 😈
@@berniarmstrong 😆you are indeed tempting me with that notion 😈😈 - anyway thank you for your great slide demo. I know this video a few years old but it popped up on my recommendations!
The Merlin is so cool.
It is! It's an ideal first stringed instrument
that was great
Thanks Dennis, glad you enjoyed it. Hope you find it useful.
This is going to be fun to work with since my purple people eater got happy when I added one there or so she found C again
As the elevators of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation were wont to say: "Glad to be of service!" :)
Pretty cool Berni !! John Leon
Thanks John, it's always nice to be appreciated, especially when it is a new venture, like a tutorial.
Thank you for answering my question lol
I presume the question was "Can you play Blues on a Merlin?" 😁
Berni, great video (and yes I do know it's a Merlin), thanks. Dave H
You're a wise man, sir ;)
Ok I went out and got myself a Merlin and a Dunlop 213 slide cause I liked your video. I am trying really hard but not really following you. Are you picking all 3 of the A D D stings and sliding on the A D D or just the D D . I have never played an instrument or have any music back round so bear with me. Also make more videos please.
Hi Mark. Wow, I should be on commission then ;).
I am more often than not just picking the D & DD strings, but throw in the occasional A string. In theory, the A string (as the relative 5th - That just means it is five tones (notes) above the D string) should always sound OK too, hence the slide covers all the strings most of the time, except when I want to "solo" then I only use the DD strings and angle the slide up to avoid touching the D & A strings. On the turnaround I use at the end I actually only pick either the A string or the D as I slide.
Experiment! That way you should get a feel for when it is better to avoid sounding all three strings and when not. Play around, that is the main thing.
And thanks for the encouragement to post more videos.
PS I just looked carefully at the video again and you can see that I use a different finger to bring in the A string during the "RIFF" - that might help you judge when I brought in the middle string and when not.
Going to HAVE TO GET ONE now! The downside I'll will be putting up vids.
I look forward to hearing what you do with your Merlin. There is a Merlin support group, did you know?
merliner.co.uk/
@@berniarmstrong Vid was uploaded today
-Is this in D A DD tuning?
- what type of string does it take? Could I use acoustic guitar strings and if yes which ones?
Thank you pls make more vids with this little thing its awesome!
Yes, Martin it's in DAdd where the capital letters are wound strings and the small letters are plain.
For the answer to all your Merlin queries - join us on the Google+ Merlin Community
plus.google.com/u/0/communities/118439335147665343514?cfem=1
berni armstrong thank you I have requested to join!
Kool!How have you tuned your dulcimer?
D A D
❤️
very good
Thanks. I hope you found it useful. The same advise is applicable to the Strumstick and other diatonic instruments.
Randy Humphries , do you have a Facebook page?
ray armstrong Yes, Ray. But I mainly use it for keeping in touch with friends, rather than self promotion 😉. Why do you ask?
maybe better try painting?🥹
Oh what a lovely supportive comment.