Sunday, January 19, 2014

Dulcimer





 Speaking with my farmgirl friends reminded me that I'm
supposed to be practicing the old ways, 
even in winter when there isn't much
gardening or canning to do.

So what did people do in the winter months
besides constantly trying to keep warm and survive?
Spinning, mending, needlework and also music.
That brings me to my dulcimer, something that I haven't picked up in forever!
So don't expect much!

It's an instrument that anyone can learn to play,
at least enough to plunk around and make a tune or two,
even if it is not perfect. 
You can become very experienced at it 
learning how to finger pick and play in groups.

It's probably not completely in tune
and I surely am out of practice; however, 
for me, it's just fun.




18 comments:

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

I like it! Very good! This reminds me of the theme song for a gardening show we have in SC called Making it Grow and the music is from a man called Dulcimer Dan...

Sunnybrook Farm said...

We have all kinds of photos and examples of dulcimers in our collection at work. I spent days entering photos and documents into the system. They don't look too hard to play compared to a guitar or banjo but I have never tried it. Stop singing if the animals start getting restless.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

I NEVER sing! I should, someone would pay me big bucks to stop!

Gorges Smythe said...

I love to hear them. The "drone" string as I call it always reminded me of a bagpipe, which I love also. Develope your talent!

Theresa Kay Taylor-Tyler said...

How do I find the owner of the portrait of Jesus Christ sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane ? He's wearing a purple robe.

LindaG said...

That is what is important! Just like blogging, if you're having fun, that is what matters. :-)

Have a wonderful week! ♥

Harry Flashman said...

Those are big here in the mountains. In summer there will be county singers at the state park every evening to put on a show, and it always features a dulcimer player. I like dulcimer music, especially old time gospel.

Michelle said...

My husband said he hasn't seen one of those since grade school. I have him beat. I've never seen one before. LOL It sounds and looks pretty cool.

Manny said...

Fascinating. Do you also listen to dulcimer music? When was its hey-day, the 14th century? I love early music.

Lady Locust said...

I have a dulcimer that I have tried/began to learn on. It is waaaay out of tune & there is noone in the area to teach me. You-tube only goes so far. I love it though:)

Sandra said...

Nice to have some winter projects!! I am musically challenged!
I have been working on knitting projects and handspinning.

Candy C. said...

Good job Kathy! :)
I was just looking at my dulcimer the other day and thinking I should get it out soon. I can't play nearly as good as you though.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

It's easy to play. Look up the Ionian Tuning method. There are several other tuning methods but this is the easy one.

The hammered dulcimer is the prettiest but that is much more difficult to play.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Theresa, you are asking about the picture?

Melanie said...

I like it and think you did a great job! Wish I knew how to play one.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

I just told my husband that my blogger friends are just so kind, no one have told me how awful I am yet!--- yet.

Yahoobuckaroo's Blog said...

That's pretty cool. I always wanted one of those hammered dulcimers. They look a lot harder to play though.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Yahoo- I think you'd do OK on a hammered dulcimer since you're already a musician. It's probably like anything else, once you get a feel for where the notes are. I think they are by far the prettiest sound. I also have a bowed psaltry but that is really hard for me to tune so I set it aside. I may see if a music store can tune it for me.