Hammered Dulcimer (Chattanooga, Dayton, Gatlinburg: 2009, house, cabinet)

[Tinman313]

One of the things on my to do list is when I get to Tennessee. Is to learn how to play the Hammered Dulcimer. Great sound.......
And for the like mined folks here's a link of organizations and clubs in Tennessee.....

Mountain and Hammered Dulcimer Clubs!

[gemkeeper]

Thanks, Tinman, for the link. Split has lots of information about dulcimer clubs. I think it is a great thing to look forward to once you get moved.

My father was a cabinet maker, watch and clock restorer, house builder, squirrel trapper, and an all around great man. He was an electrician by trade, but could do just about anything.

He made me a hammered dulcimer and a mountain dulcimer a few years ago. I taught myself some rudimentary "playing" on the hammered dulcimer by watching the musicians at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI, near our home. It isn't very sweet when I try to play, but sure is a wonderful time - for me only!

The music is beautiful from a hammered dulcimer. You will really enjoy learning to play. There are a number of shops in the area, including Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer in Townsend. I am anxious, myself, to get involved in one of the clubs and REALLY learn how to play.

In the Chattanooga area, there is a lot of dulcimer and mountain music activity. There is an event schedule put out by Everything Dulcimer on the same link you have posted. Maybe when you are visiting you could make one of the events.

Let us know what you find when in the area. We are planning one of the events later this summer in Townsend or Gatlinburg.

Townsend TN events calendar, Townsend festivals, Townsend TN art craft demonstrations, Smoky Mountain events

[SPLIT]

T; , G: Thought I could hear keyboard vibration returning honme from Plateau BBq MUsic re-union. Yes, Mrs Split even found a new Beginner Lady friend , who has a custom made Mtn unit, similar to pic, from Gatlinburg, area & lives Dayton.
Upper end festival this weekend in Chattanooga conv center I believe. Pic below is a recent Townsend Unit. Sat night concerts, a nifty shop / ownwers. The hammer is actually quite heavy if you get a wooden case. Our neighbor has one & like lifting a hope chest., But like G.K, beautiful unit. Also quite few clubs in the Fla area ,at least in Winter / Snow-bird time.
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[jabogitlu]

I love my mountain dulcimer. I've got it lent to a friend right now (a very good friend - I don't trust my instruments with just anyone, lol!) but your thread made me itch to play it. Gosh darn it, I might just have to ask for it back.

A hammered dulcimer. I'd love to have one, but gosh, have you seen the price tags. I was lucky to inherit my (Mastertone RB-250, 1972) banjo. All these instruments made for poor mountain folk sure are pricey!

Gem, when you get moved up here we have to get together and play dulcimers. <g> Or as the old folks around here used to call them, "dulci-mores"

[Tinman313]

I heard my first dulcimer when I was a child and all was wanted to learn how to play, then some 20 years ago in Gatlinburg I heard my first hammered dulcimer and had the itch ever since. Not musically inclined...... I have 4 thumbs....

[gemkeeper]

Hi, Split, you must have gotten some good vibes on the way home!

I was sorry that we had to miss the dulcimer event this weekend, but DH is still not traveling around much. I hope you both had a great time. It's nice that you DW met another beginner. They will learn and progress together.

Seeing youf picture of the mountain dulcimer gave me a vibe, as well. I'll take a picture of the one my dad made and the hammered dulcimer he made for me and post them.

I took them to a dulcimer maker in Blad Mtn., NC there to see if he could help me get them tuned properly. The Black Mtn. craftsman said that they were not top quality instruments, but pretty good coming from someone who couldn't read a note of music himself - my dad. I never told Dad that the dulcimer shop owner didn't think they were the best instruments he had ever seen.

And, you are right. A hammered dulcimer takes a few Wheaties in the morning to lift it in the afternoon!!