Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some of the most popular questions
When are you available for lessons, concerts, workshops, or special events?
Please see my Online Lessons page for information about individual lessons. My Schedule page provides information about all my currently scheduled public workshops and concerts, both online and in-person. My Concerts, Workshops, and Special Events pages provide information about booking events for larger groups. If you would like to schedule lessons or special events, please reach out to me personally to discuss availabilities.
Do you offer or sell recordings of your online workshops?
I prefer to give a longer answer to this question! "Letter to Friends Regarding Recordings of Workshops" (4-28-2024).
Do you ship your print products internationally?
Yes! If you would like an order to be shipped internationally, please contact me for a shipping estimate for your items, and I will send you a PayPal or Square invoice.
Which instrument should I purchase? / Which capos do you recommend? / Where can I meet other mountain dulcimer players online? / Do you know of any international mountain dulcimer resources?
I have gathered together some information on my Links & Resources page to help you get started. If you are searching for the right mountain dulcimer to buy, I strongly recommend taking any opportunity you might have to listen to and play some instruments on site at a music store or dulcimer festival. That way, you can see how it feels to play each instrument and hear its tone. Perhaps this video by Lee Cagle might be helpful to you as well in comparing the sounds of mountain dulcimers made from different kinds of wood. This page from the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association also has some helpful direction: http://www.ngfda.com/useful-dulcimer-faqs. I would be happy to answer any more specific questions you may have as you begin your mountain dulcimer journey. :-)
What type of dulcimer do you play in your videos?
Most of the mountain dulcimers that I play in my videos are made by McSpadden Dulcimers. My primary instrument in my videos is a redwood and walnut flathead dulcimer that I named Rhiannon in honor of her bold, Celtic voice.
How did you create the temporary 1 1/2 fret under the middle string of your instrument?
It is a trick I learned from a friend long ago... I cut off a small piece of guitar string that was large enough to use as a fret under the middle string only, and I taped it down with office tape after placing it evenly between the 1 and 2 fret. The guitar string gauge that I used was close to .86 mm or .0338 in (a little bit larger or smaller could still work). The same trick can be used to create a temporary 6 1/2 fret on the melody string if your dulcimer does not have one.
What key are you playing in?
If you find that it is difficult to play along with one of my songs in D-A-D, it is likely because I am tuned to C-G-C or C#-G#-C#, perhaps with a capo as well. I use these alternate tunings either to create a warmer sound, to place a song in a more comfortable key for singing, or both. Sometimes I play in D-G-D, with or without a capo.
What is that little pickup that appears on your dulcimer in some of your videos?
In some of my videos, I am using a Dean Markley Artist Transducer Acoustic Pickup. You can find out more about this device at this page.
Do you have a preferred digital resource for purchasing your album as a digital download?
All other factors being equal, I recommend purchasing my album digitally directly from my website.
If I download your album digitally, is there a way that I can obtain your liner notes also?
The text of my liner notes for "Faerie Memories" is available along with the digital downloads of my album from my website. Notes for "Songs of the Earthly Pilgrimage" are currently available only with the print edition.
Which video player should I use to open your video downloads?
My recommended player for video downloads is the VLC Media Player, which you can download here: http://www.videolan.org (Make sure that you download the correct version of the player for your device or browser; note that this player is also available as "VLC for Mobile" in the Apple App Store if you need it for your iPad or iPhone.) You may also need to download an unzipping app if you plan to download a file directly to an iPad at initial purchase. Otherwise, download it to a desktop computer first; then place the files in an online cloud or drive.
Please see my Online Lessons page for information about individual lessons. My Schedule page provides information about all my currently scheduled public workshops and concerts, both online and in-person. My Concerts, Workshops, and Special Events pages provide information about booking events for larger groups. If you would like to schedule lessons or special events, please reach out to me personally to discuss availabilities.
Do you offer or sell recordings of your online workshops?
I prefer to give a longer answer to this question! "Letter to Friends Regarding Recordings of Workshops" (4-28-2024).
Do you ship your print products internationally?
Yes! If you would like an order to be shipped internationally, please contact me for a shipping estimate for your items, and I will send you a PayPal or Square invoice.
Which instrument should I purchase? / Which capos do you recommend? / Where can I meet other mountain dulcimer players online? / Do you know of any international mountain dulcimer resources?
I have gathered together some information on my Links & Resources page to help you get started. If you are searching for the right mountain dulcimer to buy, I strongly recommend taking any opportunity you might have to listen to and play some instruments on site at a music store or dulcimer festival. That way, you can see how it feels to play each instrument and hear its tone. Perhaps this video by Lee Cagle might be helpful to you as well in comparing the sounds of mountain dulcimers made from different kinds of wood. This page from the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association also has some helpful direction: http://www.ngfda.com/useful-dulcimer-faqs. I would be happy to answer any more specific questions you may have as you begin your mountain dulcimer journey. :-)
What type of dulcimer do you play in your videos?
Most of the mountain dulcimers that I play in my videos are made by McSpadden Dulcimers. My primary instrument in my videos is a redwood and walnut flathead dulcimer that I named Rhiannon in honor of her bold, Celtic voice.
How did you create the temporary 1 1/2 fret under the middle string of your instrument?
It is a trick I learned from a friend long ago... I cut off a small piece of guitar string that was large enough to use as a fret under the middle string only, and I taped it down with office tape after placing it evenly between the 1 and 2 fret. The guitar string gauge that I used was close to .86 mm or .0338 in (a little bit larger or smaller could still work). The same trick can be used to create a temporary 6 1/2 fret on the melody string if your dulcimer does not have one.
What key are you playing in?
If you find that it is difficult to play along with one of my songs in D-A-D, it is likely because I am tuned to C-G-C or C#-G#-C#, perhaps with a capo as well. I use these alternate tunings either to create a warmer sound, to place a song in a more comfortable key for singing, or both. Sometimes I play in D-G-D, with or without a capo.
What is that little pickup that appears on your dulcimer in some of your videos?
In some of my videos, I am using a Dean Markley Artist Transducer Acoustic Pickup. You can find out more about this device at this page.
Do you have a preferred digital resource for purchasing your album as a digital download?
All other factors being equal, I recommend purchasing my album digitally directly from my website.
If I download your album digitally, is there a way that I can obtain your liner notes also?
The text of my liner notes for "Faerie Memories" is available along with the digital downloads of my album from my website. Notes for "Songs of the Earthly Pilgrimage" are currently available only with the print edition.
Which video player should I use to open your video downloads?
My recommended player for video downloads is the VLC Media Player, which you can download here: http://www.videolan.org (Make sure that you download the correct version of the player for your device or browser; note that this player is also available as "VLC for Mobile" in the Apple App Store if you need it for your iPad or iPhone.) You may also need to download an unzipping app if you plan to download a file directly to an iPad at initial purchase. Otherwise, download it to a desktop computer first; then place the files in an online cloud or drive.
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