This beginner's method presents clear, concise instruction for learning to play the traditional three-stringed mountain dulcimer. Thirty-eight songs are taught with notation and fret numbers for each note. Chord symbols are also included for playing with guitar, banjo, or another chording instrument. Melody playing with drones and basic chord playing are both taught. Lyrics are included with the songs for added fun. From the time this text was first published, it has been a steady best seller.
Bing Futch's "Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer" is the most comprehensive how-to-learn-the-dulcimer book available. You'll learn the basics, sure, and start playing songs right away. Even better, though, is the depth of content that Bing provides for you in this one incomparable volume - technique, repertoire, theory, history, and FUN! Once you've worked your way through this book, you'll be a competent dulcimer player that can enjoy playing with any group. You'll have a great time honing your skills with Bing, and you'll end up with a wealth of technical skills, music fundamentals, and dulcimer repertoire!
You CAN play the mountain or lap dulcimer. This book makes it easy The mountain dulcimer is in the midst of a great revival It has found renewed popularity throughout the world. Persons of all nationalities are discovering the sweet music of this grand old instrument.
The tunes in this collection were chosen from Peggy Carter’s half-century of performing, teaching, and arranging music for the hammered dulcimer. This anthology contains 60 tunes arranged especially for novice to intermediate-level players of the 12/11 dulcimer, including suggestions for note reading, hammering patterns and embellishments. Playing the dulcimer is not effortless, but it should be fun! The title tune, “Dulcimer Frolic,” is a family heirloom originally written for mandolin by Peggy’s grandfather in the early 1920s; transcribed for hammered dulcimer, the tune really lives up to its name. In fact, every tune in the collection is designed for fun and frolic. Some have lyrics, some are presented as bare-bones melodies, and some are embellished. You’ll find that these arrangements bring out the best in all of them.
Dulcimer a La Mode takes the mystery of out modal tuning and playing for the mountain dulcimer player by presenting four common tunings (DAA, DAG, DAD, and DAC) with instructions for tuning, finding the scales and chords, and learning traditional tunes in each of the four modes. This book will encourage players to retune their instrument and learn more of its versatility. Each tune is presented as a melody with a drone in the mode indicated with strumming and rhythm guides. for most tunes, an optional arrangement or accompaniment is also provided using more complex chords and reflecting more traditional Western harmony. As a further learning tool, the accompanying CD allows the listener to play along with the song as presented in the book.
Spiced with humor, Anne Dodson’s Field Guide to the Mountain Dulcimer, Book 1 is a beautifully structured and organized guide, taking the beginning student step-by-step through a well-planned sequence of lessons. Friendly and encouraging, Book 1 covers tips on buying and maintaining the instrument, left and right hand techniques, chords, and accompaniment. Exercises, lots of fun tunes to play, and downloadable audio files to support the written instruction all make Field Guide to the Mountain Dulcimer, Book I a lasting resource.
This instruction book for beginning lap dulcimer in DAD tuning is unique in two ways. First, it instructs the beginning student in the increasingly popular DAD tuning. Secondly, the author, a classroom music teacher, has carefully and systematically layered the lessons to guide the student through familiar songs while teaching skills and musical concepts. This not only enables the student to enjoy the lap dulcimer but also enhances total music understanding and participation. the accompanying CD provides instructional dialogue and demonstrations of the techniques and songs included in the book. Additional hints and exercises are presented in an inviting and encouraging conversational text.
Dulcimer experiences, news, memories, snapshots, playing styles, tuning and tablature methods, favourite songs, opinions, advice and information on the Appalachian dulcimer.
Continuing the reissue of the classic Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes - Volume 2, Favorite American Waltzes for Fiddle presents over 110 classic and lesser-known country waltzes from all parts of the United States, some with multiple versions. All the pieces are transcribed from performances of the greatest traditional fiddlers of the past and present including Benny Thomasson, Howdy Forrester, J. T. Perkins, Lloyd Wanzer, Jay Ungar, Vivian Williams, Skip Gorman, Texas Shorty, Kenny Baker, and dozens more. Bowings and chord accompaniment are included. This book will also be of value to students of classical music and Suzuki trained children. Teachers, are you looking for short pieces that will solidify scales yet won't bore your students? Tired of the same old classical etudes? Waltzes are played slowly enough to not be intimidating but also serve as effective and fun exercises for all violin students, not just fiddlers. the arrangements range from easy (single notes, first position) to advanced (double stops and upper positions). and they illustrate America's great tradition of fiddling.
