The Hammered Dulcimer's Companion
The Hammered Dulcimer's Companion

Author: Phillip Mason

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2010-10-07

Total Pages: 85

ISBN-13: 1609748115

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book is a treasure-trove of information and music for all players of the hammered dulcimer. Phillip Mason has written the definitive text on the history, tuning, playing technique, harmonic dimensions, construction, and repair of the sweet-voiced instrument. In an extensive essay, he also shares his thoughts on the fundamentals of singing with the hammered dulcimer. Concepts revealed here would be useful to anyone who aspires to sing, or improve ones singing technique. Music and lyrics for 34 songs are included in the Music Section followed by construction tips and plans for building your own hammered dulcimer.

Playing The Hammered Dulcimer In The Irish Tradition
Playing The Hammered Dulcimer In The Irish Tradition

Author: Karen Ashbrook

Publisher: Oak Publications

Published: 1987-06-01

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 1783234237

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book is to encourage dulcimer players at the intermediate-to-advanced level to play the “right” way. If you’re going to play a few Irish tunes, why not play them the way they were intended to be played? Then you can enjoy what other Irish musicians have enjoyed for hundreds of years. This book can teach you several basic, simple techniques that create the feel of traditional Irish music.

Killer Technique: Hammered Dulcimer
Killer Technique: Hammered Dulcimer

Author: Dr. Mark Alan Wade

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2013-06-20

Total Pages: 29

ISBN-13: 1619114089

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Killer Technique: Hammered Dulcimer is a book that uniquely focuses on improving the everyday elements of dulcimer playing. Some mundane fundamentals of technique may seem mindless and appear to need no attention. In reality though, even the most basic essentials of dulcimer playing can hold us back without careful examination and precision. This book does just that! The author, himself a National Hammered Dulcimer Champion and music professor, draws on over twenty years of experience in playing and teaching to share his recipe for success. The material focuses on dulcimer-specific skills and drills them in effective and engaging new ways. Targeted areas include dexterity, aim, flow, commonly used percussion rudiments, chords, arpeggios, and chord suffixes. Each exercise is carefully designed to isolate the targeted skill, provide instruction for its most efficient execution, and help you acquire new and improved muscle memory in the least amount of repetitions. Admittedly, working on technique can seem like a chore. This book takes the work out of it and presents the exercises in fresh new ways so you get the most out of them in the least amount of time. Dr. Wade's biggest technique secret revealed in this book is his use of varying rhythms to re-engage the brain and to acquire new and lasting muscle memory. The exercises are not only fun to master but also incredibly effective! It's all about efficiency–not just going through the motions!

Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer
Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer

Author: Dr. Mark Alan Wade

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2015-11-24

Total Pages: 61

ISBN-13: 1619114321

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The title says it all: "Dirt Simple." This book and accompanying online audio are designed for a rank beginner who knows nothing about the hammered dulcimer, providing them the tools to make music right away. Starting with the fundamentals of how to hold hammers and tune the instrument, it delves deeper into mastery with posture, stand height/angle, and replacing strings to set up the beginner for a lifetime of good habits. Every concept introduced is simultaneously presented with illustrations and songs that demonstrate and reinforce. Whether the student reads music or plays by ear, the result is the same - music making right from the beginning! Dr. Mark Alan Wade is an experienced teacher with an undergraduate degree in music education and years of public school teaching experience. Now teaching music theory and dulcimer at Denison University, Dr. Wade offers a unique perspective on teaching hammered dulcimer and has three students who have also won the National Hammered Dulcimer Contest as evidence of his master teaching. It's all about the music! Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer is written so that the carefully selected tunes are the true teacher. Hands-on learning is made easy with the accompanying audio. Each song is played slowly for students to learn by ear in addition to reading notation. This also allows for the students to hear style traits such as swing, that aren't easily conveyed in written notation. With 29 songs, this book and online audio available for download are a year's worth of private lessons in one concise package!

Hammered Dulcimer Classics
Hammered Dulcimer Classics

Author: Carole Koenig

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2018-04-12

Total Pages: 57

ISBN-13: 1619118025

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Standard notation and a simple alpha-numerical tablature system are used to present this unusual collection of pre-18th Century tunes for the standard 12/11-course hammered dulcimer. Creating a hybrid of folk and classical elements, Carol Koenig has expanded the repertoire of the hammered dulcimer with melodies from France, Spain, England, and Scotland. The tunes are first presented in a simple melodic statement, then in a more complex harmonized version. The author insists that it is not necessary to be an outstanding sight reader to make beautiful music on the hammered dulcimer, or with this book.

Dulcimer Frolic
Dulcimer Frolic

Author: Peggy Carter

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2021-05-03

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13: 1513459686

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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.

Arranging for Hammered Dulcimer
Arranging for Hammered Dulcimer

Author: Jeanne Page

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 87

ISBN-13: 9780786646975

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Beginning and Intermediate players who have developed a repertoire of melodies will be walked step by step through the process of arranging their tunes. Lessons provide a detailed explanation and numerous examples of root position chords and their inversions on the 12-11 and larger sized hammered dulcimer. Simple tunes are provided for the reader to incorporate newly acquired knowledge of chord theory. Descriptions of bounces, triplets, doubling, counter melodies, arpeggios, scale runs, extended chords, etc. are included as well as opportunities to create arrangements utilizing these techniques.

First Lessons Hammered Dulcimer
First Lessons Hammered Dulcimer

Author: Linda Thomas

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2010-12-17

Total Pages: 33

ISBN-13: 1610651103

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

First Lessons Hammered Dulcimer is designed to instruct beginning players on the instrument. the melodies in this collection include a variety of hymns, holiday music and fiddle tunes written in standard notation, with instructions on how to read the notation. Lyrics and suggested chords for accompanying instruments are also included. the accompanying CD offers two tracks for each selection: a performance track with rhythm guitar and an instructional track with detailed phrase-by-phrase demonstration. the guided audio instruction at a slow tempo will prove invaluable for the by ear player. This method provides a private lesson approach for success on the hammered dulcimer.• Designed to instruct beginning players.• Includes a variety of hymns, holiday music, and fiddle tunes.• Written in standard notation.• Lyrics and suggested chords included Accompanying CD, including two tracks for each selection: a performance track and an instructional track.

You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer
You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer

Author: Madeline MacNeil

Publisher:

Published: 2016-01-12

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780786693306

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Madeline MacNeil's performances are characterized by her effortless vocals and impeccable mountain and hammered dulcimer playing. In this book she reveals some of the secrets of her success with the mountain dulcimer. Early on, she reminds the reader that the dulcimer is not a toy or a stringed kazoo but a serious, expressive musical instrument capable of stretching as far as the imagination. She endorses both playing by ear and learning to read standard notation. In easily-understood language she manages to explore some very complex, even esoteric concepts, making this a particularly valuable book for the beginning instrumentalists. You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer is simply a great fundamental book. Twelve intensive lessons in 95 pages with arrangements in both DAA and DAD tuning. Standard notation and tablature. Illustrated with photographs and drawings. Includes access to online audio and video.

Anthology for the Fretted Dulcimer
Anthology for the Fretted Dulcimer

Author: Lois Hornbostel

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications

Published: 2016-08-04

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 1619114054

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This collection presents a colorful array of music for the fretted dulcimer illustrating a wide variety of playing styles and techniques. Mel Bay Publications asked Loisto author this method book/collection because of the adventurous diversity of her playing techniques and musical interests. It is a tour de force of mountain dulcimer playing techniques, ranging from traditional southern Appalachian to Cajun music, cowboy songs, sea chanteys, black spirituals, traditional Irish, Scottish, and English music, camp-meeting songs, and European, Mexican, Israeli, and Oriental folk music. The book also offer basic instruction on reading music and tablature, right- and left-hand techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs, strumming, fingerpicking, flatpicking, various tunings, and accompaniment chords. The pieces themselves are arranged in notation and tablature for the three-string dulcimer in a variety of tunings with lyrics where appropriate