Archive for Instruction
Cross Key Scales
The past year or so I have been arranging and playing a lot of tunes in keys other than the open tuning my dulcimer is in. With the addition of the 1.5 fret on a standard dulcimer, and a cross string flatpicking style, there are a wealth of scales, both major and minor, [...]
Pick Direction - Rules of Engagement
Everyone has heard great guitar flatpickers. This is a very developed art among guitar players, and the folks that teach it I’m sure have more complete rules on how pick direction is determined than what I know. These rules would apply to flatpicking the dulcimer as well. I would [...]
Just What Is an Udu?
Udu
The udu is a vessel drum originally from the Igbo people of Nigeria. Traditionally it was a water jug with another hole in the side, played by women for ceremonial music. The udu has become a very popular instrument in the West, and can be heard at least once a week on a television or [...]
Chord Arpeggios
Article 1 I wrote this article for Mel Bay’s Dulcimer Sessions on the technique of using chord arpeggios for accessing melody
Creative Composition
Instructions - Article 2
Since I compose about 95% of the music that I play, it is common for me to hear comments [...]