Finger Picks

Lately I've noticed that I keep saying, "lately I've been playing with..." So I was wondering what else I should say, maybe "Amazing New Dumb Dulcimer Discovery"? No. "Dumb Dumbs Dulcimer Dwindlings," (It's amazing what you can think of at night.) I guess I will just have to stick with, "lately I've been playing with..."

So here it goes again. Lately I have been playing with finger picks. The other day I was looking through a bag of stuff and found a set of finger picks. I really hadn't before then played with them because I thought just fingers had a better sound, and I still do think that just finger picking is prettier. And although metal finger picks are not soft and pretty, you can do a lot with them that is a lot harder to do without them, and some of the extra noise is good for train songs (like the one in the video above) or bass songs.

Nathaniel

Somthing I Enjoy

Something that I have really been enjoying lately is the Dulcimerica Video Podcast hosted by Bing Futch. It is very neat to be able to look at clips from festivals that I have or haven't been to. For the one's I haven't been to, it's almost like going to a little piece of a concert. So here is a link to the Youtube channel, if you want to watch.

New Tunings

Lately I have been playing in a couple different keys, mainly DGD but also some in AFA - which are both very neat. I think DAD has a great sound, and you can do a lot with it, but when you just play in DAD you are limiting yourself a lot. Other tunings are very cool sounding and when you get the hang of them they are just as easy as DAD. A good way to start playing in different keys is to play with your capo. Then you can tune down a step to CGC. Then play with other keys and see what you like to play in and what you don't. Don't be afraid of tuning. I promise your dulcimer will not die.

Nathaniel

New Picks

As soon as I opened a package with four V-Picks in it, I immediately rushed into my room to get my dulcimer to test them, and I really like them. I have been wanting a little thicker pick than I currently use, and this feels really good. They make two thicknesses of Bing picks, and I think I might like the thinner of the two better.

The pick that you use is really important. If you don't have the right pick, you're not going to make your dulcimer sound as good as it could.

-Nathaniel

O Come All Ye Faithful

Here's Nathaniel playing "O Come All Ye Faithful" during a special service at church. This has been Nathaniel's favorite Christmas song this year.

Little Brother on the "Boximer"

Here's a video of my little brother Asher who turned five in October. I've been teaching him dulcimer. This is his second song: Mary had a Little Lamb!

Nathaniel

First Class!

I just wanted to let you know that I will be teaching at the Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering May 7-8. It's a really fun festival, and it is cost-free! I will be teaching how to make your dulcimer sound like a mandolin, which will be the first class I've taught. For more information about the festival click on the link above.

Nathaniel

Jaw Harp

Since I started playing dulcimer I never thought I would play anything other than a stringed instrument, but going on a trip to Kentucky and having nothing better to do provoked playing with a funky little thing called the Jaw Harp, which I got for my birthday a couple years ago. I had been told it was one of the easiest instruments to play, but I wasn't so sure about that. But after about three hours of trying, it finally worked. And now I am happily playing it, but I think I will stick with dulcimer. And just for a side note, my dad gave up playing it on my birthday, when he almost banged a tooth out with it.

-Nathaniel

Unicoi Winding Down

Nathaniel jams with Bradley Ellis, with Bradley on the washtub bass and Nathaniel playing a McSpadden Ginger from Joe Collins' booth. Bradley and Nathaniel are roughly the same age, and both have been playing dulcimers for about 2 1/2 years. Nathaniel looks forward to seeing Bradley at many future festivals.

It's hard to believe that the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association Fall Festival is almost over already. Nevertheless, it is. Today involves one morning class hour, the annual Gathering of Instruments and farewells to dulcimer friends new and old. Nathaniel and his dad always conclude the festival with a Joe Collins-led Bible Study, which has a Sunday School sort of a character.

Yesterday actually included a mix for Nathaniel. He performed on the Open Stage at Unicoi and he and his dad stayed for the evening concert and a bit of jamming. However, he spent most of the day in the gallery of local artist John Kollock, where he played solo dulcimer music while Mr. Kollock and Nathaniel's sister, Sarah, displayed their artwork.

Day 1 - Unicoi Fall Festival

Lots of informal jamming, a fabulous evening concert and a couple of classes for Nathaniel today. Much more of the same tomorrow!

Unicoi Started!

The North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association's Fall Festival at Unicoi State Park is underway. Nathaniel and his dad joined a few early arrivers for some evening jamming yesterday. The festival officially starts this morning (Thursday) at 9:00. Nathaniel is especially excited about visiting vendors and taking classes taught by Bing Futch today. We'll try to update, but it'll likely be late by the time we're home from the post-evening-concert jam!

Music Store Blues

Seeing the big white sign in the window of the local music shop saying that it was going out of business was shocking and sad. Having bought lots of strings and other stuff I was really disappointed to see that they were going. It was really nice to have a local music store supporting the dulcimer community, and I will miss having a good store so close.

-Nathaniel

Fall Schedule

Last night's Open Stage (see video above) at the Sautee-Nacoochee Center, near Helen, Ga, began a full fall season of dulcimer playing for Nathaniel. Here's a look at what's ahead:
-Oct. 16 - Georgia State Dulcimer Championship - The competition is part the Georgia State Fiddlers' Convention and is held at the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee.
-Oct. 20 - Lion's Club - Nathaniel and his dad will do an evening program for the monthly club meeting.
-Nov. 1 - Central Alliance Church - Nathaniel will play special music during the morning service at his home church and then he and his dad will play a few songs immediately after the service to kick off a Fall Festival.
-Nov. 1 - Christmas Open House, Homestead House - After church Nathaniel and his dad will scurry over to the Homestead House, which will be decorated for Christmas, and will strum together on the front porch, mixing Christmas songs with fiddle tunes and hymns. Nathaniel's sister, Sarah, will also be at Homestead House with her cornhusk dolls.

-Nov. 13 - Northeast Georgia Arts Tour - Georgia Heritage Center for the Art -Nathaniel will play music and Sarah will demonstrate pressed flower art from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
-Nov. 15 - South Carolina Church Service - Nathaniel and a banjo- and guitar-playing friend, Calvin Coyne, will provide special music for a church service in Cross, SC
-Nov. 21 - Harvest Festival, John Kollock's studio - Nathaniel will spend most of the day playing dulcimer music during an art show featuring the work of John Kollock and of Nathaniel's sister, Sarah Samsel.
-Nov. 21 - Fall Festival, Unicoi State Park - Nathaniel will play during the Open Stage at the North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association's Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon.
-Dec. 5 - Traveler's Rest - Nathaniel, his dad and Calvin will play together during the Christmas celebration as Traveler's Rest State Historic Site, and Sarah will be demonstrating knitting.

Birthday Concert

Nathaniel and his siblings recently put on a backyard concert for their parents to help celebrate their dad's birthday. Pictured with Nathaniel are his sister, Sarah, and brother, Asher. Siblings not pictured are Autumn and Eli.

Old Joe Clark