Turning a banjo into a mountain dulcimer.

Started by hillbillyatheist, July 26, 2013, 01:03:12 PM

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hillbillyatheist

I just got a cool idea I wanted to share.

first many of you may not know what a mountain dulcimer is. see the first video.

After seeing that I was inspired and figured out how to make my banjo sound like one. See second video. I wish I was as good as Mrs Ritchie, but hey I can work on it with now that I figured this out.  

[youtube:2xdhb1kk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDUNdRm5Toc[/youtube:2xdhb1kk]

[youtube:2xdhb1kk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_10WKm61ab8[/youtube:2xdhb1kk]
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stromboli

http://www.folkcraft.com/mountain-dulci ... plies.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5002588_build-m ... cimer.html

Long ago, The Mother Earth News did an article about how to build a dulcimer. As above, you can get supplies. You decide, but my understanding is a banjo is a lot more expensive than a dulcimer.

hillbillyatheist

that banjo is worth about $300 dollars.

the advantage is you can play banjo, and then if you feel like mimicking the dulcimer, you can.

yeah I wouldn't advise anybody buy a banjo specifically to just to play mountain dulcimer music.

but in my case I already had the banjo and play it. so figuring out this new tuning just makes the instrument that much more versatile. :)
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stromboli

True dat. I always liked dulcimers, I think they are very cool. I was actually going to build one at one point, but got sidetracked. I'm deaf now, so it would be pointless.

hillbillyatheist

are you totally deaf or just hearing impaired? the banjo is loud so if you're hearing impaired that might be an option for you. I'm hearing impaired myself.
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AllPurposeAtheist

All hail my new signature!

Admit it. You're secretly green with envy.

hillbillyatheist

This guy has already done that. (On his page he has several of these and even a few lessons.

[youtube:3q3e0zk7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Oqyes8OvIs[/youtube:3q3e0zk7]
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Shiranu

A. I expected you to have far more of an accent :P.

B. That sounds really cool, bits of it sort of reminded me of Iranian/Indian/Chinese-Korean-Japanese music.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

hillbillyatheist

Quote from: "Shiranu"A. I expected you to have far more of an accent :P.
:lol: I must be turning yankee! the end is nigh!

QuoteB. That sounds really cool, bits of it sort of reminded me of Iranian/Indian/Chinese-Korean-Japanese music.
thanks!

you mentioning the asian/middle east sound, makes me think you should check this out. this guy managed to tune his banjo and play it like the sitar. I haven't tried to copy him but I want too at some point.

[youtube:1b7a1gl2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pj-0EZCEC8[/youtube:1b7a1gl2]
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