1 / 12

Appalachian Dulcimer: History, Types, and Playing Techniques

Learn about the history, different types, and playing techniques of the Appalachian Dulcimer, a traditional folk instrument known for its rich bass sound and sweet tones. Discover famous musicians and find answers to common questions.

williamjwilkinson
Download Presentation

Appalachian Dulcimer: History, Types, and Playing Techniques

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Appalachian Ducilmer T.J. Garrison Jeff Vitols Jarrod Hunt

  2. Different Types • Appalachian • 3 to 8 strings • Usually 4 strings • Hammered • Bass

  3. Shapes • Different shapes • Most Popular • Hourglass • Rich Bass Sound • Tear Drop • Lighter Tone (Bluegrass)

  4. How to Play • Tuning • Ionian • Mixolydian • Dorian, Aeolian • Playing • Lap • No-armed chair • Strummed, Picked or Fingered • Chords, single notes

  5. History • Ancestor the scheitlot • German descent circa 1618 • Appalachian Dulcimer circa 1830 – 1871 • Oldest folk instrument of American creation

  6. More History • Belongs to Fretted Zithers class of instruments • Latin prefix means “sweet sound” • Traditionally played with a quill, which is a feather

  7. Jean Ritchie • Born 1922 in Viper, Kentucky • Album None But One won Rolling Stone Critic’s Choice Award in 1977 • Started what is now known as the “Dulcimer Revival” • Unique style of performance • Strumming the main beats toward herself • Singing Style

  8. Other Musicians • Joni Mitchell • Bought Joellen Lapidus’s first made dulcimer • Joellen Lapidus • Idolized Joni Mitchell • Ruth Barrett • Dianic high priestess • Dwain Wilder • Mountain Dulcimer maker

  9. Questions • How many strings does the Appalachian dulcimer usually have? • How does the musician normally hold the Appalachian dulcimer? • What does the word dulcimer mean in Latin? • How long has the Appalachian dulcimer been around? • What was traditionally used to play the dulcimer?

  10. Answers • 4 • Laying the instrument in his/her lap • “sweet song” • Mid 19th century • A feather quill

  11. References • http://mama.essortment.com/whatisadulci_rkfn.htm • www.sci.edu/classes/ellertsen/dulcimer2.html • www.gilamountaindulcimers.com • www.templeofdiana.org/ruth.htm • http://www.pbs.org/ket/jrs/ • http://www.museum.appstate.edu/christmas2002/pages/dulcimer.shtml

  12. References • http://www.jonimitchell.com/jonihome.html • www.bearmeadow.com

More Related