When I described what this blog may contain, I mentioned that I might get to having some music on here. I figured that was a pipe dream, but I now realize that the unbelievable is actually at hand. This years Easter visit to my parents house turned out to be a veritable Fool’s Gold-mine. Whenever I go back home, I sneak into my old bedroom and fiddle around with the instruments I used to play while in high school (piano, American flute, guitars, and even the organ if I feel crazy enough). One of my favorites is the hammered dulcimer that my parents bought a few years back.

Many of my friends haven’t heard of this instrument, and when try to explain what it is or how it works I always get a thorough mix of confusion, short attention spans, and disinterest. This is unfortunate, as it’s probably probably one of the most beautiful instruments I’ve been exposed to.

Its double stringed strike-points provide an extremely rich tone, added to by the harmonic resonance that the wooden body allows. Additionally, the hammers are so light and loose that it really doesn’t require muscle development to get the right control, it’s all in stroke management. In fact, many people who try it are surprised by how easy it is to get a tone, and how quickly they can pick up double striking or even more complex ‘stickings’. You’ll have to forgive me, I’m a percussionist by heart. I try to stay away from the terminology, but it comes back.

I probably do find it easier to play because of my percussion background, and I know that my hands move a little faster than my mothers when I play, but not by much. The one major problem for me is the vertical layout, as all mallet instruments are typically horizontal (i.e. like a piano). In addition you will notice that the scale is actually a set of 4 string pairs that go up the left brace. You start near a white brace on the right side and walk up four. Then you flip to the left side and start at the white brace again and go up. In this way they fit 3 scales on the left side (D,G,C). It’s also handy because the you can borrow low notes from the other scales as they are relatively close keys (2#’s, 1#, and no #, respectively).

I’ve linked the image to a video of me playing a very simple version of Loch Lomond given you my first YouTube video embedded in the page. It’s very simple, but don’t judge too much. Unfortunately I never really had the chance to learn the instrument, and I’ve definitely never been taught. Still, that’s the way I am with music. If you can give me a logical way of breaking up the thing into scales, I’ll give you some songs by ear. If not, I’m going to go play chess with the kid next door.