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| Looking at the strumstick - Other Instruments - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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Graywolf71 Approved 
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I've been looking into the strumstick myself and have listened to all the mp3's i could find, now i think i have my wife convinced to let me buy one...i used the old eye batting trick...lol! Any advice on where on line to buy one? or should i go through the maker? Thanks Graywolf71
____________________ They can't take away our music because it's in our hearts, so keep on pickin' and smilin' for it's the one TRUE way to stay free. |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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You can buy one here... http://www.ezfolk.com/gifts/50-100/50-100.html Row 6, Column 2 
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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Will Approved 
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There are two models of the strumstick available. The Standard Strumstick is tuned to G, and costs about $100, while the larger Grand Strumstick plays lower (tuned to D) and costs about $140. I own and play the Grand Strumstick, and I've played it in concert on several occasions: Home Sweet Home - Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?band_id=245&song_id=972&mode=song_hifi http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?band_id=245&song_id=972&mode=song_lofi
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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Graywolf71 Approved
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Ok, now i'm convinced. I'm going for the grand. Will that was a swinging rendition, and thanks for the advice. Who knows, maybe i can get good enough to post on here some day.
____________________ They can't take away our music because it's in our hearts, so keep on pickin' and smilin' for it's the one TRUE way to stay free. |
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Graywolf71 Approved
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A question for you Will, seeing that you play the Grand Strumstick. Can you use a book or tab notation for the dulcimer to play the Grand seeing that they are simular in both fret and string? If not then can you tell me if there are any books, besides the ones on the website, for tablature? Thanks again Graywolf71
____________________ They can't take away our music because it's in our hearts, so keep on pickin' and smilin' for it's the one TRUE way to stay free. |
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Will Approved
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Thanks for your compliments. The real challenge of playing that night was that the band was playing that evening at an outdoor festival in a barely heated tent, with the temperature a very windy 50 degrees F.. The grand strumstick sells for $140 at Musician's Friend (where I ordered mine), and the optional (highly recommended) custom gig bag sells for $20. I ordered the grand strumstick because it matched the tuning of most lap dulcimers, and D is a good key for me to sing in. A few years ago, I actually did jam with a lap dulcimer player and we had a blast. A few helpful tips when you get your strumstick... The "strap" is a thin cord with a pre-tied slip knot that allows you to adjust its length. The strumstick is difficult if not impossible to play without the strap. (I almost made the mistake of untying the slip knot.) Like a banjo, the strumstick's wooden bridge is a "floating type" that is adjustable. If your strings accidentally break, you can bring the broken string to a music store that carries banjo strings, and they'll help you select the right gauge. The grand strumstick is normally tuned D-A-d, but it can also be tuned down to C-G-c to play in the key of C. Tuning higher to E is not recommended because the strings will break. The irregularly-spaced frets take a bit of getting used to. To get that dulcimer-like slide sound, you normally slide your finger tip from one fret to another on the high melody string only (rather than use multiple fingers as you would picking single-string notes on a guitar) while stumming all three strings, letting the lower D and A strings drone. Occasionally you will find that a key of D song will have a range that doesn't fit well on the strumstick; i.e., the lowest notes may be below the open D string; you can fret lower notes on the lower octave string, but it takes some practice to switch between strings. There is a handy "odd" fret that will allow you to play an extra note that is out of the key of D, which comes in handy for songs with a flatted note or an odd chord, such as "Rocky Top" or "Over The Waterfall." The strumstick is designed to be played with a pick (it comes with a very thin flatpick). You can also use a thumbpick, which I use (I use a Herco thumb-flatpick, which is a flat pick that you wear on your thumb). The instrument does not have a pick-guard, so you should make your own by applying a layer of clear packagesealing tape near the sound hole. I came up with that idea when I noticed pick wear near the sound hole after playing it for a year. For amplifying the strumstick on stage, you can either play into a microphone or use a disc-type transducer (Dean Markley Artist, which I use, or something similar) mounted on the soundboard in back of the bridge. At Strumstick.com (the manufacturer's web site), there is a page of strumstick songs using a modified tabulature that simply notes the fret number, since you only need to fret the single high-melody string. However, I believe that most of these song listings are for a standard strumtick, in the key of G. You can still play them, but the songs will be played at a lower key, in D instead of G. http://www.strumstick.com/html_pages/sssongpagetoc.html There is an important difference between the lap dulcimer and the strumstick - the strings on a strumstick are mounted guitar-style with the thicker, low-pitched drone facing you, whereas on a lap dulcimer, the high melody strings (they are paired on most dulcimers) face the player. Also, the sound box of the lap dulcimer is generally larger and produces a deeper tone. Good luck and have fun with the strumstick.  Last edited on Sun Jan 8th, 2006 07:03 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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Will Approved
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Lap dulcimers and strumsticks are tuned to play in one key, usually key of D for the dulcimer and Grand Strumstick, and key of G for the standard strumstick. But, one additional that a Grand Strumstick (key of D) has over its lap dulcimer cousin is the ability to play more than one key, using a banjo capo (a spring style capo, such as the Kyser, works better than a cam-style one like the Shubb). Because the Grand Strumstick has irregularly-spaced frets, the key changes produced by the banjo do not work the way a chromatic neck instrument does. Placing the capo on the 3rd fret will raise the key from D major to G major; at the 4th fret, the key will be A major. Clamping the banjo capo at the 1st or 2nd fret will give you a minor modal tuning, which may be useful for certain old-time songs such as Cluck Old Hen, Cold Frosty Morning, etc. When a capo is used, it reduces the number of frets available to play notes, so you will need to play the melody on 2 or more strings.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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Will Approved
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Let me add a correction to my previous post. Having purchased a mountain dulcimer recently, I found that there are dulcimer capos available. It's a wooden device with a rubber cap and a thumbscrew that locks it in place around the fretboard, which is raised above the dulcimer body. On a D-tuned dulcimer, the capo at the 3rd fret will give you G tuning, at the 4th fret will give you A tuning. Because of the irregular fret spacings, using the capo at the 1st and 2nd frets will give you 2 different minor modal tunings. http://elderly.com/accessories/items/EDC1-CHER.htm  Spring-clamp style banjo capos will work well for the strumstick. http://elderly.com/accessories/items/KBC1-BLK.htm 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Other Instruments > Looking at the strumstick | |
