The Chop: Mountain Dulcimer

Erin Mae demonstrates the Bluegrass Chop on mountain dulcimer using the tune Orphan Girl.  This lesson is from her Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Course at DulcimerCrossing.

The Role of Bass Mountain Dulcimer

The bass dulcimer is a magnificent addition to the mountain dulcimer family, providing a needed foundation and tonal warmth to dulcimer groups and music jams. Its pitch range is only an octave below the standard mountain dulcimer, which gives the bass dulcimer the added benefit of playing true bass lines while also adding the occasional harmony line or musical fill. Although there are bass dulcimers now built in the true range of a “real” bass (think electric or upright bass instruments), thanks to David Beede’s Double Bass and Terry McCafferty’s L’il D’bl, this class will be solely devoted to the technique required on the “regular” bass dulcimer as first created by Blue Lion and later by McSpadden. Of course, there are lots of bass dulcimers being built now – humph! (Utter appropriate low sound here!)

In bluegrass-style music, the bass player’s job is to outline the framework of the chord progression using the alternating bass pattern of root and 5^th with the occasional walk-up or walk-down between chord changes. Although we’re not in the true octave of a “real” bass, we will focus on mimicking the techniques used by the upright or electric bass player. We will devote time to ear training to help participants become less dependent on tablature for playing bass lines.

Playing Bass Mountain Dulcimer

Steve focused this Wednesday Livestream on playing Bass.

Susan Trump plays melody on the middle string for her Bluegrassy Fingerpicking 

This was the focus of her hour-long workshop for DulcimerCrossing members.