How to build a strum stick the mcnally strumstick is an amazing instrument, perfect for those just learning to play guitar or for the experienced player who wants to try something new. What makes the strumstick stand out is that it only plays in one key instead of all 12 like a guitar. Strumstick mountain dulcimer music book dulcimer music, mountain. My problem is that in short this uke is a good idea gone wrong. Stream tracks and playlists from strumstick on your desktop or mobile device. A guide to help people choose which one to get first. The strumstick is a musical instrument like nothing you have ever seen and is perfect for a nervous beginner or a pro who just wants to have fun.
Include chords in the root position root note as the lowest note and inversions and indicate which are inversions. They are not desperately expensive so they are great for the party or camp fire where yo. Finally, if you are already experienced at playing one of these, or a chromatic mountain dulcimer and are able to recommend, or even write, a tabbed tune book for strumstick dulcimer, also a tutor book, at a reasonable price, i for one, would be most grateful. Some musicians even use them amplified in band settings.
Strumstick mountain dulcimer music book dulcimer music, mountain dulcimer. The strumstick is designed for beginners and experienced musicians. Bob mcnally playing the d strumstick and the g strumstick, and explaining the differences between them. Simple tune for the ordinary talent in four tablature books. The strumstick was created by bob mcnally standard. In other words, capoing at 1 will give you an open a but you wont be able to play the a major scale. The strumstick was created by bob mcnally designer of the martin backpacker guitar and has a perfect blend of ease and versatility. The mcnally strumstick is a unique hybrid of the appalaichan dulcimer and the guitar. Before this cd arived i had never heard lew dite perform, but i had seen frequent references to him, some of which described him as canadas king of skiffle and the canadian lonnie donegan. I was exposed to homemade music from an early age back in the 1940s.
Mcnally strumstick grand musical instruments barouke. Nov 03, 2011 response from strumstick we make the ukelele strumstick strictly for fun and its unique sound. A wonderful version of this instrument is made by bob mcnally for more info click here. Music books for the merlin and the strumstick lew dite. Im going to start making them from scratch fromnow on. You are incredible, will have to come by someday when back in georgia.
There are plenty of great regular ukes out there, we were not trying to make yet another traditional uke. The mcnally strumstick instruction dvd includes 20 chapters as well as a dvdrom material to view on your computer in. The mcnally standard strumstick amazingly easy and versatile. Oct 18, 20 how to build a strumstick musical instrument.
Music books for the merlin and the strumstick lew dite youtube. The grand mcnally strumstick also called the d strumstick is quite similar to the gstandard strumstick, but designed with different sonarity and pitch scale. The tuning is d a d, with the high d being the same note as the middle string of the basic strumstick. The strumstick and mountain dulcimer music book 5th edition 100 songs.
A strumstick is relatively inexpensive, and easy to buy online, or at a specialty. The site contains products, info and lots of instructions. Discover all the extraordinary items our community of craftspeople have to offer and find the perfect gift for your loved one or yourself. Lew dite with his standard strumstick standard tuning mixolydian mode f c f. The standard is high and bright, and distinctly cheery, while the grand is darker, and moodier, and a little bit richer sounding. You can strum chords to backup singing, you can tune it like a lap dulcimer and play dulcimer tunes or, if youre really good, you can use banjo finger picks and play it like a banjo. Mcnally strumstick ukulele strumstick 4string strumstick. Sounds great right from the start even in a beginners hands.
It plays the same as the gstandard no wrong notes and no talent required, but pitched lower. Choosing a new dulcimer can be overwhelming, and many times i am asked to advise. I dont fault mcnally since they make instruments that are in a diatonic. So far ive had a great deal of success with it, and i figured i would stop in here and say. Tips to translate guitar song chords to merlinm4 chords also has a 18 songs at the end of the page. Unlike the standard strumstick and the grand strumstick and you can play a wrong note if you dont already know how to play an instrument. Discover all the extraordinary items our community of craftspeople have to offer and find the perfect gift. This has steel strings, and a tiny soundbox, it has a banjomandolin kind of sound, and nobody needs it. Jan 09, 2020 the strumstick is a clever three stringed instrument, based on the mountain dulcimer. Save strumstick to get email alerts and updates on your ebay feed. A strumstick is a 3string instrument that plays and sounds a little like a guitar, a little like a mandolin, a little like a dulcimer, and a little like a banjo.
Basic specs availability brand new songbook edition. Strumstick family song book pdf a total of 83 free songs for the strumstick merlin. Although the strumstick is designed to be suitable even for those with no musical knowledge to be able to play, with its strength being the playing of melody typically on the highpitched topstring and the open lower strings acting as drone notes, it is nonetheless possible to apply conventional theory and technique to the. The mcnally g29 standard strumstick is the ideal first instrumenta great way to get started playing music. The total length is 36 inches with a 2512 inch chromatic scale. These are the digital version of the stick dulcimer plans that accompany the youtube series making a stick dulcimer a 27 episode series, also edited down into a 2. Koa for the back and val di fiemme spruce for the top. Tuning this instrument is tuned to the open tuning of d d, a, d, which basically means that if you just strum without fretting the instrument plays the chord of d. Resources how to play songs video easy 3chord songs song chords from the web page dulcimer songs tab for strumstick strumstick family songbook. The standard is high and bright, and distinctly cheery, while the grand is darker, and moodier, and a little. Simple tunes for the ordinary talent the subtitle says it all this is a music book for anyone with a desire to play music regardless of your musical experience. The grand strumstick was designed to be a second strumstick in a different pitch range, with a different sonority. I am trying to rebuild an early 1900s gypsy strumstick and lo and behold your web site popped up. Pdf of whole songbook link to songbook page starting songs page.
Today i picked up a 1994 mcnally strumstick at a local music shoppe, and im entirely delighted with it. The strumstick or pickin stick is a unique musical instrument that is both easy to play, as well as capable of sophisticated music making. Chord charts for d and g tuned merlinsm4strumsticks. Ive got a dulcimer stick, and like skreech said these things have been around for years, its a 4 string with a double course of strings on the top d.
Mcnally 4string chromatic strumstick chr32 maurys music. Strum sticks from the smokey mountain dulcimer works, florida usa. Using a capo may give you a different baseopen chord but will not change what notes are available to you. About david zinn and strumstick music heart of the. The strumstick is something like a cross between a mountain dulcimer and a guitar that is, its a simple folk instrument with a small body and a limited scale. You are incredible, will have to come by someday when back. Three steel strings tuned gdg key of g or d plays melody and harmony with simple strumming and one finger fretting.
Mixolydian mode ionian mode new ionian mode aeolian mode minor tuning if you are. Here are the complete steps toward building a 3stringed musical instrument, taught and inspired by the andy mackie music foundation. With just three strings and a diatonic scale, its extremely fun and easy to play. The mcnally d33 comes with pick, instruction cd, and book. Luthier homer ledford coined the word dulcitar as a portmanteau of dulcimer and guitar, building his first model of the instrument around 1971. No wrong notes and no talent required fun, not frustrating fret one string, strum all three whatever you do sounds ok. Strum sticks from the smokey mountain dulcimer works. Alec finn played a 6 string bouzouki, tuned dad, i think mcnally has a strumstick short neck, gdg and a longer neck dad. How to build a strumstick musical instrument musical. Strumsticks tracks under by strumstick published on 20150702t01.
Even a beginner can start playing music the very same day. The stick dulcimer is my generic name for these instruments that have a become increasingly popular over the last 20 years and are found under an assortment of different brand names. The d33 strumstick tuned dad is our most popular model. Besides being a foolproof instrument for beginners it is also an inspiring and creative tool for professional musicians on stage and in the studio. The dulcitar is a variant of the appalachian dulcimer, which retains the dulcimers diatonic fret layout yet features a long neck that is intended to be played upright in the guitar style rather than flat across the lap.
The grand strumstick comes with a free instruction book, instruction cd and carry case. For the experienced musician, the strumstick is a terrific portable creative toolmelodies and grooves tumble out as you play. Download is in two parts for download size restrictions. The mcnally grand strumstick plays the same way as the standard strumstick, but is piched lower. Some of the songs in this book include chord symbols. The grand strumstick was designed to be a second strumstick in a different pitch range, with a different so. Like the dulcimer, it is tuned to a diatonic scale. Songs bob fuller taught me to love lew dite with his grand strumstick. Mcnally 4string chromatic strumstick chr32 the 4 string chromatic strumstick has chromatic fretting, meaning you can hit sharps and flats. Strumstick instructions lesson 1 youtube diy musical. The strumstick is fretted for major scale relative to the zero fret. The grand plays the same way as the standard, but is pitched lower. Beginners 3 string strumstick lessons tuned gdg intro scott grove.
Bills strum stick viewer project by bill akins from lithia springs, ga added on march 9, 2014. This is a perfect smallsized, light weight instrument for travelling. The strumstick and mountain dulcimer music book plastic comb january 1, 2010 by lew dite author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. That is why there are no wrong notes, just great sounding music regardless of age or expertise. Mcnally grand strumstick d 33 plays the same as the standard strumstick but designed to be a second strumstick in a different pitch range. My strumstick and mountain dulcimer music book has 100 songs and it covers 4 different modes tunings. The 4 string strumstick is like playing a guitar minus the 2 bass strings. The first book that i put together is for the strumstick and the mountain dulcimer. Etsy has thousands of handcrafted and vintage products that perfectly fit what youre searching for. He also offers a book with 100 songs but you have to contact him about it. Shop new mcnally grand strumstick strum stick dulcimer in d gmssg. First half mb of the strumstick instruction book pdf 1 of 2 pages 118 second half 10mb of the strumstick instruction book pdf 2 of 2 pages 1936. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. This is a 4 string chromatic tenor guitar hand built on the strumstick style.
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