My Newest Addition

[monalisa]

I finally bought something I've wanted for about 25 years...a beautiful Hammered Dulcimer. I took a few pics of it, and the flash kinda washes out the gorgeous woodwoork that went into her making, but here she is anyway.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q163/mona8lisa/Hammy1.jpg

[Elvis_Christ]

Wow. That looks pretty cool. So you play it like a harp?

[monalisa]

You play it with little hand held hammers. You can see them resting in the upper left-hand part of the picture. It's kinda the same concept of a piano, except the you are manually striking the strings with the little hammers, instead of pushing a piano key which in turn makes the hammer hit the strings inside the piano.

Also, it sounds much more delicate, like a harp.

[neverending]

I love hammered dulcimer music. That's awesome! Hope you have a great time learning tunes and bringing joy to yourself and others.

[Zero]

wow - very impressive - now let's have a song!!

[Dante'sInferno]

Yay my second favorite instrument! It looks gorgeous. I hope you learn some songs soon. :)

[fortunato]

Oh yeah, the hammered dulcimer a wonderful instrument.
What's the first song you're going to learn on it?

[Papillon Noir]

That's awesome, Monalisa! Do you play any other instruments or is this your first?

[monalisa]

Oh yeah, the hammered dulcimer a wonderful instrument.
What's the first song you're going to learn on it?

Well, if I go by the book I bought, it'll be "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (LOL). But I've just been kinda playing around with it, nothing organized yet. Fortunately, it's one of those instuments that you can just noodle around with and it still sounds pretty.


That's awesome, Monalisa! Do you play any other instruments or is this your first?

It's the only instrument I currently play. A 100 years ago I was in the school band and played the Clarinet, but never really enjoyed it much. I've toyed with the Guitar, but never got good at it. This is the first instrument that I've really a BIG interest in and for so long. It's so relaxing to play and my dog even seems to enjoy it. :)

[Aperion]

Well, if I go by the book I bought, it'll be "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (LOL). But I've just been kinda playing around with it, nothing organized yet. Fortunately, it's one of those instuments that you can just noodle around with and it still sounds pretty.


I love dulcimers! They're really excellent instruments. You should try improvising with it, as you mentioned, it is one of those instruments where anything sounds good.

I'd love to run one of those through some distortion and effects boxes!

[ChronoGrl]

Youtube video of you playing, plz! :D

VERY cool acquisition. Good luck with it!!!

[chaibill]

Looks like something the 12 Girls Band would use. Name doesn't sound chinese though.
Looks like a lot of fun.

[monalisa]

Soorry, I dunno what the "12 Girls Band" is or what they use. But if they use a Hammered Dulcimer, I hope they use it well. It can be an amazing instrument. I'd love to see them play it! I'm always willing to learn. :)

[neverending]

12 Girl's Band is a wiorld music act from China- 12 hot Chinese ladies that play traditional instruments in a fusion of new age & Chinese music.

And they do actually play a sort of Chinese dulcimer called a yangqin.

[monalisa]

Wow, Cool! Thanks for the info! Is there a link for them specifically, or would just Googling them work well?

[neverending]

http://www.12girls.org/english/gywm-yfjj.asp

[monalisa]

http://www.12girls.org/english/gywm-yfjj.asp

Thanks man!

[cheebacheeba]

You should learn Golden years