CD Discounts

Well, I have talked about doing a new album for quite some time now. I have more than enought music, just not enough time or money to sit down in the studio. Anyway, I am trying to get enough money together to do a new dulcimer recording; so, I am running a short term special on my October Dreams CD. You can get it for only $5 through the $5. special section at CDbaby.com Or you can order multiple copies and get a discount. Remember they make great coasters! Please check it out at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kay2
Diatonia forever,
Jon

Richard Farina

While the dulcimer revival really started with folks like John Jacob Niles and Jean Ritchie, the dulcimer boom of the 1970s was a direct result of Richard Farina (who was influenced by Jean Ritchie). He died at only 27 in 1966. Nevertheless his impact is still being felt. Here is a great online clip of he and Mimi Farina performing with Pete Seeger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yado-3WQP4A.

If you want to know more about his music and life check out: http://www.richardandmimi.com/

I hope you enjoy this.

Jon

Greensleeves

Here is one of my favorite winter melodies. Also, known as "What Child is this" this is a B minor melody. You do not need to use a capo just play it as written. Remember to keep playing the note until you need to move your fingers. I hope you enjoy this.

I Wonder as I Wonder

Here is another dulcimer tune for the holiday season. I Wonder as I Wonder, is a reconstructed Appalachian carol that John Jacob Niles collected. Niles was famous for taking older tunes and reworking them.

Your dulcimer should be tuned to DAD. However, you will be playing in Em (Key of G). Do not use a capo, just play with your fingers baring the strings. A little pointer, use your pinky finger on the treble, your ring finger on the middle and your middle finger on the bass to play the opening Em chord. This frees up your thumb to play the melody line.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it.

Christmas is Comming and Jon is...

Well, I can not believe that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is just around the corner. I have fired up the woodstove and starting my winter routine of trying to do more dulcimer stuff. Anyway, I have been tabbing out some holiday tunes and I wanted to share them. I haven’t put tabs up on the web before and not in this blog. If it works I hope to do it more.

Here is the tab for a French carol. You should tune your dulcimer to DGD. It is arranged for melody line playing only. (double click the tab, and it will open up bigger).

David Beede Dulcimer Maker

Here is a link to David Beede's website. He is a great instrument buildier and a good friend. I just found out that he posted this site about the dulcime he built for me. It was a special gift from my friends at the Florida Folk Festival. I have been playing the instrument a lot and would tell you more about it, but this site does a much better job than I could discribing this instrument. http://www.davidbeede.com/jonkaydulci.htm

A concise dulcimer history

Here is a nice concise dulcimer history that think is fairly accurate: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/E-Text/View_EText.asp?a=3&fn=J116v08n01_06&i=1&s=J116&v=8

As I find more resources I will forward them to the list