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O'Carolan Harp Tunes for Mountain Dulcimer
by; Shelley Stevens

Using the 1-1/2 Fret

OK so you've got a 1-1/2 fret. Now, what do you do with it?

I've heard people say that it's only used to get that "C" chord lower on the fretboard, but that's not the half of it. The 1-1/2 fret allows us to play in the keys of G and C in a lower register, play Mixolydian mode tunes across the strings without going to the 6th fret, and adds some blues and jazz possibilities with the F natural. It also adds over 20 chords to our repertoire.

If you start at the 3rd fret on the bass string then play 0, 1, 1-1/2, on the middle string and 0, 1, 2, 3 on the melody string you have just played the G scale. If you start at the 1-1/2 fret on the middle string then play 0, 1, 1-1/2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on the melody string, voila!, you have a C scale. . . You can also go down the scale to the low D. Any time you can find a scale you can play a tune.

The addition of the 1-1/2 fret is one more step toward the chromatic dulcimer. More and more we are playing non-traditional music on the dulcimer which demands more and more accidental notes and fuller chords. If you are having problems adjusting to your 1-1/2 fret, USE IT! The more you use it the more familiar you will be with the new spacing. and the less "alien" it will seem.

My style of playing is to play a chord at the beginning of a measure and hold it down throughout the measure while playing the melody on the melody (treble) or middle string. You'll find this helps to smooth out your playing and makes the music flow from your instrument. Keep your fingers ON the strings. When you lift your left hand the music stops, making your playing sound choppy. Slide up and down the fretboard and not only will your playing be smoother but you will also have less problems finding your chords.

I am a firm believer in using all the fingers you have (including your thumb) on your left hand. This will increase your speed and will broaden the range of notes you can play. For example in the following measure:

Then moving my thumb to play the 5 and 4 and 3, and using my little finger for the 2 and 1 allows the chord to ring throughout the entire measure and very little hand movement is required. Don't be discouraged by a sore little finger. You will soon develop a callous.

This lets me use my thumb to play the melody and readies my middle finger to change chords. Most of the tunes played in the key of C end with the note on the middle string. You can mute the melody string by resting your finger on it lightly - just enough to deaden the string without fretting it. That will prevent it from accidentally sounding when you play the final chord. If at all possible I recommend using a shorter scale fretboard (a size similar to McSpadden's Ginger dulcimer or Ron Ewing's Baritone Dulcimette) for these arrangements. This will make playing easier.

In my book Using the 1-1/2 Fret I have included 26 tunes in the keys of D, G and C that will help you to use the 1-1/2 fret to its full potential. It is my hope that you will enjoy the arrangements in the book and that it inspires you to broaden your playing in other keys. The book is available through my secure shopping web site.

About the Author
Shelley Stevens has been playing music for most of her life but for the last 22 years has considered the mountain dulcimer to be her primary instrument. She has made it her life's work to dispel the notion that the instrument must only be used for traditional music and has arranged music of many styles to the dulcimer. Shelley has taught workshops at festivals in the Eastern and Central U.S., including Appalachian State University in Boone, NC; Morehead University in Morehead, KY; Shady Grove Dulcimer Camp at Urbana University in Urbana, OH; Heritage Dulcimer Camp in Kansas City, MO; NGFDA Fall Festival in Helen, GA; and the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR. Shelley also teaches all levels privately.

Shelley is a founding member of "Sweetwater," a trio of women who have played and sung their way across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the British Isles. They have recorded several albums on their Tweetwater Productions label.

As well as doing lead and harmony vocals, Shelley plays several instruments with "Sweetwater," including the mountain dulcimer, stand-up bass and guitar. Shelley also performs as a solo artist and with other bands.

Bibliography/Discography Shelley's first dulcimer tablature book, O'Carolan Harp Tunes for the Mountain Dulcimer, was published by Mel Bay Publications in 1993 and in 1998 her book Stephen Foster for the Mountain Dulcimer was published again by Mel Bay. Shelley was also included in Mel Bay's 2000 Dulcimer compendium and Susan Trump's CD, "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Volume 2."

Shelley has published other tablature books through Tweetwater Productions. Among these are The Three String Orchestra Volumes I and II (dulcimer books of all classical music arrangements) and The Baker's Dozen, a series of 11 dulcimer tablature books, each a different style of music. Her latest is Using the 1-1/2 Fret, a primer for 1-1/2 fret users.

In 2004 Shelley completed her first solo album entitled "Songs of Life, Love and Laughter," which includes music from classical to country & ragtime to rock as well as music to tickle your funny-bone! This is an enhanced CD which contains photos and links to her web site and e-mail.

Visit Shelley's web site at www.shelleystevens.com for free tab every month and secure on-line shopping for her books and CDs.