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Greensleeves
(What Child Is This)
A Basic 4-Equidistant String Arrangement for Mountain Dulcimer
by Janita Baker with excerpts from Fingerpicking Dulcimer, MB99537BCD
"Greensleeves" is a melody we hear a lot around the holiday season with the
lyrics of "What Child Is This." This arrangement is a good introduction to four
equidistant string playing on the mountain dulcimer. The dulcimer is tuned to
D - A - A# - C (bass string to first string). It enables you to play the usually
illusive "F" natural note found in this piece.
Adjusting Your Mountain Dulcimer to Four Equidistant Strings:
There are many advantages to playing "four string" dulcimer, not the least of
which is the versatility it gives a player in both fingerpicking patterns and, by
utilizing "chromatic" tunings - the ability to play fully chromatic songs on a
diatonically-fretted fretboard.
If your dulcimer's nut and saddle are not already slotted to allow for a four
evenly spaced string pattern, you will need to have the two extra slots cut. This
is best done by a qualified luthier; most music stores have access to a
competent guitar repair person, and this adjustment should pose no problems
for them. Many currently manufactured dulcimers offer this feature when you buy
them.
Playing Instructions:
Remember it is no harder than fingerpicking three strings, and note how seldom
you use the second string. By having tuned into "Chromatic Aeolian" with your
four separate strings, you are able to more easily reach the "F" natural (4th fret,
second string) enabling you to play a complete F major chord which enhances
the melodic composition of the arrangement.
In measure 3 and 4, leave your index finger down on the 4th fret, third string for
both measures; the stretch to reach the 1st fret, melody string in measure 4
may seem difficult at first but with a little practice you should have no problem
making this reach while still sustaining the third string note.
Listen to Janita Baker play "Greensleeves"
FINGERPICKING DULCIMER, MB99537BCD
by Janita Baker
This book and CD collection of 21 songs is arranged in a fingerpicking style for
the mountain dulcimer and offers a wide variety of musical genres and playing
levels. Divided equally between arrangements for three and four equidistant
strings, the songs progress in difficulty within each section from beginner to
advanced level. Each piece is written in both standard music notation and
dulcimer tablature, and is accompanied by performance tips for playing that
song. Many arrangements utilize the 6 1/2 fret, and tunings range from standard
modal tunings to four-string variations. The arrangements cover a wide variety
of song styles including traditional, ragtime, blues, and classical standards.
Songs include My Old Kentucky Home; Londonderry Air, All Through the Night,
The Entertainer, Careless Love, House of the Rising Sun, Für Elise, and Bach's
Minuet in G. There is an extensive introduction on playing techniques for both left
and right hands, tunings, reading tablature, and dulcimer embellishments. The
accompanying CD is an instrumental recording of solo dulcimer, designed to give
the student a note-for-note reference to each written arrangement while
providing a performance-quality listening experience.
Editor's Note: For more instruction on fingerpicking the mountain dulcimer we
recommend Janita's outstanding book, Fingerpicking Dulcimer, described above.
For a quick intro you might also want to visit the February 2006 Back Issue of www.DulcimerSessions.com and review the article on "Fingerpicking ‘til Your Heart's
Content."
About the Author
Janita Baker has been playing and teaching mountain dulcimer since 1975 and is
in great demand at dulcimer festivals and workshops across the country. She is the author of several dulcimer tablature books including Blues & Ragtime for Fretted Dulcimer (Mel Bay Publications) and a collection of solo instrumentals entitled Solace (both currently out of print). Janita has produced a number of solo dulcimer albums over the years, and along with her husband, Robert, released their first duo album, "Walkin' Around Lucky," in 1998.
And, for a Holiday Season treat check out Janita and Robert's latest CD, The Hot Rod Sleigh:
The Hot Rod Sleigh is an acoustic collection which celebrates the season with a great balance of
light-hearted parody and lovely old country traditionals, with just a touch of delta blues and
acoustic swing for good measure. Robert Baker on guitar, National steel and lead vocals; Janita Baker
on mountain dulcimer and autoharp; Kelly Powers on fiddle, mandolin, accordion and harmony vocals,
Jean Sutton singing harmony, and Peter Morin on dobro.
This album was nominated by Just Plain Folks to receive their Holiday Album of the year for 2002.
CONTENTS: Wrap My Heart in Ribbons; Santa's Back in Town; The Hot Rod Sleigh; Walkin' the Floor This Christmas; Hesitation Christmas Blues; Winter Wonderland; Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy; Santa the Knife; It's Christmas Time Pretty Baby; Jingle Bell Rock; His Baby Done Changed; Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree; Reindeer Boogie; Christmas Carols 'Round the Old Corral.
Janita and Robert are the owners and builders of Blue Lion dulcimers and guitars, which they started in 1977. To date, the have produced over 4,000 mountain dulcimers and over 100 acoustic steel string guitars. The instruments are noted for their clarity, balance and quality of craftsmanship, and are played by many of the top performers in the country.
The July 2003 Back Issue of www.DulcimerSessions.com features an article on Janita and Robert's Blue Lion dulcimers and guitars.
For information about Janita's other tablature books and recordings or for details on Blue Lion dulcimers and guitars visit their website: www.bluelioninstruments.com
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