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Ke Kukima Polinahe Music for the Appalachian Dulcimer | Mountain Dulcimer "Decorations"
The Hammered Dulcimer in France

I know, the first thing that came to mind when you saw the title of this article was paint or decoupage flowers or possibly little twinkling lights that respond to volume or note. While I admit such decorations would be unique and attract a lot of attention, that's not what I had in mind.

Perhaps a better title would have been "Dulcimer Tune Decorations." This article is going to give you some tips on how to make the songs you play attract a bit more attention and put a stamp of individualization and uniqueness on your playing in much the same way as the twinkling lights would...but possibly with a bit more taste!

TIP #1 - Drag the Pick
Back strumming subtly alters a song. Dragging the pick SLOWLY and deliberately in the opposite direction from your normal strum direction can give chords and phrases a different feel. While it may not be all that perceivable, it does give your listener a break from the same sound repeatedly. Do not use this every time through a song; that can get just as repetitive.

TIP #2 - Playing Melody on Different Strings
While playing in DAD, occasionally move the melody to Ionian (DAA) by playing on the middle string. Add three to the tablature melody note to locate it on the middle string. For instance, if the melody in DAD is 0 -1 - 2 -0 on the middle string, it would be 3 - 4 - 5 - 3 on the middle string. Of course, forget playing chords with this little trick, you'll tie your fingers in a knot.

In DAD, as you probably already know, switching the melody from the melody string to the bass string also changes the way the song sounds without making the tune any harder. The same tablature numbers can be used on either the bass or the melody strings.

For fun, switch from the melody string to the middle string, to the bass string.

If you have three dulcimers playing simultaneously, each could play the melody on a different string.

Here's the tablature for Brother John for each different string:

TIP #3 - Harmonics
Harmonics can add a bit of sparkle to a lot of tunes. To sound a harmonic, lightly lay your pointing finger on the melody strings directly above the 7th fret. DO NOT FRET THE STRINGS OR EVEN BEND THEM DOWN, JUST TOUCH THEM. Quickly strum the strings. Immediately lift your pointer finger, and, if everything went right, it will sound a harmonic bell tone. Harmonics take practice, so don't give up after a few tries.

Harmonics are easiest to sound at the 7th fret but they can also be found at the 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 14th frets and can be done on all strings.

One place to use them is to make the clock in Grandfather's Clock chime or to finish a song.

TIP #4 - Trills
A simple trill can add a bit of style. A trill is no more than a hammer-on and a pull-off combined. For example, if a song required moving from the third fret to the second to the first, a trill can be inserted.

Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret melody string.
Pick that note and then hammer down hard on the 4th fret with your index finger. You should now have 2 fingers on the fingerboard.

With your index finger, pull-off (pluck) the melody string.
This will still leave your ring finger on the fingerboard.

By doing this quickly you will have a trill. Trills can be placed into songs most easily when the song moves to a lower note on the fingerboard.

This can be done anywhere on the fingerboard.

TIP #5 - Changing the Key
This technique requires a bit more practice. However, it is well worth the effort! If you are playing a cute little tune in DAD tuning that doesn't last long enough for your listeners to forget the A part by the time you finish the B part (or worse yet: doesn't have a B part at all!), change keys. Your listeners will wake back up thinking you have changed songs. All you have to do is slap your left-hand pinky sideways or your pinky, ring and middle fingers down on the third fret and play the song from that vantage point with your thumb. You will have changed from the Key of D to the Key of G.

TIP #6 - Chord Variations and Inversions
Using chord variations can "color" a tune. Don't be afraid to try different fingerings to make the song sound like YOU want it to, not just the way the tablature says you should play it.

Here's a sample of how a D chord in DAD tuning with the melody note on the 4th fret of the melody string can be changed to achieve a different "color."

0 0 2 2 4 0
0 or 3 or 0 or 3 or 3 or 5
4 4 4 4 4 4

Learn the words to a song and use the words to help you decide which chord to use. Also, be ready for the folks who will chastise you for not being completely faithful to the traditional melody they learned. Tell them you are a "stylist" and are "interpreting" it.

TIP #7 - Picking
Picking brings a whole different feel to a tune. Either fingers or a pick can be used to pick. For the purpose of this article, use a pick.

If you have not already discovered the benefits of learning to pick, you should investigate it right away. Here are two typical pick patterns:

Picking will dramatically alter a song. Also, picking is a great way to practice pick control. My own method of picking (which is only my opinion and is neither right nor wrong, just my method) involves always striking the melody strings away from my body and picking the bass and middle strings towards my body. Once picking becomes natural, you will be able to switch from picking to strumming and back again in a song. This really spices up a tune.

TIP #8 - Bass and Middle String Walks or Transitions
Be a guitarist; add a "walk" to your songs! For a guitarist a "walk" is a series of notes that allows a smooth transition from one section of the tune to another, typically when the B part ends with a held note.

Here's a bass walk one that can fill that dead air in the song:

Walking down the middle string can also add a bit of flair. Try combining it with the base walk!

Here's a version of a traditional song entitled "The Banks of the Ohio," which uses both a bass walk and a middle string walk. It might tie your fingers up at first, but when you get it: WOW!

Cheap Trick #1
Use a pencil, a pen, a chopstick (or that fancy hardwood noter you bought but never use) as a hammer. Hold the pencil (or whatever) lightly in your pick hand and allow it (the pencil not your hand) to bounce freely on the strings. This will give you roughly the same sound as a hammered dulcimer without the tuning hassles. This technique works best if your left hand only plays the melody string. I particularly like to use this on bagpipe tunes in Ionian tuning (DAA).

Cheap Trick #2
Get a plastic shaker egg and hold it in your strumming hand while you strum. Instant percussion. This works best with fast tunes. A 35mm film canister one-fourth filled with beans or rice will also work very well. The different types of fillings can give dramatically different sounds. But be careful, if you put too much thought or effort into this it is no longer a cheap trick.

At Christmas time, I use a strap with jingle bells sewn onto it on my strumming hand. Jingle Bells never sounded better!

Cheap Trick #3
Wear a tambourine as a hat and nod your head in time to the music. If nothing else, be funny. Seriously, put the tambourine over your foot and tap you foot as you play. Folk singers have used this trick for years with great success.

Cheap Trick #4
Toot a kazoo while you play. A variation is to use a harmonica holder and play along with yourself on the harmonica. Of course, this requires that you learn to play the harmonica, which takes it out of the cheap trick category all together.

Another variation is to drill a hole in each side of a noseflute, add elastic, place the noseflute over your nose and mouth and the elastic over your head. You can now play the dulcimer and the noseflute at the same time!!! But boy, will you look silly!

Like my grandmother always said, " Mike, if you can't be good, be funny. Most folks only want a good time."

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The combination of music, storytelling and humor has made Mike Anderson one of the most sought-after performers from the Atlantic coast to Canada to the Gulf and all points in between. His latest recordings writing entitled The Great Sled Race and Anna's Old Boot both won Parents' Choice awards. Anna's Old Boot also won a Children's Music Web award for best children's song 2003.

Under the auspices of the Illinois State Board of Education, Mike has conducted many teacher workshops for developing literacy through the art of storytelling. His Early Childhood shows are legendary. As an author and an elementary school teacher, Mike earned accolades from his current principal who said, "Mr. Anderson works well in structure and he excels in unstructured situations where he can utilize his creativity and problem-solving skills. He is a superb communicator, master teacher and an exceptional leader in any setting."

While the Mountain Dulcimer, Guitar, Banjo, Jaw Harp, and Nose Flute are a part of his musical storytelling trade, his power to guide teachers to help students is among his greatest strengths. His workshops on "Promoting Higher Level Thinking Through Classroom Activities" and "Storytelling for Literacy for Early Childhood Teachers and Parents" have been nationally recognized.

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For a listing of Mike Anderson's publications, recordings, videos and television credits, or to contact him for bookings or to find out where he will be performing, visit his website http://www.dulcimerguy.com.