Video

This was so very helpful! Thank you. Will try and figure out how to pay for another lesson.

I have had my dulcimer for a long time, bought it and didn't have time to try to learn (demanding Job). I am retired now and I am going to try and learn this thing. Mine was made by a fellow in Pigeon Forge, Tenn, and I love the simplicity of the instrument. However, I was told to tune mine as D-A-A-A. Is that wrong?

Brett, enjoyed your Flatpicking with Your Left Hand class at the FNS Dulcimer Weekend!

Wonderful video Brett!!!!

Perfect !

@BrettRidgewaysLearningForLife Have you left Patreon? I was going to support you there

I am not a musically inclined person, and have never attempted to play anything before. But I keep coming back to this instrument and find something beautiful and frightening about it. It's definitely intimidating.

This is my favorite song!

Nicely done Bret!

I, too, just bought a McSpadden mountain dulcimer and am learning to play with this channel.

Thanks!!

Thank you. Learned about humidity from seller. You told me how to do it.

Thank you!

I wonder if you cloud successfully install a goatskin top on that thing instead of the plywood disk. Anyone?

As someone who can play both styles, which do you enjoy more and why?

Are the strings any good? Thank-you.

For tenor banjo???

Thank you. I’m enjoying your instruction, but I’m having a hard time making it sound like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Heard you playing it on another video,and it was lovely!

I have an elliptical shape dulcimer, and I find I can strum better with my finger than with a pick. Is there an email address I can send you questions to?

Beautiful.

Bluegrass! Thanks for the info! x

Do you have a book out for these lessons?

Oh man you messed me up changing the angle of the camera. It will take a few tries for me to get this. Thanks! Loving the lessons.

your'e going too fast for a beginner

I wonder why you don't tell people about using a noter in the left hand. It keeps you from getting blisters on your finger. It takes a long time to develop enough of a callus on your finger to prevent pain and blistering even under a developing callus. That really hurts and limits the time you can spend enjoying making music. As a nurse, I needed the sensitivity in my fingertips for feeling veins and foreign bodies under the skin of patients. A noter need not slow down the music either. Just, like everything else, it takes practice.I was very good and played my dulcimer with a bluegrass band.

Very helpful for a beginner to understand finger placement and pressure

I would like to try this. Online store dulcimers have 4 strings. I only see 3 on yours. Can you tell me what to look for? Brand or type, do you remove a string untill you graduate to 4 strings? Thanks in advance!

Thx Brett!!

Maybe better lighting next time.

Thank you I'm very interested in learning in your class

Thank you for this intro video. I am 70 and still love playing music. Currently, I play harp, but traveling even a harpsicle is a sometimes a problem. I worry about heat and dampness and not being able to even go into a restaurant without feeling the need to take it inside to protect it from temperature changes. Thru the years, i have played other instruments: piano, violin, 5 string banjo, and found myself selling the instruments in time of need.... I say, never sell an instrument, even if you haven't played it for years. Your Concertina sounds lovely. Banjo... i never learned anything of real artistic expression: only fun stuff. But, you just encouraged me to play an instrument that my Czech grandmother played. I long for that expression of my heritage. Thank you.

I have been playing guitar since I was 13. I am 65 now, and for the first time, I understand it perfectly. Thank you so much! You are so right about books complicating it. I have been trying to learn how to play the dulcimer for a few months now and hope to become better at it than I am on guitar. I had to stop playing guitar after injuring my shoulder. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Thank you so much! I would like to contribute-how?

to much background music. Can't hear his voice. Sad.

I’ve been playing clawhammer for a few months and I absolutely fell in love with it. I prefer it over scruffs both playing wise and listening, but both are beautiful!

Beautiful playing, beautiful dulcimers and beautiful stands

Thanks! I was wondering about the difference.

Would the people you are jamming with have to be playing a song in the key of d?

Thank you so very much! These lessons are fantastic!

It’s “Doug’s Tune” by Doug Dillard. Or did he borrow from someone?

Thank you

Beautiful! (view & song) Magickal vibes!

I love that song. I played it with you

All good, love the sunsets. Sounded beautiful

Is there a standard tuning?

When im hitting the fret that is being called 6.5 it doesnt sound right

I've ordered one and it should be here in a few days. Completely new to it, but I wanted something easily portable to take along to jams to do more of a background accompaniment, so I'm interested in learning that to begin with. Do any of your lessons focus on that?😄 I'm also a novice HD player but that's not easily popped in an overnight bag or taken to a bonfire setting!

Yes! I have paying for patron since you started it and have never gotten any access to the video access and sent many messages without response. Thank you!