Tablature, CDs, Products for Mountain Dulcimer

Lee Cagle's Blue Smoke Risin' on the Mountain -- Dulcimer News and Information, Memphis, Tennessee

Mountain Sounds Dulcimer Shop

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the . . . dulcimer . . . and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations and the languages, fell down and worshipped . . . .

Mountain Sounds Dulcimer Shop has books, CDs, noters, capos, picks, and tablature for sale. Any of the following items can be ordered by sending a check or money order payable to Lee Cagle to P.O. Box 224, Moscow, TN 38057. Questions? Write to me or call 901-877-7763.

BEGINNER'S BOOK FOR NEW PLAYERS! New 2nd edition with instructional CD!

Blue Smoke Risin' on the Mountain is my book for the beginning dulcimer player, and the second edition is now available. This latest edition includes new chapters on the history of the mountain dulcimer and how modes are applied to the instrument. The provides step-by-step instruction for playing and tuning the dulcimer, using the methods from my classes. The best part -- the all new instructional CD includes oral instruction for getting started, playing, and strumming. It also includes play-along recordings of the songs from the book. The book contains tablature for seven different songs, with DAA and DAD tunings for each. Also included is an arrangement of Amazing Grace in the key of G. The CD includes 19 tracks of instruction and songs and makes learning even easier by allowing the student to hear the tunes and to play along with the CD as you learn.

Songs included (all songs in both DAA and DAD, and all songs include suggested strumming patterns): Amazing Grace; Amazing Grace (DGD); Bile Them Cabbage Down; Gray Cat on a Tennessee Farm; Liza Jane; Soldier's Joy; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Wildwood Flower.

Book/CD set $20 (plus $4 postage).

Book only $12 (plus $3.50 postage).

To order, mail checks to me at P.O. Box 224, Moscow, TN 38057. Questions? Click here to write to me or call 901-877-7763.

Changing keys is easy with a dulcimer capo. $16, plus $3 postage.

Instructions for using a Capo for Mountain Dulcimer

Tune the mountain dulcimer to DAD. Place the capo across the strings at either the 1^st, 3^rd, or 4^th frets (just to the left of the fret) with the tension knob on the outside of the fretboard (on the bass string side of the fretboard). Press down on the capo until all strings are held down evenly, and turn the tension knob until the tension block is securely against the side of the fretboard and holds the capo in place. Do not over-tighten the tension knob. Although the capo is made out of hard maple which is very durable, it will split if over-tightened.

Tuning to DAD and placing the capo:

at the 1^st fret puts you in the key of Em.

at the 3^rd fret puts you in the key of G.

at the 4^th fret puts you in the key of A.

When tablature calls for using a capo, the fret numbers usually do not change. For example, if the tab instructs you to capo at the 3^rd fret, then the tab should use fret numbers 0 (open), 4 and up. You do not re-number the 4^th fret to #1; the 4^th fret remains 4^th.

Beautiful to look at!

Attractive to wear!

Each one unique. Made from a variety of woods: cherry, magnolia, walnut, and more. Some exotics (Australian lacewood, padauk, purpleheart, zebrawood, etc). Call to confirm availability of wood.

On a beaded necklace $30 (includes silver clasp for easy detachment)

Add $3.50 shipping.

Try my WORKSHOP SERIES of tab and instructional CDs as a way to learn new songs, tunes and techniques. Tablature and instructional CDs that coincide with my group classes are available beginning with the month in which the class is offered. Each of the series is available on tab and an instructional CD. Tab/CD set $20 (plus $4.00 postage); Tab only $10 (plus $2.00 postage).

The instructional CDs include a recording of each song presented in the workshop along with step-by-step instructions for each line of the songs.

Choose one of the series topics, OR BUILD YOUR OWN LESSON -- mix and match any four songs from the Workshop Series.

Introduction to Fingerpicking. You will receive instruction on the technique of fingerpicking in the tuning DAD, using an easy introductory song and then moving to more advanced pieces. Learn at your own pace. This series begins with the basic notation for fingerpicking and builds your skill using simple songs -- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Go Tell Aunt Rhody. It then moves to more detailed tab with Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies and The Water is Wide.

Celtic Tunes. The tunes are arranged so that you may play them with the basic melody notes or with chords. Begin simply, and then add variety with chords as you learn the tunes and increase your skill level. Songs included: Loch Lomond; Britches Full of Stitches; Slane (Be Thou My Vision); The Lord's My Shepherd; Eamonn an Chnuic (Ned of the Hill).

Christmas Songs, Volume I. Learn to play some of your favorite Christimas tunes. This workshop includes two versions of Silent Night -- one an easier version and the other a more challenging fingerpicking arrangement. The arrangements can be played together for a duet with a friend. Also included are: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Jingle Bells; an Appalachian folk ballad, The Cherry Tree Carol.

Christmas Songs, Volume II. Learn to play some of your favorite Christimas tunes. This workshop includes: The Holly and the Ivy; Angels We Have Heard on High; What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)(Key of Em); and The Twelve Days of Christmas. All songs are in the tuning D-A-D.

Christmas Songs, Volume III. This volume contains four holiday favorites: Christmas is Coming, Pat-a-Pan (Key of Em using capo in D-A-D), Upon the Housetop, Little Drummer Boy. All songs in D-A-D.

Fiddle Tunes. This workshop re-enforces strumming and rhythm techniques while increasing your repertoire. All arrangements are for the tuning DGD to provide you with a selection of songs in the key of G. The tunes selected are commonly played by fiddlers in the key of G. Tunes included: Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss, Barlow Knife, The Girl I Left Behind Me, Dandy Lusk.

Hymns. The hymns for this workshop should be familiar to all, with one exception. As always, I try to spread the traditional sounds of the mountain dulcimer and have included one traditional mountain hymn played in the tuning DAA -- Where the Sun Will Never Go Down. It is an easy song to play and fun to learn. Also included (in the tuning DAD) are The Doxology (Old 100th) played in the keys of D and G in one arrangement; We Gather Together; and Were You There?

Using Chords on the Mountain Dulcimer. The material for this class includes identifying and naming notes in the scales and on your fretboard, chord and key conversion chart, naming chords, building chords, finding chords by shape. There is no CD to accompany the written materials. The materials can be purchased for $10, plus $2.00 shipping.

Old Time Music. Songs included in this series are Soldier's Joy, Rosin the Beau, Mississippi Sawyer, and Angelina Baker. All tunes are in the D-A-D tuning.

ORDER DULCIMER CDs: Several CDs featuring dulcimer music are available. Choose from Lark in the Twilight by Larkin Kelley Bryant, Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Vols. 1 & 2 by various artists. All CDs are $15 (plus $3 postage).

Lark in the Twilight includes Le Chat Blanc, The High Road to Gareloch/The Nameless Jig, The Mary Suite: Mary Hamilton/Lady Mary, Song for Polly, Scarborough Fair, Skewbald/Lovely Joan, Cradle Song/Farewell, Le Chat Blanc Avec Les Quatres Petit Chats, Green Rocky Road, Wondrous Love, The Back O' Bennachie/The Duck, Geordie, The Winding Banks of Erne, Banks and Braes of Bonnie Doon, La Belle de Charenton, Lark in the Twilight, Deep Like a River.

Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer --

Vol.1: Muddy River Suite (Lorraine Lee Hammond), Resignation/Goin'to Boston (Jean Ritchie), Song for Polly (Larkin Kelley Bryant), Gypsy Wind (Gary Gallier), Drink to me Only with Thine Eyes/Give Me Your Hand (Lois Hornbostel), The Extra Drops of Brandy (Leo Kretzner), Droning Mrs. Gobier/Old Christmas for Dulcimer (Margaret MacArthur), Misty Mountain Morning/Amazing Grace (Susan Trump), The Humours of Glenridge (Wayne Seymour), Time After Time (David Schnaufer), Stormy Weather (Janita Baker), Don't Get Around MUch Anymore (Rob Brereton), bonaparte Crossing the Rhine (Tull Glazner), Liza Jane (Betty Smith), Emma's Song (Bill Taylor), Greensleeves/Scarborough Fair (Sue Carpenter), Canarios (Neal Hellman), Soor Plooms (Mike Casey), Si Beg Si Mor (Mark Nelson).

Vol. 2: Romp of the Canyon Kitties (Ruth Barrett and Cyntia Smith), Elk River Blues (David Schnaufer and Steve Seifert), McFarlane's Lament (Mike Casey), Jeff Davis/Run Boy Run (Karen Mueller), Hard Times/Jeannie/ Kentucky Home (Stephen K. Smith), Leaving the Methow (Heidi Muller), Panis Angelicus (John Blosser), Liza Jane/Boil Them Cabbage Down/Soldiers Joy (Jerry Rockwell), Mozart's Kontretanz (Larry Conger), Noel New-Velvet (Steve Eulberg), Heartbeat (Susan Trump), In the Bleak Midwinter/Spring's Promise (Dan Evans), Speed of the Plow (Don Pedi), Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho (Hollis Landrum), Coleen's Waltz (Neal Waters), Wellyn (Robert Force and Albert d'Ossche), Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Shelly Stevens).