Bowed Dulcimer Basics

[@pakasit1812]

Ken, This video is a great contribution to all people who love such unique instrument. Very kind of you. Great job!!!!!

[@clawhammer704]

I met Ken at Mt. Airy Fiddlers convention around 18 years ago at a friends camp site. First time I ever saw or heard of this instrument being bowed. We played some tunes together. Him on this instrument and me on the fiddle. He is very good musician and a nice person.

[@sarahspector5294]

Such a beautiful instrument.

[@isabelbeckerman9226]

What a beautiful instrument you have, Ken😍. I wish you could perform a medieval song to watch and enjoy how you master it engagingly. Your instructional upload would dearly assist those who'd want to learn the know-how of playing the dulcimer professionally🥰.

[@sarahspector5294]

Gorgeous instrument

[@kryscall4544]

you are a great teacher!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I've played my Sitar w/ a Cello bow so I'm good to go with this.

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

Thank you for sharing!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I think using a strap will make it easier to hold, plus you can also play standing up.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

You can use a CodaBow Joule for Cello cause it's the heaviest bow.

[@bearshield7138]

thank you

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I love this Dulcimer. Can you please make me a 6 String Pocket Cello? It has frets, & a Pickup, and is tuned F, C, G, D, A, E (D'addario NS Cello Strings plus High E & Low F).

[@BadPennyDogBoy]

Excellent video Ken! Thanks. I build and play a lap dulcimers and am prompted by your work to build a bowed dulcimer. Can you tell me what strings you use? What would you recommend from your experience ?

[@alanfbrookes9771]

All you need to do is round the bridge slightly, so that you can get to the middle strings with the bow. You can play any regular dulcimer with a bow, from the normal position above.

[@kenbloom1]

For my instruments I use a .013" and a .018" for the two higher strings and a cello D string for the low one.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I'm a Multi-Instrumentalist & I wanted you to make me a new instrument called "6 String Pocket Corba Cello" which is tuned like a Wood Violins 6 String Cobra Cello (F1, C2, G2, D3, A3, E4), has machine heads, & a Pickup. Why not the "9 String Pardessus"? It's a 9 String Violin (Eb1, Bb1, F2, C3, G3, D4, A4, E5, A5, via Sensicore Violin Strings plus Low C, Low F, Low Bb, Low Eb, & High A from Electronic Violin Shop), shaped like a Dulcimer held vertically.

[@jantodd9962]

great video, I'm hooked - can I buy a bowed dulcimer in the UK?

[@kenbloom1]

I have shipped several instruments to the UK and other places around ther world with no problem.

[@rbentrdr]

Well, now I know what my problem has been, Ken. I didn't have the bowed dulcimer secret handshake down!!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Playing behind the frets?

[@RM-rx5ov]

Just curious . . . is that a cello bridge? Violin? Viola?

[@magaretramage6446]

thought you were bringing out an introductory dvd Ken

[@kenbloom1]

I have a DVD which is not strictly a teaching method as much as addressing different topics of technique for bowed dulcimer players. It is help to those who can't attend any of the pevents where I have been teaching.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 I love this Dulcimer. I contacted you to make a whole new model called the "Pocket 6 String Cello" which has 6 Strings tuned like a 6 String Cello (F, C, D, A, E via D'addario NS Design Cello Strings plus High E & Low F), plus it has a Pickup so I can use my amplifier, & it'll have frets so that I can see where the notes are.

[@kenbloom1]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 I could certainly make a six string Pocket Cello but you would have to know that the shallow arc of the bridge would make bowing more challenging. Also, the winding on the high E string is very thin and is worn through rather easily with frets. That's why I use a plain steel string for that pitch.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 Not to worry the curvature will be just right to where I can bow one string acuratly. If Wood Violins can make a good 6 String Cello bridge, you can do it too. I know how to get around all 6 Strings (Cello Order and tuning F1, C2, G2, D3, A3, E4 via D'addario NS Design Cello Strings Plus High E & Low F), & having frets will certanily help with finding all the notes cause I've played the Wood Violins Cobra 6 String Fretted Cello. The Pickup will really allow me to record with it (don't forget strap pegs and geared tuning machines so I can tune it up). The D'addario NS Design Cello High E String is Flatwound, & it never wore down the frets on my Wood Violins Cobra Cello, so it might also work on the 6 String Pocket Cello Fretted Bowed Dulcimer. Let me know when my new 6 String Pocket Cello Bowed Dulcimer (with Fully Chromatic Frets, Strap Pegs, Strings in Cello Order, Pickup, & Case) are ready to come to me at 2486 Govoners Drive South Jacksonville Florida 32223, cause this is my first time with a Bowed Dulcimer. Name is Oscar Stern. Happy Safe New Year & #StayHealthy.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 Strings for Orchestral Bowed Instruments are Generally Flatwound because 1) they respond to the bow more easily, & 2) they don't wear down the fingerboard (or fretboard if you think fretted bowed instruments).

[@michaelanderson858]

It's basically an Appalachian sarangi.

[@sharonfidler2576]

How is this like and different from viola da gamba? Are they related? Do bowed dulcimers come in different sizes?

[@kenbloom1]

Similar to a gamba in that it is bowed, has frets and a flat back. Different in that the BD does not use guy strings and doesn't cost thousands of dollars.

[@lawsonwebster1988]

Hi I am a cellist who is interested in this instrument. Any information on where to purchase it would be helpful. Also I have seen some with three strings.... any clarification is highly valued. Thanks!!

[@harrybolick]

Lawson Webster boweddulcimer.org/contact

[@kenbloom1]

I began making these using a simple dulcimer setup and the same three strings. People began asking for variations. My favorite now is a four string, adding a low G string to the original three. I also make Pocket Cellos which are bowed dulicmers with a cello fingerboard and stringing. This has become my most popular instrument and I regularly make them to order.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 How about the new 6 String Pocket Cello? It's tuned F, C, G, D, A, E (D'addario NS Cello Strings plus High E & Low F), has a Pickup so I can use an amplifier, plus it has frets so I can see where the notes are. Lots of instrument companies should make Bowed Dulcimers because they're so cool.

[@CharlieWalden]

I think these things are illegal in 28 states and several Canadian provinces.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

That has to change cause it's really cool.

[@kenbloom1]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 all legislative restrictions have been repealed

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 Bowed Dulcimer are super cool. Haven't you tried a Bowed Dulcijo? A Dulcijo is a Dulcimer with a Banjo head to give you a Banjo sound.

[@kenbloom1]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 Neveer had a request for one. That would really be like of the North Aftrican rebabs.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 A Bowed Dulcijo would essentially be a Contemporary Rebab. A 6 String Pocket Cello Bowed Dulcijo would be rather interesting.

[@dodgethis3500]

The bowed dulcimer has such a unique sound. Where do you live though, it's so pretty?

[@kenbloom1]

I live and work in North Carolina. If you need more information about the instrument and its variations just e-mail me. [e-mail].

[@jasonsummit1885]

Just wondering if you knew my great uncle Edd Presnell, he was a dulcimer maker and woodworker in Boone, North Carolina.

[@kenbloom1]

@@jasonsummit1885 I didn't know him well at all but I did meet him a number of times and had some wonderfrul conversations with him.

[@NtaGot]

it sounds like a cretan lyra. maybe its the shape that makes those instruments similar

[@alanfbrookes9771]

You have a chromatically-fretted dulcimer there, and you're playing it like a 'cello. I've played bowed dulcimer since the sixties, but I have regular diatonic dulcimers, and I play them across my knees in the normal way for a dulcimer. People have been bowing the dulcimer like that for as long as dulcimers have existed, and it goes right back to the board zithers of Europe. If anyone wants to play a regular dulcimer with a bow it's necessary to round the bridge slightly, or you won't be able to bow the middle strings. Of course, you also need to rosin the strings.

[@kenbloom1]

Thanks for the comment, Alan. If you want to see a few historical bowed dulcimers look in the L. Allen Smith book. There is documentation of the dulicmer being bowed in at least three different positions including the way I do it. Upright is just more comfortable for me.

[@clawhammer704]

Iv always rosin the bow hair and not the strings for the violin.

[@fentonjames]

why aren't the frets spaced like a dulcimer?

[@StrummerDrum]

dulcimer are usually diatonic (think piano missing black keys) This is chromatic (has sharps and flats)

[@kenbloom1]

When I first started building them I did space the frets like a lap dulcimer. I needed more notes for what I wanted to play and all my spare time at festivals was taken up adding frets to other people's instrument. I finally just went to making them all chromatic unless someone asked for a diatonic instrument.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@kenbloom1 I think having them Chromatic makes it more appropriate.

[@mommywisey]

my name is jessica wise and i play the cello!

[@cekevilon]

how much this instrument?

[@harrybolick]

Please contact Ken Bloom" at: [e-mail]

[@kittyplays2324]

I play cello 🥴