Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yellowbelly Flatt on May 6, 2011 at 10:17pm

Hi Mal,

 

I've built a couple of these instruments and I find them fascinating. Excellent tools for many musical styles but I use them for folk style stuff. Great with an effects pedal.

 

If you can't find tutorials on t'net or utube, try having a look at the dulcimer websites. A dulcimer (mountain dulcimer) is a similar type of instrument and could be described as a lap strummer. On your 3 string razor I guess the tune is played on the top string with the other strings being tuned as drones. The dulcimer is the opposite way round with the melody string being the "bottom" string.

 

It's also possible to play chords as in yout 3 strong cigar box guitar.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 6, 2011 at 10:36pm

Hi Mal - the principle is the same as with a mountain dulcimer except it's a guitar not a lap instrument and you can't really go wrong playng it.  I bought chord books and tutorials but found the best way was just tinkering with it.  You can find chord charts on the internet - here's one http://www.sksmithmusic.com/virtual_classroom/basic_chords.html - have fun!

Permalink Reply by D.C. Mansfield on May 8, 2011 at 7:04am

  Sorry if this is really thick of me.....

  All this talk of Dulcimers etc, how is this one different form a 3 string CBG?  Is it to do with the scale or something?

  I don't get it.

  Apologies in advance,

Duncan.

 

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 8, 2011 at 7:58am

Hi - a strumstick probably has the same scale and fretting as a mountain dulcimer rather than being fretted like a normal guitar so there are no flats and sharps (apart from maybe the  6 1/2). That's the only difference.

D.C. Mansfield said:

  Sorry if this is really thick of me.....

  All this talk of Dulcimers etc, how is this one different form a 3 string CBG?  Is it to do with the scale or something?

  I don't get it.

  Apologies in advance,

Duncan.

 

Permalink Reply by Sean Laffey on May 8, 2011 at 8:08am

It's the fret spacing. You have an instrument that plays  Do Re Mi,  that's how they make Mountain Duliccmer fret boards ( called Diatonic tuning, look it up).

 

Browse some of the Dulcimer sites, tuning is often DGd  or DAd (depends on the length of the instrument and the strings you use).

 

Play melody on the two high  strings and add a drone on the lowest string

 

Permalink Reply by Sean Laffey on May 8, 2011 at 8:16am

Here's one I made earlier...

Not sure if these facebook linls work. try this:

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1057649540923&set=a.1025...

 

I built the kneck out of a garden umbrella, glued  the struts together, it was nice solid tropical hardwood.

 

Projects this week include rebuilding a cheap Japanese guitar me and the kids found at the local recycling centre.

Permalink Reply by Sherb on May 13, 2011 at 9:30pm

I'm keen on these things as well very Quirky but fun . There is as much info as you can shake a (Strum)stick at on http://strumstick.com/ do a search  on Google for strumsticks and you will find loads of tutorials and music.