Progress

[Lottie Beckwith]

Hello everyone, I apologise for the lapse- this time there isn't really an excuse but I'm pleased to say I have come a long way with playing my dulcimer, I can sing with it now which makes me so happy. I've successfully uploaded an audio clip onto my page of me singing and playing, not quite brave enough to do a video yet. 

I have found playing with someone else (who has a good sense of time) has really improved my strumming. and it's wonderful to be able to play with my husband  

I am still only playing with a few fingers, just fretting the top two strings. 

hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.

[Robin Thompson]

Lottie, you're doing great!  (It's hard to play and sing-- I can't really do it!)  And the picture of you and your beloved (holding his cool autoharp) just brings a smile to my face on this cloudy day. 

[Ken Hulme]

Great first attempt!  Keep up the good work.  If you're having problems with tempo, a metronome (not a Metro Gnome) can help.  You can even find tablet and phone apps that are electronic metronomes. 

[Lottie Beckwith]

Thank you for your kindness! it took a bit of courage to put my singing up there 

I used a Berringer microphone, and the software was Audacity, I didn't do a lot to the song except amplify it a little because I don't sing very loudly.

The tab I used for Wayfaring Stranger didn't have the time/speed written down so I had to work it out for myself, but in some ways that was easier because it became natural to my way of playing. And when you mess about with speed you can make old traditional hymns sound all bluesgrass, I have been fiddling with "The unclouded day", I'll do a video for you when the new camera arrives, it's so much fun to play. xx

[10ashus]

Lottie, you did a lovely rendition of Wayfaring Stranger on your audio. Your progress is excellent. I sincerely hope that you will do more audio and video files to catalog your progress and to inspire other beginners.

Did you use any special equipment or software to record your audio files?

I also struggle with keeping the time. I have read about the notes and the counts. I understand the math in my head, but it has not reached my tapping foot nor my strumming hand...yet.