"It's my job to make your brain hurt."

I actually did say this to one of my students the other day, and it got such a great response (a good laugh) I've repeated it throughout the week. Believe me, there has been reason to repeat it. I have witnessed serious looks of concentration on the faces of my students. You see, I've been pushing the chord thing and I'm sure many of my students will be convinced that these words were meant especially for them.

But I am convinced that understanding a little chord theory and recognizing chord patterns (root position and inversions) on the instrument is essential to mastery of the instrument. Everything from learning and memorizing a basic tune, to filling out and arranging said tune, to playing effective backup benefits - nay, depends on this knowledge.

So go ahead, stretch your brain ... even when it hurts!

CTO ... Dulcimer Day on the Mountain 2013

What a hard-working group! Chord patterns - inside, outside, upside down. I think that's how it felt at times. But here we are in the middle of the afternoon with smiles on our faces.

Check This Out ... Last Saturday, 14 experienced hammered dulcimer players came together to spend the day practicing back-up strategies. We were stuck in 'reel' time all day, but nobody seemed to mind. Bass lines, various rhythmic patterns, chord inversions, snippets of harmony ... I just kept bringing it on and they soaked it up!

At one point, we had fun backing up Cindy Ribet's band using her recording, The Slow Zone, which includes 8 fiddle tunes played at a slower than usual tempo for practicing lead or backup. Check out her web site, or see her in person next month at the Winston Salem Dulcimer Festival May 3 - 4. She'll be teaching a couple of repertoire classes ... "Old Time Tunes" and the popular Christmas tune, Sleigh Ride. Hope to see you all there!

"Mwa, mwa, mwa, mwa ..."

One of my beginning students was in for a lesson today. She is in the early stages of learning root arpeggio patterns. She has practiced and has had some success in playing the "go to" left hand pattern, widely known as the shed pattern. Today, we tackled the "go to" right hand pattern. I call it the backwards checkmark because that's what it looks like to me and I've never heard a better name for it. Do these funny names mean anything to you?

I could tell she was on information overload. Her eyes were glazing over. Then she laughed, and said my voice sounded just like the teacher in the Charlie Brown specials! In case you can't remember what that sounds like, listen to this 14 second clip:  Charlie Brown's teacher's voice

I understand what she's going through. Chords, arpeggios, duplicated notes. Add to that the fact that sometimes you must reach down the instrument to strike a note that goes up in pitch! It's enough to make a person's brain explode. Just give me a good ol' melody line!

Mwa mwa mwas mwa .... But, wait! Hang in there!! The time spent working on chords, arpeggios, inversions, etc is time well spent. In fact, it's necessary if mastery of the instrument is your goal. Believe it. Do it!

• Get the big picture. Chord patterns are next to and on top of each other all over the instrument. Learn how to find them. Take a workshop. Find a teacher. Read a book. 
• Bite off a little at a time. Start simple. Apply ideas to tunes you've been playing for awhile. Learn about chord theory. Play backup to tunes you know using the chord progression as a road map.
• Add complexity. Learn about chord inversions, 7 chords,  interesting rhythms. Remind yourself of the big picture. Try more ideas in meaningful tune settings. 
• Keep at it. One day, you, too, will be fluent in Charlie Brown teacher talk!

PS .... Do you have a better name for the Right Hand root arpeggio pattern?... the one I call "backwards checkmark"? I'd love to hear what it is! Comment below ...

CTO ... Need help figuring out how to play back-up?

There’s nothing magic about playing back-up. It must be practiced! Jam sessions have a spontaneous feel, but you can be sure that those who appear to be playing with abandon have spent plenty of time honing their chops. If there’s a session tune you love, work out a back-up plan so you’re ready to spring into action!

The thrill of knowing a tune that’s being played in a group setting can quickly turn to boredom after you’ve played it through the umpteen^th time.  What to do?

• Know the tune
• Know the chord progression
• Know how to play chord patterns
• Know the rhythm of different types of tunes
• Work out your ideas and practice them
• Have fun!

Check This Out ... Don't know where to start? Need some guidance? I'm teaching a two-hour workshop for advanced beginners this Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4pm in Cary. We'll be playing chord and scale patterns in a variety of rhythms to develop back-up ideas for a couple of familiar tunes. Come play with us!

Sue Wilson, teaching at the monthly HD Slow Jam
January 13, 2:00 - 4:00pm
Topic: Playing Back-up, Level of Play: Advanced Beginners
Registration fee:  $25
Community of Christ Church, 912 W Chatham St, Cary
For information or to register for the workshop contact Viola