As more and more players act on their "damper lust" - purchasing new instruments with dampers or retrofitting old instruments - there are more and more questions about how to use them. I certainly am not the expert. No dampers at my house (yet)! I must rely on the experience of others. As I hear tips and advice from players in the wider dulcimer world I will pass them on here.
In a blogpost dated 11/13/13, I shared a couple of tips that MaryLynn learned from Maggie Sansone in a workshop last fall. Continuing this line of
thought, I'd like to pass on this Q & A that appeared on the HD listserv on 3/7/14. (Want to know more about the HD listserv? See below.) Thanks to Kathy and Ken Kolodner who have graciously given me permission to reprint an edited version of their original discussion. I invite you to share any wisdom that YOU may have on this topic by leaving a comment below!
Kathy's question:
After
playing many many years without dampers, I just got them added to my dulcimer. I'm looking forward to incorporating their use in some fun ways, but finding it is
not quite as intuitive as expected.
First the
physical mechanics. I always stand when playing...with weight over both feet
and my right foot free to tap. I am finding that when I extend my right foot
out to use the damper I am teetering standing on one foot, and that I need to
move over to the left more than I would like and closer to the dulcimer in
order to get my right foot out and forward on the pedal which is centered under
the dulcimer. Normally when standing I move around as needed if I am playing on
different areas of the dulcimer to keep the playing fluid. To press the pedal I
seem to have to move to an awkward place close to my dulcimer...and I need my
whole foot to press it down. I can't leave my heel on the ground for balance
or I don't have enough weight to push the pedal down. Just seems like an
awkward angle to press the pedal.
I am
realizing how much I rely on tapping my foot... even just a little… which
obviously I can't do with a foot pushing down on a pedal. The music flow feels
a little disrupted when I have to stop and start tapping my foot.
Perhaps
there are other ideas to think about that would help? Karen Ashbrook has
talked about some different pedal designs that might make a difference and I
will go there and try hers out soon I hope. Any thoughts on the particular
pedals you all use?
Any
thoughts and ideas of when and how you use your dampers musically? The obvious
uses I think of are in playing a rhythmic vamp as backup, or playing once
through a tune section with dampers for variety...(particularly a faster and
low note tune?). Then also for a dramatic stop...or just to stop ringing notes
that are muddy or key change or something. But I see some folks using them
throughout their playing (Dan Landrum for one). Any thoughts in general on the
how and when of their use?
Perhaps
it is all just a matter of getting used to new positions and movements and
playing with them over time, but still always interesting to hear thoughts from
those that have experience!
Ken's response:
I started
using dampers in the mid-1980's. I still have the instrument, one of Sam
Rizzetta's first instruments with dampers (originally built for John McCutcheon
as a compact). I'll address a couple of your issues.
Where to
stand and damper placement: I pull the damper out a bit from under the
instrument so I don't have to search for it with my foot. Also make sure that
you don't put the damper up too high so that it might flip over. I pull it
slightly to the left (I stand on my right and dampened with the left but it
doesn't matter which foot you use). And I definitely still stand back from
the instrument so that I am not hovering over the instrument – that way I can
easily grab the lower notes. I rest my heel so I am not standing on one leg.
The weight of your leg should do the job. You really hardly have to press down
to engage the dampers.
Tapping:
I am a foot tapper as well. I don't have to tap to play but I do like to
move a bit. However, I still tap with the damper foot even when I am on
the damper - maybe not too vigorously but a gentle tap still works fine without
affecting the dampers. And I also do pulse the dampers slightly sometimes.
Pedal
design: I am using the Dusty Strings model but have used a bunch of different
ones. Once I showed up at a concert and had left the damper at home - I made a
damper with a board. It worked fine. What are you using? If it is small,
really light weight or flips easily that is not
good.
Uses: As
you say, there are players that use it extensively (Dan). When
playing in an ensemble, I use it way more than when I play solo because
I play very differently with the damper. My main uses are for
"stops," to accentuate something percussive that I am doing,
and when doing vamps. Some examples:
Playing
solo Columbito Tecumano, a South American tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFfNgSzfZAY - the placement of the damper
is all wrong here as I actually had to kick the damper closer to me because it was
too far under the instrument (I learned not to do this after that
performance!!) - note that my heal is off the ground - not good!
By the
way, I found a version of this tune on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu3LllVmU3s performing with Chris Norman,
Robin Bullock and the Camerata Bariloche, one of the finest orchestras in South
America. It is just the audio but it is pretty cool!! The orchestra comes in
after about a minute.
Playing
Reuben's Train with my son, always on the dampers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9WnYn3thbs You can't see the damper
placement here but I can tell that it is placed out from underneath the HD,
based on where I am standing - and I am indeed tapping my left foot.
Poke around on youtube and you will see all sorts of ways to use the dampers!
Poke around on youtube and you will see all sorts of ways to use the dampers!
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