Spring Dulcimer Week mini-course
Guitar from Scratch: Especially for Dulcimists
John Rossbach

This class is for anyone who wants to get started on the guitar. No experience is required. However, I encourage all hammered dulcimer players to take this class and take up the guitar! Novice, beginner and even some intermediate level players all will benefit from this class even if they think they know enough already. You don’t need to know how to read music or tablature.

The most common accompanying instrument for the hammered dulcimer is the guitar. Even if you don’t become a performance level guitarist, learning the basics will make you a more effective musician. Learning the basics on the guitar will certainly make you a better dulcimist. (OK, I made the word up…) If you are able to recognize basic chord forms on the guitar—even only if to visualize the left hand finger formations that your accompanist employs—you will gain a fuller understanding the underlying foundation and the overall structure of whatever piece you are playing.

1. Good back-up rhythm guitarists are always in demand.
2. Multi-instrumentalists communicate more effectively in a jam or a band
3. If you are hammered dulcimer player who is also a good backup guitarist, you will endear yourself to master level dulcimists and be able to learn firsthand from them.

At the first session, I will evaluate the playing condition of the instrument you bring in and suggest any set-up changes required for ease of playing and proper intonation. There are several good guitar set-up technicians in the area. I can do some of the basics for you, as well. Traditional American musicians generally prefer a flat top guitar with steel strings. There are acceptable variations, but the nylon strung classical guitar doesn’t fit the genre well for a number of reasons. If that’s all you’ve got, then we can get you started with it, but you’ll soon need a different guitar if you want to stick with any traditional American folk music styles.

We will start out the first evening reviewing the basic tools of the trade: tuners; capos; straps; strings; picks, & axes. Bring any such items you own to class.

If you have a portable recording device, you should bring it along with a notebook pad and a pencil. If you already own any guitar instructional books, please bring them to class. Otherwise, all you need to bring is a properly set-up and playable guitar, a pick, a willing heart, and an open mind.

Musically Yours,

John Rossbach
john@johnrossbach.com

P.S. Please contact me with any questions you might have before Spring Dulcimer Week gets underway.