Very nice comparison of the two instruments. As designer of the Strumstick I’d like to add a few details to help people choose. • The “Extra Fret”: The flatted seventh fret is a very useful feature for several reasons. One is the usefulness of the flatted seventh in a bunch of songs. Another benefit is you can also play in key of G (without retuning) because that extra fret provides the “C“ note For Key of G. It also allows a C chord when in key of D, needed in a fair number of songs (think the outro for Hey Jude for example). We do not find the presence of the extra fret to be a hinderance for beginners, who do most of their playing in the lower frets, at the beginning. • Three Strings: I deliberately chose not to make a four string with doubled high d. The doubled “dd” strings is a carryover from dulcimer, where the melody was traditionally played only on those strings with the others being background, and gave more weight to the melody. But the double strings are somewhat harder on beginner fingers, and more importantly, I wanted more equal volume from string to string, knowing that chords and melody on all strings awaited beginners as they progressed to intermediate stages. • Number of Frets: The Strumstick has a 2 1/2 octave musical range. That means that not only to more songs fit (without an octave jump), but you can often play lower and higher versions of a melody, one low voiced or high voiced chords. The number of frets also means that you can capo up as high as the 4th fret and still have a useful number of frets available. Note that capoing changes scale types as well as raising pitch. • The Floating Bridge: first, VERY IMPORTANT, there are two marks on the top that indicate the proper position of the bridge for the DAD tuning, should the bridge get moved (which rarely occurs). Musically, the floating bridge allows the scale intonation to be corrected for other tunings. The D can tune up to E (EBE) or to F (FCF), or down to C (CGC), B, or A. The A tuning is a little low for the body, but is usable. The Floating Bridge allows you to adjust the intonation correctly for any of those tunings, moving it further from the end of the fingerboard first lower tunings and closer for higher ones. Return to the index marks for DAD • Length of Strings: to get DAD from shorter strings, they have to be thicker in diameter. Longer thin strings have clearer overtones at a given pitch than shorter thicker ones. This is subtle, and a matter of taste, but I chose our D scale length to optimize the tone from the body size. For smaller hands, we make a shorter scale length version. • All in all, all of these Design decisions I have mentioned we’re chosen to extend the musical versatility of the Strumstick beyond being a simple beginner instrument, but without Impacting how easy it is.
BOB!! Thanks so much for chiming in and filling out my explanations! Hopefully this helps answer even more (unasked and asked) questions here. It gives plenty of room for thought as well. I love how much care you put into the design of the instrument. Regarding strings, do you sell (or have recommendations) strings for different tunings? Say if someone wanted to go all the way to G, have you found that to be feasible on a Grand Strumstick with different strings, or is it simply reaching too far, so to speak (hence the G Strumsticks)? And thank you for elaborating on the 6.5 (flat 7) fret. My first exposure to the dulcimer world was actually through the door of the Woodrows, which generally do not have that fret. I wasn't even aware there were other such instruments until years later. For all those interested in even more details about the Strumsticks, especially tips on items like intonation and floating bridges, make sure to check out his channel: ruclips.net/channel/UCwjb6wPUpGLE0iv2wHe46dg He is, after all, the inventor of the Strumstick (and other instruments), so he's the true source on all of this!
Just bought two strumstiks from Helen and Jim. Thanks for a great instrument Bob. I’ve never played in my life and finally feel like I can create music. Means a lot. A whole lot. Thank you.
The floating bridge is quite popular on cigar box guitars, like my three string one made for open G, d, g. It could use different tunings and different strings, and the owner can adjust the bridge for good intonation for these changes. Even I can do this!
@bobomcnally These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries. 'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings. While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one. There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will... Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept. What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar. All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length. Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos. The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'. Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
Post script: I just turned my Merlin up to EBE. World of difference. Try it. Great review AND comments. I own both. I also have a G Strumstick I keep in my truck. It's sound is mandolin-ish, whereas the D is banjo-ish. The G is my favorite for the fret spacing. The flatted 7th enables Scots bagpipe tunes. With the Merlin, pressing down too hard throws chords out of tune, at least to my ear. Also, mine seems to like A440 better than A332. Both of these are wonderful instruments.
Yeah, man, that's what I was going to suggest on the Merlin (more like D# actually but same idea). Increases the string tension and keeps that accidental bending/tuning issues lower. When replacing strings, if you want that, look at upping the string gauges a bit to correct for it, but getting back to DAD (if you want that). Feel free to email to hey@heyinglewood.com if you want some more tips on that part.
I was so torn between the Roosebeck and other strum sticks because of more notes but what made me get the merlin was the way it sounds. It doesn't sound like a banjo which the strumsticks sound more like. And for those who are into early instruments... The merlin seagull's design looks like a medieval Citole.
These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries. 'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings. While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one. There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will... Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept. What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar. All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length. Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos. The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'. Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
@@ButchRoss a lot of intense research. You won't find many historical examples of either instrument manufactured before the folk music revival of the 1960's. I believe there are only 3 known examples of the walkin' dulcimer, and only one historic source that refers to the manufacturer of one of the three known walkin dulcimers as someone who make 'walking dulcimers'. There are quite literally just an hourglass dulcimer with half of the hourglass shape missing so as to allow somebody's hand to wrap fully around the fretboard, so it can be played standing up. One of the examples actually looks to be a regular lap dulcimer that was cut-up so it could become a walkabout dulcimer. As for the one-string pickin' stick, something i neglected to mention was that they were most likely easy-to-make children's toys, and also an educational tool to teach children about the diatonic frets, so that they could learn songs before moving up to a real lap dulcimer. They could be played either in the lap the same way as a lap dulcimer, or standing up. Another theory was that they were bowed, or could be played bowed, and were thus referred to as 'hog fiddles'; although usually 'hog fiddle' just means a regular mountain dulcimer that is played with a bow. you can play a canjo with a bow to replicate this. No historic (more than 100 years old) examples of pickin' sticks are currently known to still exist, rather than re-creations based off of passed-down mountain lore.
These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries. 'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings. While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one. There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will... Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept. What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar. All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length. Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos. The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'. Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
Sorry wanted to pause, Yes they are tuned to DAd (Mcnally) and DAdd (Seagull) But each attack so differently, Sound wise because if the smaller hole, youll end up with a banjo like sound outta one string but if you strum all of em in a chord it still sounds like a banjo, but a banjo with more treble. The Seagul has a bigger body and fills out waaaaaaaaaayyyyy more but it doesnt havnt the foreground presence like a Mcnally. But im telling you bottem line that "dd" makes the Seagull much more of a lead and the Mcnally a Rythym. Also dont worry about the extra frets on the Mcnally, Notation is still the same as a Seagull, Theyre both Diatonic instruments Oh the Mcnally that is in D is called the "Grandstrumstick" the smaller one is in G i believe
neither sounds like a banjo imo. both are played by strumming, which is a completely different play style to banjo, which is clawhammer or finger-pickin' style...
Thank You, …..I feel not all chromatic fret boards are guitars, …therefore not all diatonic fret boards are dulcimers. I have a lot of diatonic fret instruments. I am currently making a diatonic Mandocello ….not a stick dulcimer, it’s a matter of expanded perspective.
I was torn between the two when I was looking at stick dulcimers. I love the sound of the Merlins bigger body but like the 6.5/flat 7th and octave and a half range of the strumstick because a lot of American and Irish folk songs in D are actually D mixolydian and more range never hurt anything. I went with the Merlin because it's way cheaper and I plan on adding the 6.5 feet myself, or just taking it somewhere and having someone do it for very little money. Looking back, strumstick is probably more up my alley but I just wanted the sound of the Merlin so bad, especially with the High D course instead of a single string. If your really looking to spend money on a nice stick dulcimer I suggest the Roosebeck stick dulcimers. A lot more money but they are handmade and have 2 octaves of range, paired high string, AND the 6.5 frets in both octaves. They're amazing instruments but also a few hundred bucks. Guess I'm saving up! I should also note that the bridge on my M4 Merlin isn't glued. It actually just has two pegs that rest in holes in the soundboard. The bridge just fell off when I was changing the strings and there was no evidence of any glue that failed.
Great report! I’ve not seen a Roosebeck in real life, just on Amazon. Glad you like them. If you have cash to throw around I recommend considering the Woodrow (out of Asheville NC).
@@HeyInglewood Oh yeah, I know the Woodrow. They are indeed pricey. Actually, I'm using Woodrow strings on my Merlin right now because I couldn't get a new pair of the original strings. And their working just fine. I believe the gauges are the same except for the two high d strings.
Has anyone ever heard or played a dulcimer stick with tunning like the Russian folk instrument balalaika? I think it has EEA for “Prima” type, and AAD for “Segunda” and also EEA for “Alto”.
OOooo, that sounds fascinating, but no I have not tried that. I don't know how the balalaika is fretted, but you could string / tune a stick dulcimer guitar to those tunings with relative ease. Keep me posted on what you learn and try!
Thanks, I have the Merlin and want to learn to play Irish Celtic Music - jigs and reels. I'm an absolute beginner. I do play ukulele and basic guitar songs - mainly struming. I've ordered some merlin song books for Irish music, but there is no sound track or backing tracks. What do you suggest?
Lots of suggestions and thoughts, some easier than others, I suppose. Two off top of my head: Look up a few on RUclips that are just any old band playing and see if it's recorded in D (so the Merlin will match). Might be hard to figure that part out, but you could just strum the Merlin open along with the start of the songs and see if it sounds right. Assuming your phone has a recorder on it (video or audio) you could record yourself playing a simple rhythm part with just open strings and barre chords across all of the strings (1-finger style). Just play all down strums as the rhythm so you always know where you are in the song. Hopefully the books you've got have the chords in them as well as melodies. Doing it this way you can set the speed you want to practice at by how fast you originally played the chords. Hope that helps! Let me know what's working, what's not, where I can help further. Feel free to email also. (And if you've not, please SUBSCRIBE to the channel :-)
I suspect that there's another difference that you don't mention, but which your video nonetheless shows quite clearly: As a Strumstick owner, I love it but I can attest that due to the heavy neck and small body, the balance makes it difficult to hold and play without a strap. Specifically, it's harder to slide the left hand up and down the neck since it's also holding up the weight of the instrument. This problem disappears once you have a strap. I've not actually held a Merlin but it seems you have no trouble just picking it up and playing it, in your video. I'm assuming that's due to the balance being closer to other small string instruments (like a 'uke). Again, not meant as a criticism of the Strumstick - I love mine, especially due to the larger range and flat-seventh. (If anything, I wish it also had a 1.5 fret so I could get flat-7 on the middle string in the low frets.) I suspect the smaller range of the Merlin would bother me. In any case, thanks for this video and good luck with your own instrument design.
Many thanks, and also completely right @frixy ... I absolutely recommend a strap for everyone one of these instruments (tho, now that you mention it I've never actually said that!). The Strumsticks / pickin' sticks are definitely the most lopsided, I cannot play one well without a strap. A Merlin I can get by without a strap, it is more balanced, but even still a strap is highly recommended. It just frees you up so much to make that left hand move, but it also means your right arm's not pinned to the instrument all the time. Glad you're enjoying yours! (and shameless plug, feel free to signup for the waitlist on my pending model (still hoping to have some out late this year) heyinglewood.com/pages/why-inglewood-instruments)
As a 22 year old 8 year piano player who finds playing guitar surprisingly difficult which of these kind of instruments would you recommend I get? I want to learn a new interesting instrument.
I prefer the Merlin most of the time, but that really is preference, they have pro's/con's. I find that I like the way the Merlin tucks under my arm, the loudness, and the simplicity of one octave. I don't want that ALL the time, mind you, it's just sort of my go-to (until my own model is ready later this year!!!)... Re difficulty, it will not be a fraction as difficult as the guitar. They are very similar, but the difficulty level is way lower, which brings out the joy faster!
Good question! The Strumstick brand sells on their site and maybe on Amazon, it you can also search for a “pickin stick” and find some other options. They’re te same thing, “strumstick” is just a brand name. If you want a high, hiiiiigh quality one there’s a gentleman in England who makes them highly customizable. Michael J King
Great video with very clear explanation.I have a question is the Merlin a serious instrument or more of a toy.I'm asking because i heard some people saying that its not a real instrument.
Absolutely not a toy, it’s absolutely a really cool instrument, albeit at the lower end of the price spectrum. If simply reaching for an instrument, no specific need in mind, I generally grab a Merlin over a pickin’ stick. Preference, tho. Hope that help!
Just caught this follow up due to another comment... building my own instrument has taken WAY longer than expected, but here's the page to follow for more info, should you still be interested (also join the email list ;-) heyinglewood.com/pages/why-inglewood-instruments
OOooooo, that's an excellent question. I have not tried it. I think it would be difficult, more from a logistical / physical space sort of perspective. It would probably work but you'll have to do some research into string tension, and try finding some nylons that are ball-ended (at least, I think that would be a wise option). If you try it, please let me know how it works out!!
That's not where my head landed originally, but I dig some caramel and chocolate, so I'm all for it. Especially if it were in the form of a Cadbury egg or similar. Just a suggestion.
Oh I followed you. But I also really like Cadbury eggs. But if I'm honest, less the caramel and more the creme ones. Apparently I have the tastes of my 10yr old self still.
Well that’s a bummer. Maybe tell her playing a musical instrument is one of your life goals and now you’ve found a way to achieve it...? Surely moms want their kids to reach life goals? (Yes, yes I am seeding potential discontent 😬😜)
Tell her that playing a dulcimer will keep you off drugs...unless you already use drugs...then you could stop using drugs and buy a dulcimer with your drug money! Either way... Playing music is good for you!
@@HeyInglewood Thank you for asking. I actually have s Struckstick Grand that I like. I'm considering a Merlin but also one of the Fender Acoustasonics . . . but I'm not nearly talented as I wish to be. Thanks for your hard work and good videos. I'll stay tuned. Respectful Regards.
And thank you for your kind words on the videos... I spend a lot of time on them and posting stuff on YT is like throwing a rock into a well... you never really know what happens to it. Are people enjoying these? Are they helpful? What else would be better?
@@HeyInglewood Hi, thank you for the review ! jerome was saying nothing new with this intruments, allready exist a guitar from madagascar called kabosy
Very nice comparison of the two instruments. As designer of the Strumstick I’d like to add a few details to help people choose.
• The “Extra Fret”: The flatted seventh fret is a very useful feature for several reasons. One is the usefulness of the flatted seventh in a bunch of songs. Another benefit is you can also play in key of G (without retuning) because that extra fret provides the “C“ note For Key of G. It also allows a C chord when in key of D, needed in a fair number of songs (think the outro for Hey Jude for example). We do not find the presence of the extra fret to be a hinderance for beginners, who do most of their playing in the lower frets, at the beginning.
• Three Strings: I deliberately chose not to make a four string with doubled high d. The doubled “dd” strings is a carryover from dulcimer, where the melody was traditionally played only on those strings with the others being background, and gave more weight to the melody. But the double strings are somewhat harder on beginner fingers, and more importantly, I wanted more equal volume from string to string, knowing that chords and melody on all strings awaited beginners as they progressed to intermediate stages.
• Number of Frets: The Strumstick has a 2 1/2 octave musical range. That means that not only to more songs fit (without an octave jump), but you can often play lower and higher versions of a melody, one low voiced or high voiced chords.
The number of frets also means that you can capo up as high as the 4th fret and still have a useful number of frets available. Note that capoing changes scale types as well as raising pitch.
• The Floating Bridge: first, VERY IMPORTANT, there are two marks on the top that indicate the proper position of the bridge for the DAD tuning, should the bridge get moved (which rarely occurs).
Musically, the floating bridge allows the scale intonation to be corrected for other tunings. The D can tune up to E (EBE) or to F (FCF), or down to C (CGC), B, or A. The A tuning is a little low for the body, but is usable. The Floating Bridge allows you to adjust the intonation correctly for any of those tunings, moving it further from the end of the fingerboard first lower tunings and closer for higher ones. Return to the index marks for DAD
• Length of Strings: to get DAD from shorter strings, they have to be thicker in diameter. Longer thin strings have clearer overtones at a given pitch than shorter thicker ones. This is subtle, and a matter of taste, but I chose our D scale length to optimize the tone from the body size. For smaller hands, we make a shorter scale length version.
• All in all, all of these Design decisions I have mentioned we’re chosen to extend the musical versatility of the Strumstick beyond being a simple beginner instrument, but without Impacting how easy it is.
BOB!! Thanks so much for chiming in and filling out my explanations! Hopefully this helps answer even more (unasked and asked) questions here. It gives plenty of room for thought as well. I love how much care you put into the design of the instrument.
Regarding strings, do you sell (or have recommendations) strings for different tunings? Say if someone wanted to go all the way to G, have you found that to be feasible on a Grand Strumstick with different strings, or is it simply reaching too far, so to speak (hence the G Strumsticks)?
And thank you for elaborating on the 6.5 (flat 7) fret. My first exposure to the dulcimer world was actually through the door of the Woodrows, which generally do not have that fret. I wasn't even aware there were other such instruments until years later.
For all those interested in even more details about the Strumsticks, especially tips on items like intonation and floating bridges, make sure to check out his channel: ruclips.net/channel/UCwjb6wPUpGLE0iv2wHe46dg
He is, after all, the inventor of the Strumstick (and other instruments), so he's the true source on all of this!
Just bought two strumstiks from Helen and Jim. Thanks for a great instrument Bob. I’ve never played in my life and finally feel like I can create music. Means a lot. A whole lot. Thank you.
The floating bridge is quite popular on cigar box guitars, like my three string one made for open G, d, g. It could use different tunings and different strings, and the owner can adjust the bridge for good intonation for these changes. Even I can do this!
@bobomcnally
These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries.
'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings.
While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one.
There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will...
Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept.
What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar.
All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length.
Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos.
The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'.
Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
You gave a lesson on strumstick history, including the McNally, to the guy (bobomcnally) who invented the strumstick
Post script: I just turned my Merlin up to EBE. World of difference. Try it.
Great review AND comments. I own both. I also have a G Strumstick I keep in my truck. It's sound is mandolin-ish, whereas the D is banjo-ish.
The G is my favorite for the fret spacing. The flatted 7th enables Scots bagpipe tunes.
With the Merlin, pressing down too hard throws chords out of tune, at least to my ear. Also, mine seems to like A440 better than A332.
Both of these are wonderful instruments.
Yeah, man, that's what I was going to suggest on the Merlin (more like D# actually but same idea). Increases the string tension and keeps that accidental bending/tuning issues lower. When replacing strings, if you want that, look at upping the string gauges a bit to correct for it, but getting back to DAD (if you want that). Feel free to email to hey@heyinglewood.com if you want some more tips on that part.
Thx so much got seagull for christmas
Hope you love it!
I was so torn between the Roosebeck and other strum sticks because of more notes but what made me get the merlin was the way it sounds. It doesn't sound like a banjo which the strumsticks sound more like. And for those who are into early instruments... The merlin seagull's design looks like a medieval Citole.
Glad you found it!
These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries.
'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings.
While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one.
There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will...
Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept.
What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar.
All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length.
Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos.
The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'.
Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
Roosebeck is a dulcimer ('walking' dulcimer), NOT a strumstick. 2 distinct instruments.
@@-jank-willson where did you get your information?
@@ButchRoss a lot of intense research. You won't find many historical examples of either instrument manufactured before the folk music revival of the 1960's. I believe there are only 3 known examples of the walkin' dulcimer, and only one historic source that refers to the manufacturer of one of the three known walkin dulcimers as someone who make 'walking dulcimers'. There are quite literally just an hourglass dulcimer with half of the hourglass shape missing so as to allow somebody's hand to wrap fully around the fretboard, so it can be played standing up. One of the examples actually looks to be a regular lap dulcimer that was cut-up so it could become a walkabout dulcimer.
As for the one-string pickin' stick, something i neglected to mention was that they were most likely easy-to-make children's toys, and also an educational tool to teach children about the diatonic frets, so that they could learn songs before moving up to a real lap dulcimer. They could be played either in the lap the same way as a lap dulcimer, or standing up.
Another theory was that they were bowed, or could be played bowed, and were thus referred to as 'hog fiddles'; although usually 'hog fiddle' just means a regular mountain dulcimer that is played with a bow. you can play a canjo with a bow to replicate this.
No historic (more than 100 years old) examples of pickin' sticks are currently known to still exist, rather than re-creations based off of passed-down mountain lore.
These two are technically different instruments, descended from different instruments of different countries.
'Dulcitars' AKA Walking Dulcimers like the Merlin are descended from regular mountain dulcimers. Mountain dulcimers, in turn, were descended from the Pennsylvania Dutch Schieholt or Hummel instrument that was brought over from mainland europe (but NOT the british isles). These instruments ALWAYS have 4 or 3 strings, in 3 courses, just like any mountain/lap dulcimer you'd see. They have wide fretboards that makes chording more difficult, however they were never traditionally chorded, rather, they were played the exact same way as the lap dulcimer, i.e. with one finger on the paired(single in 3-string version) melody string, with the other 2 strings being strummed open, as 'drone' strings.
While Merlins are a shortened one-octave variant, traditionally they would have been the full 2 octaves, just the same as a lap version. Roosebeck has a good example of a full-sized 2-octave-scale-length one.
There are some historic examples of guitars and tenor guitars being re-configured into dulcimers, a hybrid 'guitcimer' if you will...
Whereas 'Dulcitar' is technically a trademarked name by the guy who supposedly 'invented' the concept.
What we call nowadays 'strumsticks', 'chord sticks', or 'music sticks' were descended from a primitive fretless one-string instrument that the Irish immigrants to Appalachia brought over from Ireland, that was used to keep a simple musical beat in ensembles. Over the years diatonic-pattern frets were added to it, possibly inspired by the mountain dulcimers, and it then got a very small triangular soundbox and began to be called a 'pickin' stick'. Then 2 more strings got added (so 3 total), also possibly influenced from a mountain dulcimer, and it became known as the 'music-stick', perhaps named after the 'Tennessee Music Box', a 2-stringed transitional instrument between the Hummel and the full mountain dulcimer. These instruments always have 3 strings in 3 courses (NEVER 4 strings with a doubled melody string like with the 'walking dulcimers'). They have very narrow, skinny fretboards, causing the strings to be closer together than on dulcimers, making chording super easy, especially for beginners. Theoretically this could be a good 'starter' instrument for people looking to learn chords to play the guitar.
All music sticks, such as the Cedar Creek Chordstick or McNally strumstick, always have 1 1/2 octave scale length.
Interestingly, you can find the one-string instrument being sold nowadays, with a metal can used to add volume to the sound, as part of the trendy 'Cigar Box Guitar' sphere of influence. They are sold as 'canjo's' for marketability, even though they have next to nothing to do with banjos.
The term 'stick dulcimer' can be used to refer to both of these different instruments however, most likely due to the fact that they both have diatonic fretting, which is what some people consider to be the main defining characteristic of the lap mountain dulcimer, so according to that logic ANY other instrument with diatonic scaling could be considered a 'dulcimer'.
Over the years, many builders have confused, blended, and combined these 2 distinct instrument designs, so in modern times the two instrument names are essentially interchangeable at this point, hence all the confusion.
Brilliant video. Well explained and presented. Very nice work!
Thx so much, that’s super encouraging to hear!
Very helpful review. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! You're welcome!
Awesome! Super helpful!
Glad you found it helpful! Let me know if there's anything else that could assist!
Very informative, thanks!
You're welcome!
You know what nevermind, My Bandmate and I are gunna have some fun with both the Grand and the M4, they are sooo folk together its amazing
Just found your channel. Thanks for the great work
Thanks so much, I’m glad you find it helpful!
Wonderful explanations! Subbed!
So glad it helped! (& thx for the sub ☺️)
Sorry wanted to pause, Yes they are tuned to DAd (Mcnally) and DAdd (Seagull)
But each attack so differently, Sound wise because if the smaller hole, youll end up with a banjo like sound outta one string but if you strum all of em in a chord it still sounds like a banjo, but a banjo with more treble.
The Seagul has a bigger body and fills out waaaaaaaaaayyyyy more but it doesnt havnt the foreground presence like a Mcnally. But im telling you bottem line that "dd" makes the Seagull much more of a lead and the Mcnally a Rythym.
Also dont worry about the extra frets on the Mcnally, Notation is still the same as a Seagull, Theyre both Diatonic instruments
Oh the Mcnally that is in D is called the "Grandstrumstick" the smaller one is in G i believe
neither sounds like a banjo imo. both are played by strumming, which is a completely different play style to banjo, which is clawhammer or finger-pickin' style...
@@-jank-willson fair, i use a claw hammer style of picking my girls so thats probly why i have that banjo like sound
Thank You, …..I feel not all chromatic fret boards are guitars, …therefore not all diatonic fret boards are dulcimers.
I have a lot of diatonic fret instruments. I am currently making a diatonic Mandocello ….not a stick dulcimer, it’s a matter of expanded perspective.
Mandocellos are very cool. Shoot a video when you've got it up and playing!!
mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, mandobass
violins, violas, cellos, bass
tenor guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar
tenor banjo, banjo, banjorine, banjocello
5:11 I've been telling my fiancée that for years 😂
Oooooooo, easy tiger! 😉
I was torn between the two when I was looking at stick dulcimers. I love the sound of the Merlins bigger body but like the 6.5/flat 7th and octave and a half range of the strumstick because a lot of American and Irish folk songs in D are actually D mixolydian and more range never hurt anything. I went with the Merlin because it's way cheaper and I plan on adding the 6.5 feet myself, or just taking it somewhere and having someone do it for very little money. Looking back, strumstick is probably more up my alley but I just wanted the sound of the Merlin so bad, especially with the High D course instead of a single string.
If your really looking to spend money on a nice stick dulcimer I suggest the Roosebeck stick dulcimers. A lot more money but they are handmade and have 2 octaves of range, paired high string, AND the 6.5 frets in both octaves. They're amazing instruments but also a few hundred bucks. Guess I'm saving up!
I should also note that the bridge on my M4 Merlin isn't glued. It actually just has two pegs that rest in holes in the soundboard. The bridge just fell off when I was changing the strings and there was no evidence of any glue that failed.
Great report! I’ve not seen a Roosebeck in real life, just on Amazon. Glad you like them. If you have cash to throw around I recommend considering the Woodrow (out of Asheville NC).
@@HeyInglewood Oh yeah, I know the Woodrow. They are indeed pricey. Actually, I'm using Woodrow strings on my Merlin right now because I couldn't get a new pair of the original strings. And their working just fine. I believe the gauges are the same except for the two high d strings.
Well, shameless plug, you can get branded Merlin strings (or an excellent local hand wound alternative) on my site anytime! stickdulcimer.com
Has anyone ever heard or played a dulcimer stick with tunning like the Russian folk instrument balalaika? I think it has EEA for “Prima” type, and AAD for “Segunda” and also EEA for “Alto”.
OOooo, that sounds fascinating, but no I have not tried that. I don't know how the balalaika is fretted, but you could string / tune a stick dulcimer guitar to those tunings with relative ease. Keep me posted on what you learn and try!
Thanks, I have the Merlin and want to learn to play Irish Celtic Music - jigs and reels. I'm an absolute beginner. I do play ukulele and basic guitar songs - mainly struming. I've ordered some merlin song books for Irish music, but there is no sound track or backing tracks. What do you suggest?
Lots of suggestions and thoughts, some easier than others, I suppose.
Two off top of my head:
Look up a few on RUclips that are just any old band playing and see if it's recorded in D (so the Merlin will match). Might be hard to figure that part out, but you could just strum the Merlin open along with the start of the songs and see if it sounds right.
Assuming your phone has a recorder on it (video or audio) you could record yourself playing a simple rhythm part with just open strings and barre chords across all of the strings (1-finger style). Just play all down strums as the rhythm so you always know where you are in the song. Hopefully the books you've got have the chords in them as well as melodies. Doing it this way you can set the speed you want to practice at by how fast you originally played the chords.
Hope that helps! Let me know what's working, what's not, where I can help further. Feel free to email also. (And if you've not, please SUBSCRIBE to the channel :-)
Been considering getting one of these
Was wondering if most of these are steel or nylon stringed?
All the ones I have and have seen have steel strings, but I thiiiiiink there was a fringe strumstick uke style that had nylon. Maybe?
I suspect that there's another difference that you don't mention, but which your video nonetheless shows quite clearly:
As a Strumstick owner, I love it but I can attest that due to the heavy neck and small body, the balance makes it difficult to hold and play without a strap. Specifically, it's harder to slide the left hand up and down the neck since it's also holding up the weight of the instrument. This problem disappears once you have a strap.
I've not actually held a Merlin but it seems you have no trouble just picking it up and playing it, in your video. I'm assuming that's due to the balance being closer to other small string instruments (like a 'uke).
Again, not meant as a criticism of the Strumstick - I love mine, especially due to the larger range and flat-seventh. (If anything, I wish it also had a 1.5 fret so I could get flat-7 on the middle string in the low frets.) I suspect the smaller range of the Merlin would bother me.
In any case, thanks for this video and good luck with your own instrument design.
Many thanks, and also completely right @frixy ... I absolutely recommend a strap for everyone one of these instruments (tho, now that you mention it I've never actually said that!). The Strumsticks / pickin' sticks are definitely the most lopsided, I cannot play one well without a strap. A Merlin I can get by without a strap, it is more balanced, but even still a strap is highly recommended. It just frees you up so much to make that left hand move, but it also means your right arm's not pinned to the instrument all the time.
Glad you're enjoying yours! (and shameless plug, feel free to signup for the waitlist on my pending model (still hoping to have some out late this year) heyinglewood.com/pages/why-inglewood-instruments)
Very beautiful music on your Channel new subscribers Anita & Gregg 🎶😉
Thanks for subbing! Hope the videos are helpful!
As a 22 year old 8 year piano player who finds playing guitar surprisingly difficult which of these kind of instruments would you recommend I get? I want to learn a new interesting instrument.
I prefer the Merlin most of the time, but that really is preference, they have pro's/con's. I find that I like the way the Merlin tucks under my arm, the loudness, and the simplicity of one octave. I don't want that ALL the time, mind you, it's just sort of my go-to (until my own model is ready later this year!!!)... Re difficulty, it will not be a fraction as difficult as the guitar. They are very similar, but the difficulty level is way lower, which brings out the joy faster!
Hi!
I am from Germany. Where can I buy such a strumstick (I already have the Merlin.....and several other different stringed instruments ;))
Good question! The Strumstick brand sells on their site and maybe on Amazon, it you can also search for a “pickin stick” and find some other options. They’re te same thing, “strumstick” is just a brand name. If you want a high, hiiiiigh quality one there’s a gentleman in England who makes them highly customizable. Michael J King
Great video with very clear explanation.I have a question is the Merlin a serious instrument or more of a toy.I'm asking because i heard some people saying that its not a real instrument.
Absolutely not a toy, it’s absolutely a really cool instrument, albeit at the lower end of the price spectrum. If simply reaching for an instrument, no specific need in mind, I generally grab a Merlin over a pickin’ stick. Preference, tho.
Hope that help!
Incidentally, if you are looking to o a little more up market, I expect to have my own line available in a month or so. 😎🎶
@@HeyInglewood Cool thank you for your help and i will for sure take a look at your line.
@@HeyInglewood where would we find info 0n your line ?
Just caught this follow up due to another comment... building my own instrument has taken WAY longer than expected, but here's the page to follow for more info, should you still be interested (also join the email list ;-)
heyinglewood.com/pages/why-inglewood-instruments
Hello, can I put nylon strings on the strumstick one? Thanks
OOooooo, that's an excellent question. I have not tried it. I think it would be difficult, more from a logistical / physical space sort of perspective. It would probably work but you'll have to do some research into string tension, and try finding some nylons that are ball-ended (at least, I think that would be a wise option). If you try it, please let me know how it works out!!
@@HeyInglewood I will try. Please send me the link to order a chromatic one. Thanks
Only one chromatic one in stock, and it's a prototype. If you wanna discuss, please email me over on the site!
Just the sound of the word "dulcimer" makes me want chocolate with caramel.
That's not where my head landed originally, but I dig some caramel and chocolate, so I'm all for it. Especially if it were in the form of a Cadbury egg or similar. Just a suggestion.
@@HeyInglewood I think it has something to do with it sounding like Dulche DeLeche.
Oh I followed you. But I also really like Cadbury eggs. But if I'm honest, less the caramel and more the creme ones. Apparently I have the tastes of my 10yr old self still.
@@HeyInglewood there's no shame in that.
NONE. I AM AN ADULT, I EAT SUGAR FILLED CHOCOLATE EGGS WHEN I WANT TO!
I really want one but my mom won’t let me buy one 😔
Well that’s a bummer. Maybe tell her playing a musical instrument is one of your life goals and now you’ve found a way to achieve it...? Surely moms want their kids to reach life goals? (Yes, yes I am seeding potential discontent 😬😜)
Tell her that playing a dulcimer will keep you off drugs...unless you already use drugs...then you could stop using drugs and buy a dulcimer with your drug money! Either way... Playing music is good for you!
I love that suggestion. Not wrong either. 😂
@@gerryzydek7582 🤣🤣🤣
Keep asking her, Bob. One day she may see how much it really means to you.
Strumstick vs Merlin. Interesting.
Did you conclude a preference?
@@HeyInglewood Thank you for asking. I actually have s Struckstick Grand that I like. I'm considering a Merlin but also one of the Fender Acoustasonics . . . but I'm not nearly talented as I wish to be. Thanks for your hard work and good videos. I'll stay tuned. Respectful Regards.
I'm not familiar with the Acoustasonics. Sounds too hip and trendy ;-)
Probably has a lot more flexibility tho.
And thank you for your kind words on the videos... I spend a lot of time on them and posting stuff on YT is like throwing a rock into a well... you never really know what happens to it. Are people enjoying these? Are they helpful? What else would be better?
@@HeyInglewood LOLS. Every word is true. Keep punching.
Rien d'inventé voir la guitare kabosy malgache
I took a lot of years of French but I never got to this level! Any way to translate? (Google didn’t help there 😥)
@@HeyInglewood Hi, thank you for the review ! jerome was saying nothing new with this intruments, allready exist a guitar from madagascar called kabosy
@@HeyInglewood en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabosy
That’s completely awesome... I’d love to get my ands on one of those. Thx for sharing Mathieu
@@HeyInglewood ruclips.net/video/tXrpxjtHD-4/видео.html
m4 sounds like its a assault rifle
HA! How do you mean? Just the name or the tone too? :-)
@@HeyInglewood the name.
Too many "um"