Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:19 pm
First of all, thanks the positive reviews. I realize that when you get to this round of Ein! anything can happen, but I am very appreciative of the positive peer reviews here and am glad you guys are enjoying the song.
Ray asked a good question (I knew I'd be held accountable for my previous posts eventually
)
....in my little point thing I’ve been using the last few weeks (which is fairly arbitrary, admittedly), there are five criteria, the last of which is “challenge.” For each criteria I give a score from –2 to +2. So the highest possible would be 10, lowest, -10. For this challenge I’d probably give myself a 0 or a +1, but certainly not a +2. I don’t think I’ve given anyone less than zero (zero being “I believe it but I can’t hear it”). However, I did, in fact, do the challenge. Based on the judging so far, I would hope not to be significantly penalized for using this instrument, especially since permission was clearly given for “guitar-like” instruments.
BTW – The dulcimer has only three strings (well, four, but one is a “double” like a mandolin or 12-string) and does not have a fret every half-step. They are fretted in mixolydian mode, so only 8 total notes are available (it is however common to have a so-called 6-and-a-half fret installed to get the leading tone on the melody string). This can make songwriting and chording a little unusual. Additionally, they are played by sitting it on the lap and fretting with the hands downward. So, in several ways not played much like a guitar.
Other Songfight! songs I have played dulcimer on: “Come a Hellin’,” “She Gave Up,” “Pieces of Eight” (by the Seamus Collective) “For the Time Being” (by the Seamus Collective)
PS - What does "Come a Cropper" mean?
Ray asked a good question (I knew I'd be held accountable for my previous posts eventually
)
I'm not sure if you were being rhetorical or not, so...So Ross - according to your complex song marking schemes - how do you assess somebody who addresses a "No Guitar" challenge by using an instrument that looks just like a guitar and sounds just like a guitar? Wink
....in my little point thing I’ve been using the last few weeks (which is fairly arbitrary, admittedly), there are five criteria, the last of which is “challenge.” For each criteria I give a score from –2 to +2. So the highest possible would be 10, lowest, -10. For this challenge I’d probably give myself a 0 or a +1, but certainly not a +2. I don’t think I’ve given anyone less than zero (zero being “I believe it but I can’t hear it”). However, I did, in fact, do the challenge.
Based on the judging so far, I would hope not to be significantly penalized for using this instrument, especially since permission was clearly given for “guitar-like” instruments. BTW – The dulcimer has only three strings (well, four, but one is a “double” like a mandolin or 12-string) and does not have a fret every half-step. They are fretted in mixolydian mode, so only 8 total notes are available (it is however common to have a so-called 6-and-a-half fret installed to get the leading tone on the melody string). This can make songwriting and chording a little unusual. Additionally, they are played by sitting it on the lap and fretting with the hands downward. So, in several ways not played much like a guitar.
Other Songfight! songs I have played dulcimer on: “Come a Hellin’,” “She Gave Up,” “Pieces of Eight” (by the Seamus Collective) “For the Time Being” (by the Seamus Collective)
PS - What does "Come a Cropper" mean?
