New Single Releases on Spotify!
Tag: Jerry Rockwell
New EP at bandcamp!
This EP is partly a retrospective, with three tracks going back to 2019 and 2020 (Canterbury Lullaby, Jenny’s New Dreamscape, and The Light Always Comes), and two fairly recent tracks from earlier this year (Allison’s Infinite Round I, and Firefly Duet).
The three earlier tracks were remixed and remastered, and this took a lot more time than any other production in recent memory. I have taken advantage of the new mastering assistant in my Logic Pro Digital Audio Workstation, and I have made some progress in my audio engineering – particularly with getting levels balanced and consistent.
Most of these tunes have two or three tracks of electric dulcimer, with some standard DAD tuning, and some baritone AEAA tuning (Allison’s Infinite Round is tuned a whole step up to B-F#-B-B).
https://jerryrockwell.bandcamp.com/album/canterbury-lullaby-ep
Baritone Dulcimer in AEAA: Duet Study on a Ground Bass
This is a study I recorded with two overdubbed baritone dulcimer parts. The slightly left-panned part is the low ground bass, and the right-panned part is much higher in pitch. I tried for contrary motion in much of my playing in this higher part, though there are some passages of thirds and sixths in parallel motion as well.
This study is based on what I like to call the “Axis Chords” – it is one of my favorite 4-chord loops:
A – E – F#m – D
Enjoy listening and jamming along!!
Baritone Dulcimer Solo in AEAA Tuning | F# Aeolian Tablature
Here is a recent solo I recorded on my baritone dulcimer in AEAA tuning. This is very similar to the tablature I gave for B Aeolian in the last post, except for the fact that it is a 4th lower in F# Aeolian, and the last chord in the last measure is a G chord. In the F# version here, that same chord would be D.
And here is another take at a quicker pace:
Harmonizing the Aeolian Mode
In keeping with the harmonization of descending scales and modes that I started last post, here are two ways to harmonize the B Aeolian Mode (AKA Natural Minor Scale), with the mode in the upper voice on the melody string (instead of on the bass string like the D Major example last time):
Harmonizing Descending Scales
Over the past 10 or 15 years, I have put a lot of time and effort into harmonizing major scales and modes on the dulcimer. This has been time well-spent for me: I can’t begin to tell you how many good ideas I’ve gotten for new tunes, or how fluent my improvisation has become by consistent practice with this.
Now, you might ask: “Why descending scales and not ascending scales?” To answer this, consider the notion that ascending musical scales, or chords, tend to build tension and suspense. When you are starting out on lower pitches and gradually ascending to higher and higher pitches, it makes sense that you are going to feel more anticipation and a build of drama. With descending scales, the opposite is mostly true: You start with a high note or chord, and then gradually descend, releasing tension with each chord change. That’s why I find the descending harmonized scales so soothing and relaxing.
Here is the D Major Scale starting on fret 7 and descending down the fingerboard on the bass string. It is harmonized (on the middle and melody strings) with mostly just the primary triads of I, IV, and V (D, G, and A), but I have added an E minor towards the end for a bit of color. The arpeggios below are just a suggestion, and there are many different ways of ordering the notes in a particular chord shape. If you add some eighth notes to the action, there will be a lot more movement, and if you let some notes ring out for two full beats or more, this can add to the variety. Also, try 4/4 and holding each chord for two measures.
Brand New EP at Bandcamp!
It has certainly been many moons since I released anything on bandcamp, but I’ve been working diligently on some more meditative dulcimer instrumentals, and I have a 4-tune EP ready now……just in time for “Bandcamp Fridays” (where the platform forgoes their share of revenue on the first Friday of most months).
These are some tracks that took more time for me to get exactly the right production, and I’m learning a lot about audio engineering with each track.
“Kate’s Waltz” is a 3/4 time version of my original “Kate’s Tune” which first appeared on my Singing Messenger album, way back in 2016. It is based on a mixolydian chord progression which was generated by a harmonized descending mixolydian mode. I have used this for many other titles, including “Blue Ridge Dream” (also in 3/4), “November’s Waltz” (from the early years of my Patreon lessons), and also the last track on this EP “Continuous Lines 218.”
“Magic Mountain Sanctuary” is a continuation of my “Magic Mountain Solitude” tracks, and I’m tuned a half step up from my usual DAD tuning – to Eb – Bb – Eb. The chords are a stretched out version of the “cabbage chords” (well-known to many dulcimer players!), and there is an arpeggiated keyboard track in the background to set the groove.
The title track “Twilight At East Beach” is inspired by a beautiful beach on Lake Erie, in Lorain, Ohio, not too far from Cleveland. This one is actually in the key of F and uses an 8-bar progression I constructed from joining two 4-chord loops. These days, I usually play in the key of F by tuning CGC and keying off of the F chord as the center, but not using a capo. This track has a few synth pads to create a backdrop for the very high-pitched dulcimer melodies.
Anyway, here you go if you want to check it out. Thanks for listening!
BIG New Changes at Patreon!
There are two absolutely delightful additions to what everyone can do at Patreon, and I’m so glad that they went through with these changes!
First of all, they are welcoming the public much more warmly than before with their “free member” program. Now, anyone can interact with my public posts without joining or subscribing to my monthly lessons!! Some folks have said on various forums that this is no big deal, because someone from the public could always interact with posts that creators designated as “public.” So these people are saying that Patreon just changed their terminology a little bit.
I think it is a big deal, because now I’m seeing an increasing number of free members (I get a notice every time a free member joins), and this encourages me to post more public or “free” content! I’ve made a few videos of my relaxing tunes public recently, and I will be making more of my tablature and music pdf files open to the public as well. Likewise for the mp3 audio that comes directly from my home studio.
The second feature I LOVE is that I can now sell digital downloads from my catalog of eBooks right on Patreon, without setting up an e-commerce function on my web site! You can find my Shop tab right below my name and the short tagline that describes what I’m doing at Patreon when you go to this link:
Jerry Rockwell Teaches Dulcimer at Patreon
Hope to see you there!!
New EP Release!
I have a brand new 7-track album of meditative instrumentals on my dulcimer, available at bandcamp. This collection is focused mostly on my baritone dulcimer (tuned AEAA in 4-string equidistant spacing). Some of the selections are out here on bandcamp before their official release dates: Mystic Light Meditation, and Lullaby for Kate.
Along with the extra warmth and richness of the acoustic/electric baritone, these are more ambient and immersive productions than most of my recent output. They should be great for meditation, yoga, daydreaming, or just getting some restful sleep.
QuaranTUNE 8.0 Registration
The best virtual dulcimer festival on the planet is coming your way on October 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2022, and I’ll be teaching four one-hour classes.
For registration and more info about the festival:
For my classes below, the titles will link to the registration page for each class (in a new tab).
Here they are in the order I’ll be teaching them:
Soothing & Magical Chord Loops
(Level 3 INT) FRIDAY, October 2nd – Session 5: 3-4PM
In this workshop, you’ll learn some soothing and magical chord progressions that are easy to play and fun. These progressions only have four chords and they are mesmerizing and addictive! We’ll also explore a few arpeggio patterns and melodies that go with each loop. You already know most of these chords, so the challenge will be to keep them flowing along smoothly.
Getting Started With Two-Handed Tapping
(Level 5 ADV) SATURDAY, October 8th – Session 1: 9-10AM
Experience the exciting world of tapping on your mountain dulcimer! Using a tried-and-true method I’ve developed over three decades, you’ll learn to hammer-on and pull-off with your right forefinger, while your left hand holds down familiar chord positions in the first few frets. With a little practice, you will be getting your groove on in no time! This technique is easier than it sounds and it is FUN!!
Peaceful Irish Airs and Lullabies
(Level 3 INT) SATURDAY Session 2: 10:15-11:15AM
Get totally enchanted with these slow, meditative airs from Ireland. “Irish Lullaby No. 1” is an original lullaby that we’ll be doing in a simple, chord-melody arrangement. “Eibhlà Gheal Chiúin Nà Chearbhaill” (“The Fair and Charming Eileen O’Carroll”) is much more mesmerizing and circular.
A Relaxing, Meditative Journey With “Skip’s Heavenly Round”
(Level 4 UpperINT) SATURDAY Session 6: 4:14-5:15PM
You’ll learn one of my original rounds in this session. We’ll be playing this as a solo “Jam-A-Round” here, rather than as a traditional round. This just means that we have the harmony parts and jazzy chords all baked right in. Although the tempo is slow, there is a lot going on in this arrangement. You’ll be able to see my left hand for help with fingering.
Learning Chords in DAD Tuning (Part 3)
In Part 2 we covered some ways of moving through the D-G-D-A7-D progression that were mostly ascending chord forms. This time we will descend with the chord forms:
And since we also suggested applying these same chord forms to the “Cabbage Chords,” Here you go with the first four measures of the above TAB applied to the Cabbage Chord progression:
Just in case you were wondering, the 4th measure A is really A7, and the A in measure 7 is really an A7sus4.
Thanks for giving these a try!! Let me know what you think.
Magical, Peaceful Instrumentals Playlist
This is one of my favorite playlists of the ones I curate myself on Spotify. It has a wide variety of instruments and genres, but the common theme is a simple, folk-oriented approach to melody and harmony. You’ll hear some minimal pieces on piano by some of my favorite players, some great accordion work by the amazing Maria Kalaniemi, or some mesmerizing modal compositions by Whalebone (UK-based ensemble).
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