Mountain Dulcimer Player Stephen Seifert

This is a great tune that works real well on the mountain dulcimer in DAD. I've played it at jams for years. To learn more about it, check out it's entry at The Fiddler's Companion. I'm trying to make a point with this post. Beginners and advanced players need about the same thing, a simple bare-bones version. It's easier to read and memorize and the advanced player knows from experience ways to flesh it out different every time through. The intermediate is bored with the simple versions, wants something that's already fleshed out, but isn't quite comfortable elaborating on the simple version.

The notes that are missing from the simple version can be added back in with great variety using standard melodic devices. There's also standard ways of jazzing up a rhythm. When you've been playing backup for a while, you develop a feel for what to do about chords. I'm working on a whole method to train the beginner to do these things. Can I pull it off? We'll see.