Anyone played or own a McNally Strumstick? [Archive]

mr51

Jan-31-2006, 10:11am

My wife sooooo wants to be able to play a stringed instrument, but she is challanged. I've tried to teach her what I know about the mandolin; which ain't much, but she just can't get the hang of it.

I ran across this thing called a Strumstick. Suppose to be easy for anyone to play. According to what I read, there are NO WRONG notes.

Does anyone have any experience with the Strumstick, and if so, are they easy to learn to play?

For those of you who may wonder what the heck a Strumstick is, here is the web-address. Be sure and listen to the sound clips. It really sounds interesting, the price appears to be reasonable also.

www.strumstick.com

Ted Eschliman

Jan-31-2006, 10:29am

Count me in.

It's been a while since I picked mine up, but these are a lot of fun. What makes them easy is they are all "diatonic." This means any folk songs work great; you're not confused by notes outside of the scale. The downside is they are all diatonic, no Charlie Parker or Charles Ives. Having said that, they are very intuitive for a seasoned muscian, and accessible for one that isn't. (They sound cool, too!)

I worked up a medley for a church offertory of the Shaker Song and Amazing Grace. After I got done playing, our Pastor nodded his approval and teased the congregation that the instrument I was playing was a Shop Class project...

Jim M.

Jan-31-2006, 10:35am

That sure looks like an Appalachian dulcimer, without the double course. Usually tuned GDG or DAD. Pretty easy to learn, but as Ted says, no jazz or blues chords.

Keith Erickson

Jan-31-2006, 10:55am

I've been using my Dulcimer a lot more often during jam sessions.

Even though this website is#everything dulcimer (http://www.everythingdulcimer.com) you can also find information and discussions on strum sticks.

Don't count out the dulcimer either.

Have fun...

John Flynn

Jan-31-2006, 11:06am

I have played them and met Mr. McNally at a trade fair. As has been said they are basically a lap dulicimer played like a mandolin or guitar. They are easy to play and fun, but they are basically a toy in terms of construction and sound. There are other vendors who make them and there are free plans online for making an "A-stick" which is essentially the same thing. It seems very do-able and inexpensive:
http://home.centurytel.net/Dulciaddict/plans.htm

The penultimate version, which is a serious instrument, is the "Walkabout Dulcimer" from Olympia Dulcimer Company (no relation to the Olympia mandolin). I have jammed with someone who plays one of those and they put out some serious sound.
http://www.olywa.net/olydulcimer/

billkilpatrick

Jan-31-2006, 11:06am

i bought my 80 year old mother a strum stick and she took to it pretty well. it wasn't a mcnally made instrument however so i can't comment on whether his name is worth the considerable jump in price one has to pay to get it.

they're wonderful little instruments - the sort of thing you pick up for just a minute and suddenly find it's getting dark outside - hypnotic.

arbarnhart

Jan-31-2006, 11:41am

I made what is essentially the same thing - a 3 string diatonic. I eventually added in the other frets and I regret it. I may make another one day because the kids had a blast with it when it was diatonic. It's not so much fun when you have to know what you are doing (like so much in life). BTW, you can play any harmony on them with a bizarre tuning (1-3-5) which gives you every note somewhere, though not in every octave so it is always limited in melody.

There are other stick dulcimers, BTW. Check out this ebay store (http://stores.ebay.com/Smokey-Mountain-Music-Works) (NFI).

EDIT - just noticed another post below that points to an auction from the same ebay store; I don't have experience with them, but the experience below seems positive. I also noticed the link to the dulci-addict's plans above. That is what I used to build. Last I talked to Wendell (the dulci-addict) he was selling some and he does fine work.

acousticphd

Jan-31-2006, 11:53am

Mr McNally, if I'm correct, invented and owns the right to the "strumstick". #But there are others you can find, like this one. #I've had one of these for a month or so and it's surprisingly usable and fun to play. #
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Strum-Stick-by-Smokey-Mountain-Dulcimer_W0QQitemZ7386777273QQcategoryZ623QQssPage NameZWDVW
QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">auction link</a>.

I should say that this guy leaves the neck completely square, but it's still playable and wouldn't be a big deal to file to a rounded profile. #These are dulcimers but the string order is opposite from that of a lap dulcimer. #Simple yes, but solid cedar top and noticeably better than the toys such as you often see at festival booths, many of which just have screws for string anchors and tuners. #I play mine more like frailing a banjo, noting on all 3 strings, but a beginner could just stick with the melody/high string. #For what he charges, I'm more than willing to publicly give him a plug.

billkilpatrick

Jan-31-2006, 12:03pm

sweetpea is the guy i bought my mother's strum stick from. i agree - nice instrument. i think he makes them in his garage ...

Jan-31-2006, 12:30pm

I would rank the strum-stick right up there with spoons, the dulcimer, and mouth harp as being the most annoying things I have ever encountered in a bluegrass jam session setting.

Dude, don't let her become known as the "strum-stick lady"...

John Flynn

Jan-31-2006, 12:40pm

HarmonyRexy

Jan-31-2006, 12:50pm

Hi!

I own a McNally Strumstick, of the regular size. It's tuned to GDG.
I also have several from Smokey Mountain Music Works of the larger size... tuned to DAD. I got those from an eBay store.

We play them a lot. My darling spouse can play with us even though there's just no time for practicing. They are 'made' for musical exploration.
Our 7 year old son plays the strumsticks and CanJos which are fretted the same. They help 'teach' thinking in a diatonic scale... which is the real value.

They are great fun... and helpful to the 'challenged'.

Best of all, they are cheerful sounding without hours of practicing. We just love them! The McNally Theme is: Enjoy The Noise! We do!

Jan-31-2006, 12:54pm

I would rank the strum-stick right up there with spoons, the dulcimer, and mouth harp as being the most annoying things I have ever encountered in a bluegrass jam session setting.
LOL. What? You never play with banjos? They are the most irritating thing I have ever encountered at a jam, by far. Another really irritating thing I run into at jams is electric keyboards. Yes, I have been in multiple jams where they have shown up! By comparison, a Strumstick should be relatively innocuous. At least they aren't very loud!
Ok, you have rekindled a long surpresed memory. I went to a local jam spot one night and I heard the all too familiar "bump" of an amp coming on line... Some guy had brought his Strat to the jam and parked the amp right next to me.... that should have been on my list of the most annoying moments.

Yeah, I have played with keyboards and drummers too...

arbarnhart

Jan-31-2006, 12:56pm

I would rank the strum-stick right up there with spoons, the dulcimer, and mouth harp as being the most annoying things I have ever encountered in a bluegrass jam session setting. #

Dude, don't let her become known as the "strum-stick lady"...
I would agree that a bluegrass jam setting is not where they are most at home, though there are a few players who can hold their own in one when the song is in the key they are tuned to. That latter bit is why some people don't like them at jams - you have to play in their key on any songs they will play along with. However, I still would encourage you to get her one; it could be a stepping stone to a fully chromatic instrument or she might just enjoy playing it.

BTW, Smoky Mtn has a banjo model so you can be an equal opportunity annoyance...

Katie

Jan-31-2006, 1:05pm

I had one when I was a kid. I don't remember the maker. Like everyone else said...they're fun and intuitive. I would certainly recommend it for someone who is fascinated with music but not that interested in years of practice and hundreds (if not thousands+) of dollars.

glauber

Jan-31-2006, 1:07pm

My only problem with the strumstick is, why not buy a real dulcimer and get better sound? But it seems to be a neat toy.

garyblanchard

Jan-31-2006, 1:07pm

Won't comment on the jam portion of this discussion, but I will say that I own a Smokey Mountain Strum Stick tuned to DAD (actually CGC to suit my singing) and found it easy to play and a lot of fun. I recorded "Cripple Creek" and "I'm Troubled" for my "Good Times, Hard Times" CD using it and it came out nice.

I bought the strum stick instead of a mountain dulcimer so I could stand while I play and wouldn't need to move all my mics around. Trouble is, I haven't figured out a good way to hook a strap to it. It also is not very loud, so I have to boost the instrument mic when I use it in a performance

Keith Erickson

Jan-31-2006, 2:02pm

I would rank the strum-stick right up there with spoons, the dulcimer, and mouth harp as being the most annoying things I have ever encountered in a bluegrass jam session setting. #

Dude, don't let her become known as the "strum-stick lady"...
I would highly recommend giving a listen to Coel Sean's CD "A trip to Sligo"

James Tanguay- Concertina, Pennywhistle, & Spoons
Michael Harding- Steel & Nylon string guitars and the Bodrhan.

My wife makes sure that it is part of every road trip collection ( and for good reason ).

As for the dulcimer, I've taken this to a jam and I was ridiculed ( and rightly so ) for not bringing it earlier.

otterly2k

Jan-31-2006, 6:10pm

they might not be great in a bluegrass jam, but they might work really well for some Old Time music.

Anyway, I agree with Johnny in that it is a toy, but a reasonable place to start. If she likes it, perhaps the walkabout dulcimer or a lap dulcimer is a good next step. Personally, I find the strumsticks hard to play b/c there's no BODY to it... so it's hard for me to hold, but not everyone has that problem I suppose.

arbarnhart

Jan-31-2006, 6:38pm

Otterly,

The Smokey Mtn ones a few folks have recommended do have slightly more body, including a banjo model that is near normal size. A lot of folks call my mando a toy, so that's a label I am used to...

jim simpson

Jan-31-2006, 6:41pm

http://walkaboutdulcimer.com/

Here is a picture of a Walkabout acoustic & electric dulcimer. Never seen one close up but it looks like it would be easier than playing one on your lap. I believe the acoustic is close to $500.00

acousticphd

Jan-31-2006, 7:44pm

My only problem with the strumstick is, why not buy a real dulcimer and get better sound?

Could do, and that might be a good option too.
The main reason is that the strumstick has a thin, hand-sized neck free of the box that you can hold and finger like you would a guitar, or mando, or bouzouki, etc. #Unlike a lap dulcimer, the strumstick string "courses" are arranged in the familiar position (lowest pitched towards you, highest away from you) unlike a lap dulcimer .. but you could easily switch them around. # A second reason is that, though you could spend more, there are available kits or assembled instruments costing only ~$50. #So, why not get both? #A third reason is, with a few simple tips, a couple of 2-finger chord shapes and some simple song TAB (which I make up), my friend who had never before touched a stringed instrument is starting to be able to play some music after just a few hours of practice. #It doesn't make much sound, no, but in your kitchen, that's not important. A fourth reason (which applies to dulcimers) is that you can actually do quite a few amazing and cool things if you're inclined. #See Butch Ross, for eg, who holds a mountain dulcimer like a guitar, and plays like the wind. #That ain't no toy. link (http://www.butchross.com/music.html)

Anyway, the orig. post had nothing whatsoever to do with group jamming, bluegrass, spoons, banjos, old-time, volume, etc - it had to do with introducing a someone who wants to play to a simple, accessible stringed instrument. #Calling a strumstick a toy (which I might well have done previously) is like calling a ukulele a toy. #It's more a matter of size and perspective, eh?

HarmonyRexy

Jan-31-2006, 9:35pm

I had mentioned earlier that we have a McNally Strumstick... and a couple from Smokey Mountain Music Works' eBay store (eBay seller name sweetpee50). He is incredibly helpful.

My 7 year old son worked very hard this summer to earn the banjo-type of Smokey Mountain strumstick. It is louder than the others, a bit strange looking and very heavy. I had thought that it would be downright cumbersome... It turned out not to be, even for a little dude. It has been a really good addition to our family band.

I also don't think that I would call the strumstick 'a toy'. It is a good gateway to learning to play music.
You can actually get pretty complex with it, as your own skills allow... but those with few skills are certainly positively reinforced for their efforts--- and that is certainly not true of many instruments.

The McNally has a more refined 'feel' to it if you're into a better quality of wood.... but the others are nice sounding and are less dough.
(I'm getting a Grand McNally and I'm thinking about getting an electric one from Smokey Mountain.)

mr51- I bet that if you go for it and get your wife a strumstick, you'll be a Big-Time Hero at your house!

Bill Snyder

Jan-31-2006, 10:50pm

mr51

Jan-31-2006, 11:12pm

Just go to the above link showing how to build one. It is not that difficult if you have any wood working experience. The Longneck is a bit more involved, but the "A" stick or even the "Q" stick will give you something playable. You get the fun of building and she can enjoy playing something you built.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I would love to be able to build one, but woodworking isn't one of my strong suits. And, I figure by the time I purchased a couple of power tools, pay the emergency room bill for cutting my finger off; its cheaper on me just to buy one and less painfull.

HarmonyRexy

Feb-01-2006, 8:25am

I wanted to say that there is another thing that is cool about the McNally Strumstick.
It comes with a tape/CD and an instruction book.

The tape is really valuable to someone just starting out. It has the basic strumming but also more interesting options that form accents like 'hammering on' and 'pulling off'. The tape is easy to listen to and motivating to try the variations, in that way, to move from playing the song's notes to adding a bit of musicianship.

We here probably know all kinds of ways to strum/pick and can make it sound good.
But if Mr.51's wife isn't a player, it would probably make the exploration all the more fun to be able to learn an interesting rhythm ALL ON HER OWN!

On the 'building your own' topic: I also had planned on building cigarbox instruments and fretting/stringing them strumstick style. My son and I got them going and completed one. It turned out really nicely but the rest of them have been added to the interesting projects in my collection. I'm not much of a woodworker either... I seem to get side-tracked by those things that just seem to pop up in life needing more immediate attention. Someday we'll finish those... we got some really cool cigar boxes to convert.

mr51

Feb-03-2006, 10:25pm

Well, the McNally Strumstick arrived yesterday, didn't have much of chance to mess with it last night. #My wife and her friends went to a Gretchen Wilson concert tonight so I broke it out to give it a try. #The think is FUN!!! #It is very well made and the volume is suprisingly loud. It actually takes longer to get comfortable holding it (light as a feather, but awkward shape)than it does to learn to play a tune. #I wish that I'd ran across this thing a long time ago. #

If you ever run across one of these things at a flea market or yard sell; buy it. #Even at the full price, its a lot of fun for the money.

arbarnhart

Feb-04-2006, 6:43am

If you want to see a loud one, go to the ducliaddict's page referenced earler and click on the link to his gallery. There is a "resostick" in there. I sent him email and he sent me the instructions for making a home built resonator and a WAV file of his. It sounds like it works! He said it is actually louder than the banjo he builds.

epicentre

Feb-04-2006, 2:38pm

Couple of years ago I built an Appalachian dulcimer from a kit. Then I built one for a buddy from scratch. Not hard to make. Great fun to play.

The sound samplers on the walkabout strumsticks are great. Since most of the tunes my friends play are in D, who knows...... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Could happen!!

Could probably capo the neck for a key change???

When we have a jam up here, not being bluegrass fixated, we welcome all instruments to the party........We just make the banjo player stand far.........far........far........back http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

Keith Erickson

Feb-04-2006, 3:54pm

Well, the McNally Strumstick arrived yesterday, didn't have much of chance to mess with it last night.......
Mr51,

How is it tuned? DAD?

It sounds like you're probably going to have a lot more fun with it than you wife will http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I keep threatening to by my wife a fiddle so she can learn how to play http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

...at least that's the story that I'm sticking with lol http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

mr51

Feb-04-2006, 4:11pm

How is it tuned? #DAD? #
Tuning on the standard Strumstick model is "G D G".

HarmonyRexy

Feb-04-2006, 5:42pm

I'm so glad that you're enjoying the McNally Strumstick.
I cracked out the tape that comes with them and have been playing it in the car for the last couple of days that we've been talking about it.
I just love the sound of it when Mr. McNally plays it... and when I play it!

The regular strumstick is usually tuned to GDG but there is a list of several other tunings.
The grande strumstick ---the larger one... and the banjo-type that Smokey Mountain makes, is usually tuned to DAD... and has other possible tunings, too.
As you may guess, I have enough if these and their cousins, the canjos, that I have them set ready to go and I can play in about any key that a dude calls out.

Or you can use a capo. They sell those for the strumsticks on McNally's website. That would definitely be easier than having multiple strumsticks when we're playing.... or we could just play every song in the same key.... yeah, right.

Can't wait to hear what your wife thinks when she gets her turn to start exploring!!! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

arbarnhart

Feb-04-2006, 10:07pm

I am confused about what good a capo would do. The strumstick is fretted for major scale relative to the zero fret. Using a capo may give you a different base/open chord but will not change what notes are available to you. In other words, capoing at 1 will give you an open A but you won't be able to play the A major scale. Yhis is not a knock on sticks; I like them. But diatonic tuning has its downside. The price for ease of play is key restriction.

mandolooter

Feb-05-2006, 1:01pm

got one for my kid...she hates it, i love it! She plays trumpet and violin and just took up tenor guitar and mandolin. BIG fun in a little package!

glauber

Feb-05-2006, 3:48pm

I am confused about what good a capo would do. The strumstick is fretted for major scale relative to the zero fret. Using a capo may give you a different base/open chord but will not change what notes are available to you. In other words, capoing at 1 will give you an open A but you won't be able to play the A major scale.
A capo is good for getting scales in different modes, e.g.: minor, dorian, myxolidian, etc.

Dang, i want to buy one of these things for my daughter, now. Problem is, if i do she won't let me play it; it already happened to the uke... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

arbarnhart

Feb-06-2006, 11:46am

Now I sort of understand, but the math of figuring out where to capo for what could still be painful. I am still not sure I completely understand. If you think of all the tones in the octave, to fret for the major scale you start with a nut or zero fret, skip 1, fret 1, skip 1, fret 2, skip 1, fret 1, skip 1, fret 1, skip 1, fret 2 and start over. All you can do with a capo is change your starting point in the loop. In reality, there are usually at least one "extra" fret (the 6+ in dulci-speak) and often more, so it is potentially doable.

It's sort of like the 1-3-5 tuning; I tried that and while it made it possible to play in any key, it made it harder for me in all keys. I want to make myself another one (in an earlier post I mentioned that I changed mine to chromatic) and just leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is.

glauber

Feb-06-2006, 1:29pm

No biggie. Most people (or at least some people... ok, me) learn modes by using different start points in a major scale. Niles' article is a good example (click). (http://www.mandolincafe.com/niles2.html) So if the base note is G and you capo on the first fret, making the base note A, you get a Dorian scale. Next fret would be Prhygian, then Lydian, etc.

In most cases you'd only care for

Dorian - capo on 1st fret
Mixolydian - capo on 5th fret
Aeolian (more or less like minor key) - capo on 6th fret

Incidentally, the major scale (no capo) corresponds to the Ionian mode. A lot of traditional tunes in minor key are actually in Dorian mode.

arbarnhart

Feb-06-2006, 3:10pm

OK - now I see. I did not realize the intervals were consistent with different starting points. I think it comes from playing blues (the root of many of my problems, no doubt http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) where the scale includes a different pattern of intervals included and skipped. I did read a post by a dulci player who pointed out that in G tuning, F was the only really commonly played chord you can't play and that you can play a C bass note by itself for that. This was in reference to trying to use a stick as a general purpose instrument to play at a campfire or at least strum along and throw something into the mix when playing with others.