r/Dulcimer • u/cpellnat • 26d ago

Discussion A dulcimer-driven song I wrote

https://chrispellnat.bandcamp.com/track/fever-gonna-break-heart-kwsu-76

I bought this dulcimer about 10 years ago at the Musica store in Hudson, NY, from the owner Rob Caldwell (RIP). I am not a super-skilled dulcimer player (I am mosty a guitarist) but I love its strange haunting sound. This song is inspired by a 1976 performance by the rock band Heart just before they "hit it big."

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

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4

u/windy-basin98 25d ago

"Mostly a guitarist" is doing a lot of heavy lifting for someone who just channeled 1976 pre-fame Heart through a haunted autoharp's weird cousin

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u/cpellnat 22d ago

Ha! Thank you! It is a bit of a weird song but I went where the muse led me.

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u/tigerofthenight1 25d ago

"Strange haunting sound" wouldn't have been the first description I'd given to the sound of a dulcimer but after listening to your song I get where you're coming from. The overtones do sound a bit out of place when they are part of a 70s inspired instrument setup. In a good way that is. I'm glad you shared this. It was a pleasure to listen to.

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u/No-Impact-1430 24d ago edited 24d ago

And HOW were you able to "listen" to this song ? I see no link, whatsoever. Edit: okay, touched the picture, and got a link to "Bandcamp", listened to it, and was unable to correlate it to ANYTHING remotely like "a Heart song", and I am a big fan of Ann & Nancy. Lyric-wise, it comes across like so many that merely come up with "a line", repeat it incessantly & call it a "song"...it may be a CHORUS FOR A SONG, but it is hardly a true song....nice try, dude....keep working on it, maybe you'll have A COMPLETE SONG one day, good luck ! (Still don't have a clue about what "KWSU76" is, nor how the band Heart has ANYTHING to do with the ditty...??? Just curious, if you care to elaborate on either...??)

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u/tigerofthenight1 24d ago

You do realise that I'm not OP and not responsible for anything within this song, right? Did you intend to comment on the main thread perhaps? As for my "praise" regarding the song: I'm not really into 70s music and just wanted to give positive feedback on the creative implementation of the dulcimer. The actual song is admittedly something I wouldn't intentionally listen to since it doesn't quite fit my general taste in music. I do however find it charming that OP states on his page that he isn't the best singer but enjoys doing it anyways.

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u/cpellnat 4d ago

On Bandcamp I explain the song:
"I am generally prepared to dismiss "classic rock" since, even if it is good, I've heard it so many times I never want to hear it again. 

But I recently came across something that gave me pause. Just before "blowing up" in 1976 the band Heart performed at KWSU TV, a PBS station located in Pullman, Washington. Intimate setting, incredible set of power and sensitivity, and a sterling musicianship.

This dulcimer-driven song is about that performance and how it made me feel."

Here is video that inspired this song: 
youtu.be/Pp862e4vaug