Here's a great way of improving your technique and learning something useful that you can use time and time again.

Fig 1, the diagram on the left shows the treble bridge of a hammered dulcimer. To play the riff, use this sequence:

	R1D	LA5	RD8  
	L1D	R5A	LD8 
	and repeat

The `R' and the `L' show you the hand to use, and the remaining numbers and letters show you the notes. Notice the R5A in the second line, indicating that you play the `A' on the right-hand side of the treble bridge.

I stumbled on this little chap while experimenting with repeated notes and discovered that it could be played over almost any time signature. It works for major or minor pieces because it doesn't use the third note of the chord. There's no rhythmic jiggery pokery, it's simply R,L,R,L,R,L etc. and it all works itself out!

3/4 time: Each beat has two strikes (see fig 2). During the course of 1 bar, the start note (1D) is played on strike 1, beat 1, then strike 2 beat 2. It takes 1 bar (3 beats / 6 strikes) to get the start note (1D) back to strike 1 beat 1.

Fig 2.		1		2
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8
			3

4/4 time: Each beat has 4 strikes (see fig 3). Because there are only 3 notes and 4 strikes per beat, the start note (1D) moves more significantly than in 3/4. The start note moves from strike 1 beat 1 to strike 4 beat 1 to strike 3 beat 2 to strike 2 beat 3 to strike 1 beat 4 to strike 4 beat 4. It takes 3 bars (12 beats / 48 strikes ) to get the start note (1D) back to strike 1 beat 1.

Fig 3		1
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8
			2

				3
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8

		4
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8
			1

5/4: Exactly the same applies here as in 3/4 except this time you count to 5 (see fig 4). Each beat consists of 2 strikes and the start note (1D) moves across the beats in a similar manner to 4/4. this time signature also takes 3 bars (15 beats / 30 strikes) to get the start note (1D) back to strike 1 beat 1.

Fig 4:		1		2
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8
			3

		4		5
		R1D	LA5	RD8
		L1D	R5A	LD8
			1

There are however some limitations due to the nature of the HD. Only a certain amount of notes are repeated and consequently you can only play the Circle of Death in the following places:

Note: Treat each note in fig 5 as a potential start note or No.1 note and use the same pattern as in fig 1.

All in all this multi purpose riff has served me well over the years. I hope you will find it as useful and fun to play with as I have.

Good luck - Maclaine

P.S. don't get dizzy!!

Maclaine Colston © 1996, All rights reserved. Reproduced from the Nonsuch Club's newsletter with permission.