Hammered Dulcimer ragamuffin style! [Paperback]

Jay Kidwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2001

Learn to play rhythm and accompaniment, slow and sweet or fast and furious, through simple chord shapes and hammering patterns. Modeled after the playing style of Rich Mullins.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The ragamuffin style of hammered dulcimer playing is attributed to the late Rich Mullins. His unique style, that impressed all who witnessed it, is very simple and unbelievably versatile. The ragamuffin style of playing the hammered dulcimer will augment any advanced players technique and could easily be sufficient if they are new to the hammered dulcimer. The ragamuffin style teaches you how to play just about any song through simple and unique chord shapes and hammering patterns and brings the functionality of the hammered dulcimer up near the level of the acoustic guitar. It's a simple system that, once learned, you will never want to be without. To help you learn the ragamuffin style quickly, online computer resources are available that provide video clips, sound files and additional information on Rich Mullins and his style of playing the hammered dulcimer. The ragamuffin style is just a small part of the legacy of Rich Mullins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 77 pages
• Publisher: Rollin Jay Kidwell (December 12, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 0963971816
• ISBN-13: 978-0963971814
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, June 26, 2003

By 

S. Ford (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammered Dulcimer ragamuffin style! (Paperback)

I have had a hammered dulcimer with the hope of learning to play the way that Rich Mullins did for quite a few years. I read all the instruction I could get my hands on to no avail. Finally - Yes Finally - I saw Hammered Dulcimer Ragamuffin Style! and got a copy. Wow! In just a matter of an hour or so I was playing along with some of Rich's music off a CD. People have heard me play and can't believe I have only been playing for a couple of weeks. I am now learning to embellish the patterns in the book and am very excited about what I'll be able to do a few months from now. Great book! Simple and effective.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Teaches You to Play Ragamuffin Style - FAST!, July 7, 2003

By 

A Dulcimer Teacher (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammered Dulcimer ragamuffin style! (Paperback)

I am quite confused by a previous review by Ray who slammed this book. He evidently DID NOT read the editorial review and somehow created in his own mind that this was a collection of Rich Mullins music or something. I don't know why Ray would want to document his stupidity for all to read. He is the kind of person that made Rich angry. I teach hammered dulcimer and I purchased this book out of curiosity because I enjoy Rich's music. I now recommend it to all my students as a foundational playing style even if they don't know who Rich Mullins is becuase it is such a versatile technique. This book will teach anyone to play the hammered dulcimer ragamuffin style the way Rich Mullin's played. My students learn the technique very quickly and it generates quite a bit of excitement for them. Dr. Kidwell tells you that this book is an instructional book that will get you started playing the hammered ducimer ragamuffin style. Indeed, the book teaches the ragamuffin style very effectively and goes further by providing some simplified music theory so you can quickly progress into more and more difficult songs. Ray also stated that this book did not come with a CD which is true. It does come with ONLINE RESOURCES that include sound files to play along with and quick videos that SHOW you what the hammering patterns should look like. There are also links to Rich Mullins songs etc. Actually, Dr. Kidwell did a splendid job in constructing a very simple, yet, effective instruction method for what appears to be a complicated playing style. I certainly have enjoyed the book and my students love it. Dr. Kidwell, pay no attention to Ray, you are right on with this book! Thanks

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Learned The Basics Very Quickly Thanks to Jay's Book, April 17, 2003

By 

Roadie (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammered Dulcimer ragamuffin style! (Paperback)

March 2003

TWO MONTHS AGO, I was inspired by the video "Live - Lufkin Texas" ...that I wanted to learn to play the hammered dulcimer like Rich Mullins. (If you have not seen the video, and you are either a fan of Rich Mullins or the Hammered Dulcimer, you'd love it).

ONE MONTH AGO, I purchased an Ardie 15/14 off of ebay and excitedly drove to Amarillo to pick it up. I never touched a HD before this. I have some rather limited experience on the violin, but any serious music playing goes all the way back to my Jr. High School days back in the early 70's.

About THREE WEEKS AGO, maybe even less, I received Jay Kidwell's book.

LAST WEEK, I started practicing with some musicians and singers from the church that I attend.

During practice, none of them believed me, that I had only been playing less than three weeks. They also don't believe me when I tell them it is an easy instrument to learn using Jay Kidwell's teaching. But to make a long story short, if they want to think that I am some sort of Hammered Dulcimer expert, that's fine, as long as they keep praising The One who deserves all our praise, Jesus.

Thank you Jay, for giving me the instruction and confidence to start playing publicly in such a tremendously short period of time. And it is so much fun and sounds so good! While I am not near what Rich could do, I plan on getting there one day. Thanks for such a great book.