[This page updated 9-26-22.]

This page contains links to short video previews of all my QDF 8.0 workshops. There’s also a handy link to each class page on the QDF website to make registration easier.

Registration is active as of Sunday, August 28, at 4pm Eastern (3pm Central). Visit https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/ for more information and to register.

Here’s the Goodies

[CLASS FULL] Stephen Seifert: "Chord College for Backup and Chord-Melody" (Friday, Session 2, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 3 - Intermediate) 8MD051

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/eztiHS4qIQU

You don’t have to memorize a chord book to know where all your major and minor chords are all over the fingerboard. I’m going to walk you through an easy-to-remember system that fits on just two pages. Not only does this help with backup and chord-melody, it will also make you a better reader. Actually, it’s a big part of everything I do. I’ll show you.

- - - - -

Stephen Seifert: "Blues Backup and Leads - Keys, Chords, Bending and Licks" (Friday, Session 4, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 4 - Upper Intermediate) 8MD106

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/AZkGDofjjkQ

[THIS IS A TWO-HOUR CLASS.] In this two-hour class, I’m going to presume you know at least a little about the blues and/or you’re ready to move through a good bit of material. Using some great handouts, we'll cover 12-bar form, using the number system to communicate chords, back up with simple and fancy chords, different keys with their pros and cons, and blues licks with authentic bends (easy micro-bends).

- - - - -

[CLASS FULL] Stephen Seifert: "Whiskey Before Breakfast: My YouTube Performance Note-for-Note" (Friday, Session 6, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 5 - Advanced) 8MD140

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/HcwsdNPJphA

I’ll walk you through 9 pages of a note-for-note transcription of what has become my most famous performance. This YouTube video of “Whiskey Before Breakfast” has about 1.8 million views. In it, I play through the tune 3 times, all over the fingerboard, using a bunch of different advanced techniques. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly I’m doing on a fast tune, this is your chance to find out.

- - - - -

[CLASS FULL] Stephen Seifert: "Intro to Finger-Picking for Intermediates" (Saturday, Session 1, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 3 - Intermediate) 8MD052

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/i2Z7vixiDtY

We’re going to use three fingers on the right hand to pluck the strings as we play simple chords and melodies with the left hand. The tunes are slow and pretty. The sound reminds me of someone playing a harp. These arrangements will NOT drive up your blood pressure. If you’ve been wanting to learn fingerpicking, this is a great place to start.

- - - - -

[CLASS FULL] Stephen Seifert: "Develop an Accurate and Entertaining Strum as Soon as Possible" (Saturday, Session 3, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 2 - Novice) 8MD016

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/eQUGDo33zMo

Players of all levels have trouble with their strum. I’m going to show you a simple system you can use on any tune. You don’t even have to be a good reader for this to work. I’ll bring a bunch of playable tunes so we can practice the concepts for the whole hour. Get a good strum early on. I can help.

- - - - -

Stephen Seifert: "Introduction to Flat-Picking for Intermediates" (Saturday, Session 5, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 3 - Intermediate) 8MD053

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/4ZQaz-sm3DY

Flat-picking is using a pick to hit one string at a time to play melodies across the strings. It sounds like what you hear on guitar and mandolin. Rather than get too technical, I’m going to show you the basics along with a few helpful exercises. We’ll then play through a bunch of reasonable flat-picked arrangements so you have something to work on the next bunch of months.

- - - - -

Stephen Seifert: "Create Your Own Finger-Picking Arrangements" (Saturday, Session 7, Mountain Dulcimer, Level 4 - Upper Intermediate) 8MD107

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/s7780GNsq94

I pick a melody. I figure out if it can be played on the dulcimer, and I figure out what key, tuning, capo position, etc. I decide where and how the melody fits best. I use the three main chord shapes to guide how I fit chords to the melody. This is my foundational version. I next bring in filler picking, ornaments, licks, intros, and endings. I’ll show you how you can do the same.

- - - - -

[CLASS FULL] Stephen Seifert: "Join Jams with Whistle in Multiple Keys Using JUST ONE WHISTLE" (Saturday, Session 6, Penny Whistle, Level 3 - Intermediate) 8PW003

Video Preview of this class: https://youtu.be/q9PCKAc5yWo

A typical dulcimer jam does tunes in the keys of D, Em, G, A, and Am. Experienced whistlers can go all night using just one D whistle. I’ll show you how each scale is fingered. We’ll then move a couple major tunes through all the major keys and a minor tune through all the minor keys. I’ll also share with you 8 simple but essential arpeggios that will make tunes in any key easier to play.