About Athens Dulcimers

• Jam Schedule: 1st and 3rd Thursdays.
• 1 P.M. we start jammin’ so get there early to get tuned up and visit. We stop at 2:30 p.m.
• Click here to see our full announcements and schedule.
• Meeting Address: The Athens Recreation Center has moved to a NEW location:  Athens Recreation Center, 21821 Sportsplex Loop, Athens, AL 35611  

• We do not have dues!

Many people from other clubs always want to know what the Athens Dulcimer Jam Group (ADJG) does that makes us so successful. The following is what we tell them, and is also useful for our members to review periodically:

• We are a dulcimer group and we welcome certain string instruments that are not too loud, such as guitars and autoharps, as long as they don’t take over the sound and flavor of the mountain dulcimers and provided you already know how to play that instrument. Our jams are not the place to “learn” or “practice” any instrument other than a dulcimer. 
• Although we all love banjo music we have learned the hard way that banjos and dulcimers in our jams do not go together well because a single banjo will drown out a bunch of dulcimers. No offense to you banjo players.
• We don’t expect perfection
  • We leave the level/complexity of the tune up to whoever’s turn it is. We don’t do all easy then all hard songs.
  • If someone messes up don’t start over, keep playing and try to improve on the next verse.
  • There are clubs where everyone plays exactly alike, and if someone messes up the whole group stops the song and start over from the beginning. That is embarrassing and un-motivating. Plus, it really doesn’t sound as good when everyone plays exactly alike.
  • We typically play old-time tunes and hymns and as a rule very few modern or “advanced” tunes.
  • “Advanced” is a subjective term, many tunes seem complicated until you learn it, so we really don’t make the distinction. When we refer to “advanced” tunes we’re talking about very complicated tunes that require knowledge of music theory and the ability to play complicated chords and looking for things like a “D7”.
  • A tune should never be so complicated that anyone who doesn’t know it well can’t at least open strum to the tune.
• Tight circle
  • Sit as close together as possible, knees nearly touching (or as close as you can tolerate).
  • We’ve seen groups play with circles so large that no one can really hear each other which leads to audio chaos.
  • Large circles create confusion and ruins the intimate feeling, referred back to the “front porch” feel mentioned above.
•  Discourage the reliance on tab books/stands at the jam
• • • Save the tabs and stands for home or formal lessons.
    • It’s so much easier to just grab your dulcimer and head out the door than to grab a couple armloads of stuff just to go jam. You’re not going on a safari.
    • Lugging around tab books and stands takes away time as everyone has to set them up.
    • Tab books and stands are bulky take up space, forcing a larger circle.
    • Waiting for people to find every tune in their tab book takes time away from actually playing.
    • You’d be surprised at how much quicker, and better, you learn to play the tunes when you wean yourself from relying on the tabs.
    • If you don’t know the tune, play the parts you know and open strum the rest of it. It’s the best way to learn a tune.
• If you’re performing for an event with an audience don’t use tab books or music stands
  • In addition to the reasons above, tab books and stands hide the dulcimer from the audience and seeing the dulcimer in action is half the experience for the audience.
• Be considerate
  • Discourage members from strumming or “noodling” when someone is trying to make announcements or in between songs when the next person is trying to announce/start their song.
  • Everyone needs to follow the tempo/style of the person calling out/starting their song and not take off on their own leaving the person whose turn it is behind.
  • Save solos for special events. We don’t mean someone singing while everyone accompanies them. We just don’t want players having to sit as spectators with their dulcimer on their laps.
  • When someone is singing, play a little softer than you normally would.
  • Keep talking to a minimum between tunes.
  • Have your tune ready when it’s your turn to announce and start a tune.  
  • Announce what you are playing so everyone can hear.
  • Listen to and follow the speed of the person leading the tune.
  • Guitar players should be spaced evenly around the circle so they are not all bunched up in the same spot.
  • When playing for an audience guitar players should be in the back row as we are emphasizing the mountain dulcimer.