tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17973508114613365182024-03-13T20:15:14.097-06:00Strum Pluck and DroneBeth Hansen-Buth is a musician specializing in small stringed instruments, specifically Autoharp, Mountain Dulcimer, Kantele, and Ukulele. Music is life.Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-25156908729430715132016-01-11T18:29:00.001-06:002016-01-11T18:29:28.535-06:00Sock monsters, picks, and caposIn my quest to learn guitar, I broke down and took my Free To a Good Home guitar in to have it set up to lower the action. If it was lowered, it wasn't by much, but the fret board is much cleaner and they switched it to light Martin Silk & Steel strings. So daily practice has resumed and calouses are coming along nicely. Chords that I can play reasonably well now are G,D,E,C,A,Em,Am,Dm,B7. Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-10699768932123852462015-12-09T14:35:00.001-06:002015-12-09T14:35:41.072-06:00Plant Your Hope With Good SeedsSometimes I just need to drink in music, and when I do, adding a visual element is wonderful. YouTube is a great place for that, and today I discovered that lots of Game of Thrones fans have been making music videos focusing on Arya Stark. This led me to discovering a new song I want to cover, check it out:
There has been lots of daily practice of guitar for me, but it will be many moons before Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-52231572801473773362015-12-01T17:45:00.000-06:002015-12-01T17:45:01.005-06:00Third Time's the Charm...Around my 14th birthday, or was it Christmas? I got a guitar for my Dad as a gift. It was a Yamaha 6 String and I learned a few chords and played it for a few months before setting it aside to grow my fingernails long. Yup, I was That Girl, all about the makeup and nails and hair and cloths. At some point it got traded in for something or another, I don't even remember what happened to it, to be Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-21342296651094684862015-11-24T16:19:00.001-06:002015-11-24T16:19:19.497-06:00For the Love of BluegrassThis past Saturday my brother and I went to the Harvest Jam that is put on annually be the Minnesota Bluegrass Old-Time Music Association (MNBOTMA). I've been listening to Bluegrass Saturday Morning for the past few years and really enjoying it, even though my go to music has always been Celtic Folk Music if I were to choose a favorite. I brought my Ukulele so I could join in on the Ukulele jam. Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-47723683332808697802015-11-20T14:03:00.001-06:002015-11-20T14:04:30.936-06:00Why? Because I Can
Last night was my second time performing at the Original Works Open Mic at the Dunn Brothers in Chaska. This time I brought my autoharp, and utilized the pick-up for the first time ever. Rosie sounded great plugged in, I was nervous and fumbled on the chord bars a few times, but my vocals were strong and it was really fun.
Kent Hansen playing Original Music at Open Mic night
My Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-67841774993620113272015-10-21T20:03:00.000-06:002015-10-21T20:05:06.001-06:00Powered by Decaf
Last Thursday night I did not strum, I did not pluck, and I did not drone. What I did do is stand behind a microphone and sing a song that I wrote, with a drummer for back-up. (Thanks Jason!) So begins the next phase of my musical adventure.
I'm going from singing for my cats, to singing in public. It's a really big step for me, because I do have problems with stage fright. But over time I Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-56580905431075005872015-02-21T09:49:00.000-06:002015-02-21T09:49:05.507-06:00The Ukulele - Playful Kitten of the Guitar FamilyTwo years ago in April of 2013 on a whim I bought an Ukulele (Ooo-koo-le-le) and joined the Ukulele Underground forum. I kind of learned a few chords and started learning a couple of songs at that time, and I even brought it out for my Spring Music party. During said party, I discovered that keeping it on my makeshift stand (an easel book display) it was easy to knock over, so the back of the Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-24532261282602274142013-11-08T10:42:00.001-06:002013-11-08T10:55:51.350-06:00DAD - Dulcimer Acquisition DiseaseThere is a longing in my heart right now that sings out to the tune of "Basketball Jones" only with Dulcimer in the place of the basketball, and I've got it bad. Last night I cleaned my dulcimer, oiled the fretboard and changed the strings. My sweet Mary Jane looks and sounds wonderful. A week from tomorrow will be my 5th Annual Fall Music Party, and I am very excited to have a Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-81437161833106052112013-03-31T12:08:00.001-06:002013-03-31T12:12:07.704-06:00Review of FolkRoots Travel Dulcimer
Last year I was lucky enough to hear about a free trial of a new model of dulcimer. The folks over at Folk Craft Instruments were designing a dulcimer based on an old FolkRoots Travel Dulcimer and were asking for volunteers to try it out and give it a review. So I signed up and many months later, the FolkRoots Travel Dulcimer arrived, with a Honduras Mahogany Body, Honduras Mahogany Soundboard, Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-41091823251637440462013-01-08T20:16:00.000-06:002013-01-08T20:16:59.261-06:00My Mountain Dulcimer is like a kittenMy mountain dulcimer is like a kitten, she sleeps in her stand looking all pretty, somehow more adorable each time I glance her way. A couple of days ago she even helped me find my way out of a pickle. I've been wanting to learn Joni Mitchell's "River" for some time now, and due to the variety of chords not usually found in a diatonic dulcimer, I thought my autoharp would be just the instrument. Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-57870167605848488762012-12-09T17:40:00.000-06:002012-12-09T17:40:15.936-06:00Kantele Journey
Taking up the Kantele is a journey through another land, mainly Finland, and one where I do not speak the language. But I think I have met a guide, and I will be contacting her about learning to play the 10 string Kantele. It is none other than Diane Jarvi, and I had the pleasure to make her acquaintance a week ago. I have been thoroughly enjoying the new albums of hers that I picked up, and Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-37614480037081351102012-10-22T20:16:00.000-06:002014-04-28T15:27:36.746-06:00A Long Expected Party
My posts here of late have been few and far between. It's not that I haven't been pursuing music, it's quite the opposite. Since I last posted I have completed building my ten string Kantele, pictures were taken by my sister and husband and I have yet to obtain them. When I do I will be certain to create a nice long blog post of my kantele building adventures.
Rehearsals for Season 4 of the Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-3712122968178820282012-09-12T20:54:00.002-06:002012-09-12T20:54:41.126-06:00Dream Autoharp ArrivesThe long wait is ended, and my Dream Autoharp, the d'Aigle Desert Rose 18 chord chromatic, is resting comfortably in her stand between the bookcase and my little electric fireplace in my studio. In the end, she did not get the chord bar layout that I selected, but the standard one. It was a surprise, but I found one song that I can play in my book that I wouldn't have been able to with my Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-49708939215679986292012-08-19T10:52:00.000-06:002012-08-19T10:52:29.683-06:00Them's Pickin' words
I don't think I've ever taken a picture from my facebook feed and posted it here before. Well, there is a first time for everything, because I love everything about it. Here's why:
It's true
It's on a pick
The pick is on a chain that you can wear around your neck
Yup, that pretty much sums up what music can do. It keeps bringing me back, time and time again. When I need to express myself and Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-46174510121634621602012-08-17T12:09:00.001-06:002012-08-17T12:09:42.344-06:00Jammin' at Merlin's RestLast Tuesday night I resolved myself to be brave and join in the Tuesday night jam at Merlin's Rest. When I arrived with my dulcimer, book, and purse, I would have awkwardly stumbled in through the door, but a waitress opened it for me. I've known about the Jam for a long time, but I just never got the courage to join in until now. This was a big step for me, as there usually are some Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-54955205334991803052012-08-12T11:47:00.000-06:002012-08-12T11:47:05.157-06:00Musical AdventuresOnce upon a time the warriors were in a battle and it wasn't going well. They needed to call in for additional reinforcements, and so they used the Merseberg Incantation:
'Once the Idisi sat, sat here and there,
some bound fetters, some hampered the army,
some untied fetters:
Escape from the fetters, flee from the enemies.'
Such is the way of things, that when all else fails, calling for the Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-4117687253299380802012-07-30T11:13:00.000-06:002012-07-30T13:11:39.738-06:00Finnish Folk MusicFalling in love with the music of my Finnish ancestry was easy. It is beautiful and many songs can be played on my five string kantale. The Finns are known for their rather dark sense of humor, but there is another way of looking at it. Marjorie Edgar was a collector of Finnish folk music in the first half of the twentieth century and she had this to say about it:
Finnish dance tunes are gay Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-73965886356750580432012-07-21T08:37:00.000-06:002012-07-21T09:06:03.935-06:00Dream to Reality: Autoharp Aquisition Part 2
My vision of what my life is with music is pictured here, specifically, my new Autoharp sitting inside Bag End in Hobbiton. The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien have, for the past 30 years, been a delight and inspiration to me. This coming winter The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be coming out in theaters near you, (get your Facebook covers now!) and I am Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-19563187412238036712012-07-20T12:18:00.001-06:002012-07-20T12:42:50.277-06:00Itchy FingersIt's summer and I have itchy fingers. They are itching on a daily basis for the Autoharp that I have on layaway. It will be several weeks yet before I get my new baby, but they are itching nonetheless. This malady is coming with increasing frequency and intensity as the day of arrival draws near. Visions of songs dance in my head, the ones that I learned on Autoharp that I never learned on Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-23995581208561292472012-06-30T18:36:00.000-06:002012-06-30T18:38:19.309-06:00Strange Zithers & Autoharp Gourmet Beef Stew
There's a pot of beef stew simmering on the stove, and my fingers are itching to play autoharp. I've tried plying them with my kantele, my dulcimer, even pulling out the wood pieces for my kantele kit and I still have itchy fingers. This ailment was probably triggered by writing out a check for my next payment for my Dream Autoharp that is on layaway with d'Aigle Autoharps.
I've also had Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-59902332041738784552012-06-25T11:34:00.000-06:002012-06-25T11:48:33.262-06:00Some Assembly RequiredSix months ago I bought a new Kantele kit, which I never mentioned here in my blog. Why would a zither enthusiast like myself not mention this you may ask? After all, I was incredibly excited about the opportunity to build my own kantele, and I poured over the videos showing my how to build it. But it was a secret, because I bought one for my twin sister Jane too, and our birthday is June 17th. Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-58109780125239477622012-06-23T14:06:00.000-06:002012-06-23T14:06:51.918-06:00Neo-Folk Romantique
It's June, the month of wine and roses, and I am listening to Sharon Knight play on her album Neofolk Romantique. A folk musician, cultural creative, and super cool redhead, Sharon's voice is the perfect accompaniment to a cloudy Saturday in Minnesota. Last night I saw her in concert with her talented guitarist and colaborator Winter. It was a rare treat and a feast for this folk music Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-58958341780737926942012-05-12T10:13:00.003-06:002012-05-12T10:24:04.687-06:00Kantele Spring
It's another beautiful Spring day in Minnesota. The sky is blue and the breeze is blowing dandelion fluff all around. Too bad we don't like dandelions too much in these parts, I liked them well enough as a child. In the neighborhood I grew up in, we would pick the dandelions when they were in full seed, make a wish and blow them off the stem. If the seeds traveled all the way around the world Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-27500719169486771652012-05-05T09:15:00.000-06:002012-05-05T09:17:18.502-06:00Dulcimer Day Delay
Today is Dulcimer Day in Duluth, and I'm not there. Nor am I spending all day playing my dulcimer and learning finger picking techniques via DVD as I had originally planned. I never got around to ordering the picks or the DVD. Instead I will be puttering about the house cleaning and doing some painting of walls. That way I can get the place spruced up a little more in time for my Third Annual Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1797350811461336518.post-43694985982549426372012-04-28T07:33:00.000-06:002012-04-28T07:33:47.387-06:00Play Date
Today my mountain dulcimer Mary Ann and I are hopping in my PT Cruiser to go play with my big brother. He plays the guitar, so we are going to have a jam practice together. My sweet Mary Ann turned one year old on April 19th, and I forgot to note it here in the blog. Actually, I forgot to note it in my life, but that's another story. I've had a very busy couple of weeks at work, and so all Beth Hansen-Buthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079069375010924245noreply@blogger.com1