how to tune a dulcimer

The dulcimer's tuning allows a player to play a drone chord on open strings while playing a melody over top of it--similar to a sitar or bagpipe. The head should be to your left. Dulcimers are diatonic instruments meaning they can't play sharps and flats. Note that this step and the one before it are identical in each tuning method, so if you master these two steps, you can use just about any tuning method. The first time you tune a dulcimer, be prepared to spend a while on it! This is to be expected, as the steel wire will stretch. Usually, though, you can tune your dulcimer at home without any professional help. Tuning your dulcimer can be a difficult task for you if you are just beginning dulcimer. It has a tendency to "weep" and "wail," and it works well with many traditional Scottish and Irish songs. Above that will be two single strings--one in the middle and one at the top (bass string). You'll hear gospel, traditional, hornpipes, Irish jigs and more! If you are still unable to determine which knob adjusts which string, ask an expert to help you. The dulcimer's tuning allows a player to play a drone chord on open strings while playing a melody over top of it--similar to a sitar or bagpipe. Make sturdy repairs before retightening strings. The Dorian Mode scale begins on the fourth fret and runs through the eleventh fret. Press down on the bass string just left of the fourth fret on your dulcimer. Electronic tuner… Players will tune the strings to different combinations of notes (modes) to achieve different sounds. A … The … Simple dulcimer tuner to tune up your dulcimer. Hammered Dulcimer Video and Tuning Resources To introduce folks to the various instruments we build and to dulcimer music, we have put together several videos. Subject: RE: How to tune a 3 string dulcimer From: JohnInKansas Date: 24 Jun 08 - 02:45 PM For most people, one would say that you tune a three-string dulcimer exactly like a four-string dulcimer, since a four-string dulcimer is a three-string dulcimer but with the first (nearest to you in normal playing position) string … The modern dulcimer usually has a series of 20 frets down the length of it and 3 strings which are often tuned D - A - D. This means the top and bottom strings are tuned to D, and the middle string to A. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. A four-string dulcimer has one bass string, one middle string, and two melody strings. If you do not have an instrument that you can use when tuning this bass string, use your voice. When using a guitar, play the D below middle C by plucking the open fourth string. Try fretting the first or melody string at the 2nd fret instead of the bass, as shown and see how it sounds. The mountain dulcimer is enormously flexible and can be tuned in just about any way you’d like. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. For the more experienced, who need only to hear the notes, select the “quick-tune” option. Dulcimer Crossing brings easy hammered dulcimer lessons and mountain dulcimer lessons to people who are unable to get to workshops because of their jobs, and to those who don't have a teacher nearby. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. I play all of these chords on an MD tuned DAd with a 1-1/2 fret and 6-1/2 fret. They have an open, ringing quality to them that is due, in large part, to their open tuning. When there is a set of strings (two bass strings or two melody strings), all strings in that set should be tuned in the same manner. Press your finger in between two frets, and now strum. (Ordinarily, 5 mm "zither pins" are used, similar to, but smaller in diameter than piano tuning pins, which come in various sizes ranging upwards from "1/0" or 7 mm.) For several years now, I ’ve heard hammered dulcimer players talk about wanting to embellish a tune. There are two ways of doing so, which are called out-strum and in-strum. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English literature from Marshall University with an emphasis on language studies (linguistics). Note that the bass string is usually referred to as the "third" string even though you will tune it first. That actually means that you can press the other string on the third fret and tune the string you want to tune to the same tone. They have an open, ringing quality to them that is due, in large part, to their open tuning. It is called "fifth-interval" because the treble bridge is positioned such that the note on the left side of the bridge is a perfect fifth above the note on the right. Place your index or middle finger, whichever one is the most comfortable for you, on the bottom string. Try fretting the first or melody string at the 2nd fret instead of the bass, as shown and see how it sounds. The article says, "Tune the third fret or bass string." Enjoy online dulcimer lessons at your own pace, within your personal time frame, and play dulcimer music in the comfort of … An alternate method would be to raise the bass and middle strings up one full step. Two types of instrument stake claim to the name—both have different shapes, different methods of being played, and diverse origins. The bottom or melody strings are often doubled, but both are tuned the same and are fretted together when played. You will usually have to loosen the melody string a little when making this adjustment. This step and the one immediately before it are the same for each different tuning method described here, so mastering these two steps is a crucial effort. Place the dulcimer in your lap. The mountain dulcimer is a unique American folk instrument and is very easy to play. A five-string dulcimer has two bass strings, one middle string, and two melody strings. To tune your mountain dulcimer to aolian from mixolydian, you can use two methods. This may not be a D note, but it will come close enough for most purposes. For the next string you can either repeat this step with the tuner or you can pluck the first string and adjust the second string to match it. We also want to provide helpful How-To videos that show information such as tuning your dulcimer or changing dulcimer … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Tune-a-Dulcimer-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tune-a-Dulcimer-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Tune-a-Dulcimer-Step-1.jpg\/aid4585607-v4-728px-Tune-a-Dulcimer-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"