Are you totally lost as to how to tune your dulcimer strings to begin learning to play?
Most players these days start learning in the key of D, choosing either DAA tuning or DAd tuning. But you also must be in the right octave or you may break your strings by tightening them too high.
Click on THIS LINK to find a very handy online tuning aid. See the piano keyboard pictured? Click on the key marked "D3". That's a low sounding note of D that you can tune your heaviest bass string to.
Next... click on the key marked "A3" and tune your middle string to that note.
Lastly, you can tune your single or double melody string(s) to either A3 A3 as well (for a DAA tuning), or to D4 D4 if you want to tune to DAd (also known as DAdd if you have 2 melody strings).
Your melody string or pair of melody strings are closest to you when the dulcimer is in your lap. The bass string is furthest away from you with the dulcimer in your lap.
Notice the open heavy bass string has the lowest sounding note on your dulcimer, D3. Also notice on the piano keyboard how D4 sounds a whole octave higher than D3. And notice how A3 sounds somewhere in the middle between those two d's.
Great, helpful information, but I have to tell you, the kid steals the show. Just adorable!!!
ReplyDeletethanks so much! i've been trying to find an online tuner and exactly how to tune my dulcimer for ages...now i can start on the road to learn to play :)
ReplyDeleteAs a person who longs to play the dulcimer (yet knows very little about music), I truly appreciate the work you've done here. It's totally accessible to those that don't have much of a background in music. I just tuned my dulcimer after being confused and even intimidated by it for so long. And it was so easy.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!
Thank you so much for your comments!
ReplyDeleteI'm *so happy* that this info was helpful to you.
That's really the purpose of my whole blog, to make it easy for everyone to play music on their dulcimer without having a lot of previous music experience or music theory knowledge. It's great to know it's working. :)
does it matter what tuning you choose? daa or dad?
ReplyDeleteMine is tuned to DADD...it sounds lovely.....but im a newbie and dont know much at all....when I've gone to you tube to look at some step by step dulcimer lessons, I often find that they are in the other tuning...daa. Is one better than the other>?....Can you still play the same songs?
Blongs- You can play in either DAA or DAd, and you can switch back and forth too! But...if you are using tabs then you should use the tuning that the tab calls for otherwise the fret numbers called for will be incorrect.
ReplyDeleteYou CAN play the same songs, but you will play them on different frets depending on whether you are tuned DAA or DAd.
Hi, Strumelia, and Hi to all from Italy!
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy and proud about that you've do for Mountain dulcimer! here in europe this wonderful instrument it more or less disappeared and only in France ther's someone that still plays it.
You in US build instruments, you play and I thank you very much for this!
gianni