About the Mountain Dulcimer

There are many different shapes of dulcimers. The appalachia dulcimer is shaped like an hourglass, or like a woman, as many say. In those days women playing a stringed instrument were not allowed to stand in front of the men. So, they played the dulcimer, which was played on the lap. It was considered to be a woman's instrument. Today men and women alike play the dulcimer.

The dulcimer is used to play many different types of music. Blues, jazz, folk, Celtic, Elizabethan, classical, ragtime, Cajun, gospel, and rock and roll and more are played with this instrument. The dulcimer can be fretted, bowed, fingerpicked etc. to bring out different sounds. There are 3 string, 4 string, 5 string, 6 string and even 8 string dulcimers. There is a 4 string equidistant dulcimer and bass dulcimers too. Over the years many dulcimer music festivals have begun. There is the popular Mardi Gras dulcimer music festival every year. Many universities have dulcimer classes which will teach you how to play the dulcimer or even how to build the dulcimer. In a Carolina university they dedicate a week to the dulcimer. Many of the top dulcimer players and teachers get together for workshops and classes and jams. Everyone is invited, from beginner dulcimer players to people who just love the music.

Originally the dulcimer was strummed with a quill. Now a pick is used or it is fingerpicked. A small piece of polished bone was used to bar the dulcimer. Today a short piece of dowel or your thumb is used. The dowel is called a noter. Many chords can be played on this instrument.

Many modes of tuning bring out different sounds. The most popular modes are the Ionian mode and the Mixolydian mode. They are popular modes for the mountain dulcimer. The Ionian mode is tuned in D-A-A and the Mixolydian mode is tuned in D-A-D. Tuners of different kinds are used to tune the dulcimer. Many tune it by ear. Musical notation can be used to learn to play or you can learn to play by ear. Dulcimers are one of the easiest string instruments to learn. You can go as far as your imagination will take you in playing the dulcimer.

To hold a dulcimer correctly is important from the beginning. Find a low chair with no arms. The dulcimer will sit on your lap. The peg head will be to your left and the bridge to your right. The dulcimer should be at an angle, placing the peg side toward the left knee. This puts the 3rd fret over the knee. Pull the bridge end in toward your body. When you press on any string, in any location, the dulcimer shouldn't tip. If it does, then readjust it till it is comfortable. It is a good idea to learn the different parts of a dulcimer. It is also important to have good strings. A .022 wound string is used for the bass string, a .013 is used for the middle string and a .012 is used for the melody strings. I am concentrating on the mountain, 4 string dulcimer. A good idea to keep the dulcimer from slipping off of your lap is to use a car chamois cloth. Just rinse out the cloth and let it dry before using it. It will have a good grip. I like the color of a chamois too.

Dulcimers are handmade and very beautiful. The peg head can have wood or metal tuners. Most dulcimers have 17 frets. Some have a 6 1/2 fret and some don't. Try to learn the frets from the beginning without numbering them. This will help you in the long run. Your dulcimer should have sound holes in the soundbox itself. Many are different shapes, such as, hearts, flowers and even hummingbirds. The strum hollow is below all the frets and this is where you will strum the strings. Many strum in different places to get different sounds. The bridge is below the strum hollow. The four string dulcimer has two melody strings, a middle string and a bass string (looking from closest to you with it sitting on your lap). The two melody strings are close together and are held down by the noter while the dulcimer is strummed or fingerpicked.

Tuning the dulcimer can be easy. It is usually tuned in the key of 'D'. Buy a guitar tuner and learn about its' simple operation. Tune the bass string to 'D'. Tune the melody strings to 'A' and the middle string to 'A'. It is easy to start out with the bass string a little floppy and then pluck the bass string and tighten the peg with your right hand until it reaches the correct pitch. "Open" is the unfretted string. When you fret, you place your thumb or noter just to the left of that fret. When you pluck the bass string...open, first fret, second fret, third fret and fourth fret, you have just played the first five tones of the major scale. Remember Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do? The actual tones you played are D, E, F#, G and A below middle C. Other modes are Dorian: D-A-G and Aeolian: D-A-C. No tuning or mode is better than the others. It takes practice, but soon you will get tha hang of it.

There are different sizes and thicknesses of picks to use. There is a special dulcimer pick which is larger than a guitar pick, but pick one that is most comfortable for you. A strong strumming pattern is a must in playing the dulcimer. This is because you are interpreting the rhythmic note values. You can strum away from you or toward you but one has to be stronger than the other. Strong doesn't necessarily mean loud. I learned the out-strum and it seems to be easiest and prevents coordination problems. If you are left-handed, don't worry. Keep the strings and everything the same. You will be using your left dominate hand for barring. So, this is a good instrument for lefties too.