Table of Contents
How is A hammered dulcimer tuned?
The instrument is tuned in major scale sequences. The major scales available on most dulcimers with the traditional tuning are D, G, C, F, and sometimes A and E. B minor, E minor, and other modes associated with those major scales can also be found.
What is A 12 11 dulcimer?
The name originates from the Latin word dulcis and the Greek word melos, which translates to “Sweet Tune.” This particular hammered dulcimer is a 12/11, which means there are 12 courses of strings crossing the treble bridge on the left, and 11 courses of strings crossing the bass bridge on the right.
What is the range of the dulcimer?
Most other dulcimers are tuned to a diatonic scale with ranges of two to three octaves. Dulcimers were reasonably common domestic and concert instruments in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Is it hard to tune A hammered dulcimer?
It only looks complicated. And if you have tuned any other instrument, you will find that tuning the hammered dulcimer is really no different–just with more strings. Once beginners learn the basics and go through it methodically, it becomes pretty easy. You might even enjoy it!
What key is A hammered dulcimer in?
Most traditional American hammered dulcimers have the major keys of F, C, G and D easily available, which works well for a variety of musical styles like old-time, bluegrass, hymns, Celtic tunes, and even some pop music.
What is the standard tuning for a dulcimer?
There are many ways you can tune a dulcimer, but currently the most common tunings are DAD, DAA, or DGD. DAD is the most common but it is often easier for the beginning player to tune to DAA or the so-called “Reverse Ionian” tuning, (DGD).
How hard is it to play A hammer dulcimer?
Absolutely! Hammered dulcimer is one of the most satisfying instruments to learn because it’s easy to make a pleasant sound right from the beginning. You can start at any age, and you can have fun with it even if you don’t know any music theory and have never played an instrument before.
Is hammered dulcimer chromatic?
This instrument is not meant for someone who struggles with tuning. It takes an effort to keep everything in tune and the relationships working. Since the instrument is fully chromatic, tuning is even more important. It is not like sitting down at the piano (which stays in tune for much longer periods of time).
What key is a dulcimer tuned to?
Traditional Appalachian dulcimer players always tuned the dulcimer in what are called “open tunings”. What does that mean? For the dulcimer it means that when you play the melody in a certain key, for example “D”, the other strings are tuned to some of the notes in the “D” chord.