What are the notes on a hammered dulcimer?

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 should a dulcimer be tuned to?

There are two common tunings for mountain dulcimer, DAA and DAD. In DAA, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle and paired melody strings tuned to A. In DAD, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle string tuned to A. In this tuning, however, the paired melody strings are tuned to D.

What is the range of a hammered dulcimer?

between 2 1/2 and 5 octaves
In the hammered dulcimer, the left or treble bridge typically splits the strings with a 2:3 ratio, which makes a musical fifth. A typical dulcimer can span anywhere between 2 1/2 and 5 octaves, depending on the size of the instrument.

Is a hammered dulcimer hard to play?

The hammered dulcimer is a percussion instrument with strings attached to a trapezoidal board. Playing the hammered dulcimer is very easy if you know how to play the piano. However, those who haven’t played the piano can also learn how to play this musical instrument by learning the right techniques.

Is a dulcimer?

Dulcimer, stringed musical instrument, a version of the psaltery in which the strings are beaten with small hammers rather than plucked. The player’s right hand strums with a small stick or quill, and the left hand stops one or more strings to provide the melody.

Is the mountain dulcimer easy to learn?

There are two types of dulcimers — the mountain and the hammered. The mountain dulcimer is the easier instrument to learn with only three strings and looks almost like a violin that you play while it sits in your lap. You can play it with either your fingers or a pick.

Is hammered dulcimer hard to learn?

What is the most common dulcimer tuning?

Major Dulcimer Tunings

• DAA (D Ionian): One of the most commonly used tunings, DAA has the bass string(s) tuned to D, the middle string tuned to A, and the melody string(s) tuned to A as well.
• DAD (D Mixolydian): DAD has the bass string(s) tuned to D, the middle string tuned to A, and the melody string(s) tuned to D.

How do I tune a dulcimer?

Tuning a Dulcimer to itself Tune the 3rd or bass string to the D below Middle C on the Piano (or to the open 4th string of a guitar). Press the 3rd or bass string just left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your middle or 2nd string until it matches this pitch.

Is the hammered dulcimer hard to play?

What is the easiest instrument to teach yourself?

The easiest instruments to learn are ukulele, harmonica, bongos, piano, and glockenspiel. Learning these instruments as an adult will be straightforward and accessible, and we’ve included step-by-step tips for each below.

Which is the most common tuning scheme for a dulcimer?

This is by far the most common tuning scheme used for the hammered dulcimer. 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.

How many octaves does a hammered dulcimer have?

The two-plus octaves of C are quite usable, but those of F are slightly awkward. This instrument has a total of 4 1/2 octaves. It is fully chromatic from A2 to A6 (four octaves) It uses a single treble 1 bridge and bass bridges on the right for ease of playing. This is the largest hammered dulcimer I make.

How are the strings of a dulcimer laid out?

While the Chromatic Series is pattern-based like the traditional tuning scheme, the Piano Dulcimer is laid out in a more linear fasion, modeled after the keys on a piano. Each course of strings crosses two bridge markers, which are white for the natural notes, or C major scale, and black for the sharps and flats, just like on a piano.

Where are the tuning charts for the tsimbl?

The tuning charts for the Tsimbls are located on their own page as well. Many of you are confused about Standard and Piano marking systems. These marking schemes are only offered as options for the Linear Chromatic. What appears below are what would be classified as traditional diatonic layouts for hammered dulcimers at least in the US.