Lovely. Thank you.

Thanks for commenting, @cindy-stammich and @hobbyhorse.  I really appreciate it. I hope your weekend is going well.

Thanks Dusty, I very much enjoyed that.

Ohhhhhh my this is so beautiful!,,  thank you for the smile this brings after a long week!!!

The only difference between playing a standard dulcimer and playing a baritone is that the baritone strings are heavier, so they take a little more muscle in the fingers of the left hand.  But you can use the same tablature and the same fingering.  The only difference is that the notes you play are lower.  In the case here, you can use the tab I wrote for DAd dulcimer and play it on a baritone tuned AEa or GDg.  Instead of being in the key of D, you are in the key of A or G, but you don't have to know that; just follow the tab.  The only time you have to understand a little about music theory is if you want to use your baritone to play along with standard dulcimers.  Then you have to experiment a bit.  A lot of people, for example, tune baritones to ADa in order to play with standard dulcimers tuned DAA. 

Lots of luthiers make baritone models.  One of the most well known for the past several decades was Ron Ewing, but Folkcraft and McSpadden make baritone models, as do Blue Lion and New Harmony.  In my case, I used a standard dulcimer made by Rick Probst and just put heavier strings on it. Because Probst dulcimers have such a big body and bracing that resembles guitar bracing, it is plenty big and strong enough for the heavier strings.  You don't necessarily have to buy something sold as a baritone dulcimer, although I would check with the luthier to see if your standard dulcimer could handle the heavier strings.

I really like the sound.  Did it take you long to learn to play the baritone?  I'm not sure where I can purchase a baritone.

Hi @dtortorich.  I can see why you asked about DAA.  The melody string is tuned to A, but I have this dulcimer tuned in a baritone tuning of AEa.  So it's a 1-5-8 or mixolydian tuning a fifth below a standard dulcimer. I like baritone dulcimers for these slower songs in which you can let the strings just ring out a bit.

I don't know how long it took me to learn this song.  This is one of those songs that I always wanted to play, but as I was learning the dulcimer I tried once or twice, realized that it wasn't sounding too good, and put it on the shelf.  Then a year or so later I would try again.  Eventually I got to this point where I developed an arrangement or two that I liked, and then it was just a matter of playing it enough to be able to add some dynamics and tempo changes to capture the emotion of the song.

If my memory serves me well, I put tab together for two versions of this, which form the basis of what I play here.  The tab is for DAd tuning, but it would work for any 1-5-8 tuning.  If you'd like my tab, send me a personal message.

Dusty, I enjoyed your Danny Boy.  Is your dulcimer tuned to DAA with D for the base string?  I loved the cords you used.  How long did it take you to learn it?  Thanks

I totally agree with you......Play on please.

Thanks so much for your comments, @Betty-Bj-Jordan.  I've always loved this melody, too.  This and Greensleeves, I think, are the two most moving melodies ever written.

Dusty, I love this tune and it was one of my favorites since I was a little girl. I always felt so much emotion when I heard and you brought all that back. Love the way you played it with feeling. 

BJ

I confess, Dusty, my mind goes to "London Derriere," too.  :)

Thanks so much, @Robin-Thompson.  I find this melody to be really powerful and emotional.  But I have to confess that instead of "Londonderry Air" I wanted to write "London Derriere."

So beautifully played, Dusty.  The tune is timeless and lovely. 

I heard Danny Boy on television when I was a kid.  I'm guessing it was when I was small this music was joined to other lyrics by Gospel music's Dottie Rambo and sung as Amazing Grace (shall always be my song of praise).  It was the Dottie Rambo version we sung when I was a kid-- we sung it at church sometimes. 

Thanks for listening, @Jan-Potts.

I'm a week late, but I'm really enjoying your Danny Boy, Dusty.  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much, @Diane-R.  I love this tune, too. I think Danny Boy and Greensleeves are the two most beautiful melodies every written.  And yeah, this dulcimer is pretty special. I was so delighted when I first strung it as a baritone.

So beautiful Dusty, one of my favorite songs...made me tear up a little...gorgeous dulcimer!

Thanks, @Macaodha and @Ariane. I just returned home exhausted from a business trip but was delighted to find your encouraging comments.

Wonderful, Dusty!