Hi george,
Could be either, but regardless, all dulcimers are tuned the same way.
First you tune the home fret on your melody string to the key you want.
Second you tune the bass string to the same note, but an octave lower.
Third you tune the middle string a fifth above the bass.
Looks like it's made of Meranti, enough to put me off straight away.
This is my only real objection to extra frets, can't get used to it no matter how much I try, too many years playing by ear I guess. Otherwise very useful.
The 6.5 allows you to move the root position UP a fifth (Ionian played from the Mixalydian position for example)
The 1.5 allows you to move the root position DOWN a fifth (Dorian from the Mixalydian position for example)
Hi Robin and John,
A different slant on this for you. Take a look at the distance between root and fifth for any particular mode and see how well it matches the fifth you have between drones.
Hi Anne,
There are a lot of different sets of lyrics for this song, and a bit of variation in the tunes.
'Whip Jamboree' has a similar tune.
This one is pretty standard :
Let me know if a sound clip would help.
I'm nervous because when I tune it now it feels like if I tune it differently (like I want to change it to daa for a music book my son gave me ) then it will pop those two double strings.
I'm guessing you are currently tuned to DAd, in which case you need to tune the melody strings down to A, not up.
Hi Robin.
Skip has covered most of what needs looking at, so I thought a 'plan of action' might be helpful.
i) - Make sure that the string is not slipping on the winding post !!!
This will show up if the winding post is turning, but the string is not getting any tighter. Most players have their own patent method of attaching strings to the winding post to prevent this happening. Just poking the string through the hole and giving it a couple of turns may not be enough to stop it pulling back through when it's tightened.
ii) - You will have seen from (i) whether the winding post is turning or not, if it isn't turning then the slippage is somewhere else.
So, take off the tuner by removing the nut from the inside of the pegbox, the tuner should just pull out.
The tuner is made up of sections, very much like the transmission in a car.
The winding post is the prop shaft that turns the wheels.
The barrel section is a single speed gear box.
The button is the engine.
The fibre washer is the clutch plate. You can only get at this by taking off the button.
iii) - Examine the underside of the barrel, and make sure the small pin is in place. This digs into the outside of the pegbox and stops the barrel rotating.
iv) - Take off the button. Hold the barrel between your fingers and turn the button shaft, does the winding post also turn. If it doesn't then most likely the gears are stripped and it needs replacing.
v) - Examine the fibre washer and look for any parts that have become shiny with wear.
vi) - You might not need to do this, depending on (v), but do it anyway.
Put a piece of fine sandpaper on a flat surface and give both sides of the washer a gentle rub over, just enough to rough up the surface a bit.
Most unlikely, but take a look at the bottom of the button itself for any signs of wear. If you do any sanding on this part be very careful to keep everything flat.
vii) - Put the tuner back on, ensuring that when you tighten up the nut the pin digs into the wood and the barrel is tight and flush.
Good luck.
Hi Sean,
Here's a somewhat eccentric performance, but it's all good :)
I've been trying to get down out of the mountains a bit more lately and take up some of the old stuff I used to play from the British/Irish tradition.
'The Green Linnet' is an old bete noir , and one I still haven't got completely to grips with.
However, there are some I thought would never work N/D style that I can handle pretty well now.
So, some progress 
Hi Rob,
Was expecting something quite different from the tune you posted.
One of the more well known of the Scottish ballads is variously called : MacPherson's Lament / MacPherson's Farewell / MacPherson's Rant.
This tells the story of Jamie MacPherson's trecherous hanging and includes the famous episode where he breaks his fiddle across a stone so no other could play it. His brother was called Donald, but no idea if this is the same.
AFAIK Donald MacPherson's Lament was written later and is not related to your usuall McPherson's Lament.
An interesting little tune nonetheless 
p.s. check your fret for the 1st note of the 3rd bar - s/b 5 ?
Hi James,
Here's some sheet music for C Major, so no sharps or flats. This should make it easy to work out for yourself (the first note is on the open string).
I'd do you the full lyrics, but I fear the spellchecker already needs extensive therapy :)
"Jabberwockey" sung to he tune of Annan Waters.
You need to tweak the odd line by using the time honoured folk device of adding an '-o' to the end.
Twas brillig and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe - o
I just play with the index finger on the melody string, mostly sliding, and build up a callous on the left hand side of my finger tip.
Must have something to do with how I hold my finger down that gives the lop sided effect.
If I've been playing a lot then it can get to the point where the strings start to catch or dig into the callous, helpful on pull offs but better to file it down some.
Hi joos.
This Richard Farina recording on youtube is done in noter/drone style, and it's not too difficult to pick out the notes by ear.
Pack Up Your Sorrows
What's a bit more difficult is that the tune has a slightly broken strum that may take a bit more work.
If you would like to try picking it out by ear - here's a nudge to get you started.
5 7 5 4 3 8 8 8 10 8 7 6 / 5 5 5 7 7 5 4 ...
Tuning is Ionian DAA (or equiv).
If you would like to use DAd then subtract 3 from the fret order
Discovering you could play this thing by ear.
I started out learning 0 2 4 5 5 3 1 ... and such like and studiously playing it note by note, fret by fret.
Then one day the tune morphed itself under my fingers and I was playing something else. In one moment I went from stumbling through 3 tunes to playing hundreds. Still haven't played them all yet to this day 
Quick demo of 4 different version of this song.
Tuning is A'AA
1st is the Tommy Jarrell/Bruce Molsky - As Time Draws Near.
I did a quick demo a while back, but can't find the post using the search. Probably in amongst the coments somewhere.
Here it is again. The fret order looks a bit scarey, so if you can try and learn it by ear from the sound clip you may find it easier.
Hi Seamus,
The earliest recording of the most well known of these I've found is probably by Tommy Jarrell, you'll find it on youtube under the title 'As Time Draws Near'
Bruce Molsky has produce some of Tommy's work in a more accessable style and the most well known version(and the basis of much that followed) is with Julie Fowles, also on youtube.
I did a recording of 'Dearest Dear' by Cath & Phil Tyler a while back, you'll find it in my audio list. I'll try and do a sound clip of the others when the block's a bit quieter.
Another Tommy Jarrell I've been looking at lately is Train on the Island, also covered by Bruce Molsky. Nearly got it.
Similar story here, there are a heap of bluegrass style recordings of this tune, as well as it being sung to the tune of 'June Apple'.
Here's my favourite played on Nepalese Sarangi and clawhammer banjo - https://soundcloud.com/hilary-dirlam/train-on-the-island-american-fiddle-tune
[edit] looks like you need to click the second part of the link
Hi Seamus,
There are a fair number of tunes and sets of words used for this. The words are usually put together from a selection of 'floating' verses and go by names like The Blackest Crow, (My)Dearest Dear etc.
I'm thinking you're looking for different arrangements of the same tune, and can't really help there.
However, I do regularly play four different tunes, all drone style, one each of Ionian, Dorian, Mixalydian and Aeolian if these are of interest to you.
Great stuff Cynthia. Non stop fun at the Wigington Mansion :)
Easy to play along with and you've a good voice when you loosen up too.
Hi Cynthia,
My tip for harder fingers is to play every day, even if you can only find a couple of minutes.
Just gives them a little reminder to toughen up.
Rob - you should be able to attach a .pdf to a post.
Update(cog wheel) your original post, look for the attach file selector at the bottom.
Hi Shiela,
This is one of those Mixalydian tunes that have an awkward range for N/D players. You either have to borrow a couple of notes off the bass string, or play up the top end.
The fret order is for the top end, and keeps all the notes available on the melody string. If you want to use the bass string then reduce everything by 7.
Probably the best option if you have a 6+ fret is to shift to the Dorian and reduce everything by 3. (except 9 => 6+)
The clip is A'AA for 1st part, key of A Mixalydian ... but use Ddd or DAd if you like, key of D Mixalydian.
2nd part is DAG, key of D Dorian
Hi Shiela,
There are a few candidates for Erin's Green Shore that come to mind.
Most likely it's a tune often known as Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore.
Or There's Lough Erne's Shore, a great slip jig.
Or maybe The Wee Weaver -that mentions Lough Erin's shore.
I can do you a fret order and sound clip for any of them if that's any help.
I've seen reports that the 'Reds' break more easilly than the 'Blacks', something to do with how brittle the plastic is.
Hi Lisa,
My point was that it shouldn't be happening on a desktop screen either. otherwise you're limited to a few 'preferred widths', and losing real estate..
i told you to get the Jurassic plugin 
Same old mongrel I've always played. I've built up a bit of a collection over the years, but nothing else comes quite close to the old '4 of Hearts'.
Maybe the John Pearse should get an honourable mention - small, light and always a delight to play. Use it a lot to work tunes out on.
Old time fiddle tunes by the hundred, thousands even :
Larry Warren's Sippery-Hill Web Site
Find your tune > right click > Save link as ...
Hi James,
http://www.snarktuners.com/tuners/original-clip-on
These are very good and seem popular among players of many instruments.
The one I use is the "black".
You might find the clip is a bit small for some instruments, but you can always clip onto a tuning button (though I don't like that myself).
The head is fixed to the clip by a ball and socket joint, and can be pulled on and off with a little care.
Like this, the head fits beautifully into a sound hole on mine.
Prices can be a lot lower if you shop around
Hi Kendra,
These sort of things always depend on the size of the strings AND the length of the scale for your instrument.
If you have a string set designed for DAd then you should be able to tune up to Ddd(bagpipe tuning), and Dcd should be no problem.
