Forum Activity for @skipii

A litle confused on string gauges

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Finally re-stringing my 32-year-old McSpadden T34 dulcimer (yeah, I know...sorry).

For DAD tuning, they recommend 10/10/14/23. I'm having trouble finding that exact combination, so I'm wondering what might work. Yes, I understand the physics around diameter and pitch, but I'm not sure just how far you can stray from a recommended gauge before you affect either intonation or tone. 

I found some 11/11/14/24s, which seem close enough.

Thoughts?

 

 

updated by @skipii: 10/31/19 12:49:37PM

General direction on tuning modes

Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Thanks, all, for the generous and helpful responses. I'm going with DAD for now on my Warren May, but might keep my McFadden at DAA. I'm already drawn. to Bing Futch's style but I'm sure I'll expand that.  

General direction on tuning modes

Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

I'm fairly new to dulcimers -- or least this time I'm paying attention to doing it right.. I see most dulcimers are tuned to DAD or DAA. Is there a parrticular style associated with each? It seems to me it would be a little hard to switch to the other once you have become accustomed to one and learn its chords. My interest, frankly, is not in traditional folk songs or hymns, but adapting some more modern music to the dulcimer. Is there one tuning that might be better for that?  Thanks for the help to a relative newbie.