Playing dulcimer with a ukelele
Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!
Folks, I think there are some misconceptions going on here. Ukuleles are chromatic instruments and are not usually tuned to an open tuning. People sometimes refer to the standard C6 tuning, but that references the chord the open strings are tuned to; it does not refer to a key the instrument must play in. That is to say, that whereas the dulcimer can be said to be tuned to a key, ukuleles are not. The ukulele is capable of playing any song in any key.
As Cynthia says, for a uke to accompany the dulcimer tuned to D, all that is necessary is that the uke player knows the chords of D, G, A and perhaps a few more for more complicated songs. I simply suggest getting a ukulele chord chart like the one I attached here.
It is also true that the dulcimer can easily play in G and A with a capo at the third or fourth fret and C when tuned down one step. You will have to decide when you want to play in D and when it might be more appropriate to play in one of the other common keys. Just keep in mind that it is much easier for uke to accompany the dulcimer than the other way around.
updated by @dusty: 08/16/16 12:58:32PM