Changing to these different tunings is pretty easy. Starting with your present tuning of DAA:

1- to tune to DAdd, tighten the melody string(s) to the same note as the 7th fret on the bass string.

2- to tune to the other tunings, loosen the melody strings from DAdd to the note desired.

3- to tune to other tunings, such as CGc, etc, you usually loosen the strings [there are a few exceptions]. Keep in mind that the DAdd tuning tightens the strings to very close to their maximum strength, about 2-3 notes below breaking point. 

For reference; a standard MD, bass D is D3, A is A3, melody D is D4, and it is written as DAd(d). Bass dulcimers are tuned an octave lower, D2, A2, D3.

Usually when a dulcimer is 3 or 4 strings, it simply means there is a low Bass string, a medium Middle string, and either 1 or 2 identical Melody strings which are tuned the same and played close together as if they are 1 string.  (there are less commonly "4-string dulcimers" with equidistant strings, often used for fingerpicking, but I'm not referring to that)

So you can have a 3 string or a 4 string dulcimer (with 1 or a pair of melody strings)- that you can tune to different common dulcimer tunings such as DAd or DAA or DAC.  

I suspect the dulcimer club you'll be attending will most often be tuned to DAd, and it does not matter whether your melody string is single or is a pair.

Here's a little video I put together showing tuning back and forth between DAd, DAC, DAA, and DAG... perhaps you'll see that it's not something to fear too much:

https://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2010/02/video-re-tuning-between-four-common.html

I'm sure you'll get lots of good responses to this question Don!

I can only answer for myself, but here an explanation of why, as a noter/drone style player, I tend to like playing in DAA:

https://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-i-like-daa-tuning.html

But DAd is a great tuning as well!  With the addition of the 6.5 fret DAd becomes quite versatile.  And there is certainly more teaching material for beginners available in DAd, much of it in chord style playing methods.  Most dulcimer 'clubs' and workshop settings currently lean towards DAd tuning and chord/melody playing style.  It's convenient to have everyone starting out the same with the same tuning and books, etc.

But you can really do whatever you like!  

I think DAC is my second favorite tuning after DAA- it's in Aeolian mode which has got the 'lonesome' sound.

My first dulcimer is DAA. To have near me; I got a backpack dulcimer... the gentleman said let me tune this GDD...okay. I got a feather dulcimer for trips...the gentleman said you'll like this tuned GDG. Soooo, if DAA and DAD are primary, why was the novice steered to other tuning. They both sound terrific....although the feather is a stinker to keep tuned. Explanation?

when recording i always used an unwound base string .

That Fleming ad was from a different Fleming, though (who is also listed in the Directory of Contemporary etc.)!

Will do!

I'll let you know! Thanks for all of your help!

How lovely! And good to know that using a capo can make it playable, in the event that mine suffers from the same ailment as yours. I have plenty of dulcimers that need special accommodations to be played :), so perhaps this will be one more of those-- I will ask about the fret buzzing, but I don't think it will be productive since this person doesn't know dulcimers (that's the story, anyway!!).

HA Fleming is in the 

Directory of Contemporary American Musical Instrument Makers

but that doesn't guarantee playability ! ;)

The maker is HA Fleming, but I can't hear or play it before buying. It looks great. . .

Jennifer, Thank you for your prompt reply! If this is not too presumptuous to ask, would you say 100.00 was a fair price? That's the cost of the one I'm looking at, but can't play.

george,

(ones he personally built were signed by him carving/engraving his name on the back side of the dulcimer,)

Sam Carrell also, I just picked up a Carrell fiddleside dulcimer. He also signs his name on the back

jenniferc, 

I hope you enjoy your fiddleside dulcimer, I have my Sam Carrell '84 fiddleside tuned DAA (only using 4 strings, not the 5th string) and the tone is also so beautiful. 

You may like the lack of 'squeeking' as you slide up and down the fretboard.  I, and my family, do. 

I'm going to have to try an unwound string for the bass. Thanks to all for the unwound posts!

How did this dulcimer turn out? I'm thinking of buying one like it. Thanks.

Happy Anniversary to all whether you have been here all eight years or just joined. This is a great virtual community. Thank you Lisa and all the moderators who help keep this site moving forward.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Impressive, good going

I use an unwound bass string (18 ga. if I  remember correctly) on my Will Singleton (3-string) dulcimer. I did some experimenting before arriving at what I like. The other 2 strings are 12 ga. for the melody, 14 ga. for the middle.

Steven

I personally try to use the heaviest gauge strings that sound OK on a particular instrument.  Sometimes it takes some experimentation to find out what that is.  Heavier strings sound less tinny rounder.  They might require heavier callouses, but I find the improved tone to be worth it. Also, if you like to bend strings, you have more control with heavier strings since there is more resistance.  Also, because heavier strings are louder, you can play more delicately and still get decent volume, so they allow a greater dynamic range.

It never occurred to me to swap out wound strings for plain steel. Maybe I'll give that a try.

I'd like to mention that when i got my Keith Young teardrop dulcimer almost 20 years ago, he explained to me that he favored stringing his dulcimers with heavy unwound bass strings.  Also, quite a few minstrel style banjo players favor unwound gut or nylon bass strings.

Oh my goodness- think you all so much for your very sweet posts! 

It's been a fun and eventful eight years.  

I want to thank the wonderful volunteer site Moderators who help advise me, keep things safe here, and put in a great deal of their time and energy behind the scenes.

....music wire, number 8 (.020) for the bass string is how I string them too!

Only for you Lisa, I might not be playing today and as it happens  I just sat here for the past few hours singing and playing after our wedding anniversary  dinner that our sons cooked for us. Thank you LISA had this not come along I would not be playing . Best wishes.

Sean -- it's a "sound" thing.  To me an un-wound string is a crisper sound than a fat wound string flopping back and forth.

I'm in the non-wound camp also, the 'whine' for lack of a better term, is very distracting to me. 

Ken,

Why non-wound for the bass string? Is it sound, feel of the winding or cost? I don't think I've met anyone else who doesn't use a wound bass string.

 A GREAT service for the dulcimer community!  

You done good, Lisa.  Thank you very much.   

A real note of congratulation and appreciation for your virtual opened doors!   

Thank you for creating and maintaining this important dulcimer forum, Lisa.

Yay, FOTMD!  

Thank you, Strumrlia, for all your work here. xxx