So I didn't know what strings were on my new 22" mountain dulcimer and when I checked the tune it was not DAD. Then in my research to find out what it should be I found it was suggested D5-A4-D4 and the bass and middle were not holding and the melody snapped. This is when I reached out here and on FB. It is now D4 .12, A3 .14, D3 .22 from D'Addario and it sounds great. What an adventure! Thank you everyone for all your input!

12's / about 13.8 lbs each [d-4]

14 / about 10.5 lbs [A3]

.024 / 14.7 lbs [D3]

Hello Misty,

   If you are who I think you are......?

Your dulcimer is currently strung with 2- .012's [d]

1- .014 [A] and 1- .024 [D].    

What we haven't mentioned is higher tension requires more finger pressure.

Your current set up has about 19-23 lb of tension per string. Strings that would give you a similar amount of tension at 22" would be ~0.030, ~ 0.019, and ~0.014.

Even though, as Skip pointed out, the Strothers calculator tend to suggest strings on the light side, I would go with those to begin with. If you find them to be too loose, you can always move up a little the next time you change strings. You didn't say whether this dulcimer uses loop or ball end strings but strings in the sizes suggested should be readily available as singles.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

According to the Strothers string gauge calculator, .012, .016, .024. The calculator has a tendency to be a little light [~.002 or so]. It will be the same octave, D3, A3, D4.

The ones you have on the 27" seem a little large, 

https://strothers.com/string_choice.html

I've been learning how to play hymns on a 27" VSL mountain Dulcimer, tuned D3 bass, A3 middle, D4 melody, strings are 12,15, 24. I just received a 22" VSL mountain Dulcimer which my hand definitely likes. My question is what gauge strings should I get and I want to stay in DAD, what octave, same as my standard mountain dulcimer?