Ha! Don't we all do that at times

Rest assured, if I don't know the answer, I'll make something up!

Thank you all for your replies!

Dusty - Yes, its tuned Dad -  I'll try the chord variations you mention. I realised I can play it on my lap and using my thumb, the A chord is no problem then as well.

Shopdad - glad my question broadened your knowledge!

Theoretically, If I did put a capo on the seventh fret as Skip mentioned, I would just still have 7ish frets - the same as a Seagull Merlin - however the frets with the smaller dots seem to indicate half frets, so I guess that too wouldn't work. 

As my instrument has the 1+ fret then I'm assuming that I have other chord variations to hand but that's something I'll have to work out.

Thanks guys!

Dusty, Good reply. When a person uses the 1-2-4 chord and centers the 2 is certainly an option. I find it makes a bit of a "humming" note. I am sure if a person plays by themselves it wouldn't matter. I would have difficulties going from one instrument to another trying to center the one note. 

Good point on the capo on the 7th fret. 

Sid, I always enjoy questions like yours because I learn from it also. There are several dulcimer players that have the right answers. Dusty is one of them.

Sid, I assume you are tuned DAd, and that 1-2-4 or 4-2-1 A chord is indeed a stretch.  Keep in mind that you don't have to fret the middle string. You can just l play 1-0-4 or 4-0-1 or even 1-0-1 or 4-4-4 or 4-4-6+ for an A chord.

And no, I'm sorry to tell you that you cannot simply put a capo at the first or second fret because of the diatonic fretboard.  It does not work like a guitar or banjo.  When you put a capo on a dulcimer, you change the order of whole and half steps and won't be able to play the same tunes you are used to.

@shopdad, the 1+ fret makes it harder in this case because there is less room to fret the 2nd fret, making the stretch a bit more challenging.  Without that 1+ fret, people cheat a bit with the 1-2-4 A chord and fret that 2nd fret towards the middle rather than right next to the fret wire.

@skip, if you look at the picture posted, you'll see there isn't really much room to capo at 7.  The instrument only goes up to the 10th fret.

 The space between between frets is a mathematical calculation  based on the vibrating string distance two fixed points. The instruments have different VSL's [nut to bridge]. Installing the capo on the 7th fret should work since it retains the D tuning. It will reduce the fret spacing by raising the tuning an octave [D3-A3-D4 to D4-A4-D5].

Hello Sid, If I'm understanding your correctly you are having difficulty reaching the frets that are next to the added frets. Someone correct me if I'm all wet here but adding 1/2 frets anywhere on the board shouldn't change the position of any of the other frets. From the photo it appears the distance between the 3rd and 4th fret is too wide. It should not make a difference how the instrument is tuned. Tuning it to DAA or DAD is all accomplished by string tension, not fret position. I tune mine DAD and CGC. and able to play the same chords just in a lower key. I built two stick dulcimers and use the same fret pattern as the others I built. I find it easier to play my stick like my guitar. A capo would help if it is placed above the 4th fret making it an octave higher. My tear drop is CGC because I cannot sing many songs in DAD, too high for my.

Looking forward to more comments to verify my response on the issue.

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Hello, I'm after some advice. I have a stick dulcimer that I bought off someone last year. He said he had it custom made for him in the U.S. (I'm in the UK) he loved this thing but couldn't play well anymore due to arthritis. It's a great instrument and I tend to play it more than my normal dulcimer (a Romanian model) as it's sounds nicer and the action is better. The thing that puzzles me is it has an extra 1+ fret (and some others further down?) This makes it difficult to play certain chords, e.g. A, because I have stretch my hand further. 

My question is, if I re-tuned it and put a capo on it could I then play it in D like a normal dulcimer. Not sure if that makes sense? I'm wondering if the different sized fret space would mess up the actual tuning if I used a capo?

I have attached a photo, so you can see what I'm talking about. Inside it say "W.R Powell, Clarksville, AR - Feb - May 07"

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

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