I know this is an old post but I have an answer. I had the same question as you, Julie. I asked Ron at a festival if people ever tune a dulcimette, normally an octave higher, to a standard dulcimer tuning. He said some people have tried it but it just doesn't sound as good. 

I'm sure Ron would answer your questions, and advise you on string gauges for other tunings. He's here: http://www.ronewingdulcimers.com/ Part of the high pitch is from the short scale length, the string gauges may not be too far from what we use on bigger dulcimers.

Hey -- have you tried DAA -- but an octave above? Dropping that one string down would get rid of that highest D without losing that dulcimette sound. If you want a bass sound-- get a baritone :)It may be fun to try. The AEA sounds like an idea worth trying too :)Mzc

Mine is tuned in DAD, but an octave higher than a standard dulcimer. It has a lovely sweet tone :)mzc

IF, ah say IF you change the strings to appropriate gauges, there is no reason that you cannot tune the Ron Ewing (or any other) "dulcimette" to a normal key of D (DAA, DAd, DAC, DAG). When you change the strings, the bridge won't slide around because the larger gauges will apply appropriate downward pressure.

What gauges of strings? Go to www.strothers.com and use the String Finder to find out. Plug in the VSL of your instrument, and specify which note (D, A or d) -- and it will tell you what strings to get.

If for any reason the bridge on any dulcimer starts sliding around, a single drop of Superglue will hold it yet still allow easy removal.

Hey Julie, a friend of mine has one and he tunes in Dad but an octave higher than a standard dulcimer. When he and I play together, that is our favorite combination of dulcimers to play. Go to my page and listen to Possum Up a Gumstump. That's a Modern Mountain dulcimer (played by me) and a 6 string Ron Ewing dulcimette (played by John Hawk).

Hope this helps!

Phil