Kittiwake1

So glad you joined. Welcome Kittiwake1 to a very friendly and helpful forum. We all started as absolute beginners.

Your comment about tuning BB-F-B is interesting. That is a very good tuning. Many mountain dulcimers, especially those  made by one person small shops,  have a sweet spot that may not be found in DAA or DAdd. I have several dulcimers and some don't sound the best in DAA but are wonderful in another tuning. I play solo and do not sing so I choose to play in the tuning and on the dulcimer which has the best voice for the song I am playing. Another justification to feed my DAD (dulcimer acquisition disorder).

Welcome to FOTMD, Kittiwake1. It's good to have you aboard. This is a knowledgeable and friendly group of mountain dulcimer enthusiasts. We enjoy helping each other on our dulcimer journeys. I see that you've already asked a question and I've responded to it. I am glad to see you jumping right in. I look forward to your continued participation here.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

There is nothing wrong with the tuning of BB-F-B; especially since you are playing solos. Dulcimers players who sing along with their instruments usually will the tune the instrument to fit their voices. I think dulcimers have voices of their own and many times it is not the tunings dictated by dulcimer clubs. Of course, you have to use the accepted "standard" tunings (DAd, DAA) if you are going play with the club. And, yes, you can play in DAA while others are playing DAd.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I am an absolute beginner on the mountain dulcimer. 

Recently, after replacing strings on a 4 string dulcimer that I normally tune to DD-A-D, I tuned 2 whole notes down to BB-F-B, and I was amazed at how nice it sounded.  Does anyone have an opinion about this tuning, and is there any reason not to tune this way?  I should add that I play solo, and that I have several other dulcimers that I am keeping tuned to DD-A-D.