Hi Mike, I think the best advice I have for you is to learn your three-course dulcimer in DAD first, and put aside other tunings and the 4-equidistant dulcimer until you know your way around the basics. Spend alot of time learning songs and chords in DAD to get grounded, so all of it feels familiar to you. This could take weeks or months... that is to be expected. Switching over to a different system of strings and tuning may only delay your ability to internalize the basics in DAD. Once youre there, then go back to the 4-equidistant and tune it to DAdd. Play your tunes as usual, but let the second treble d string drone. Finger your chords around it. See if you like the sound of the drone, and if not, press it on the same fret as your melody or bass string to make it conform more to the chord.
I think that learning different tunings is somewhat like learning different languages. I usually suggest trying them out for fun, but to land on one tuning in particular to really get good at. When its a part of you, then you can spend time in other tunings without dislodging your basic knowledge.
This is how I learned dulcimer... I started in 4-eq. and found it slow going... I went back and spent a year or so with a 3-course dulcimer, learned my way around, and came back to 4-eq. In the end it all worked out so that I could play both fluidly.
Hi Mike, thanks for your email. Is your second dulcimer that you tune in DAD set up as three courses or four? If three, have you been able to learn some tunes and chords on it?
I might be able to make some suggestions if I get an idea of where your skills are at present.
Also, were you able to make sense of the discussions located at the top of the 4-Equidistant String group page? Do you have specific questions after reading them? Youll see that my orientation is D-A-d-d tuning, so I can best help you with regard to that.
By the way, congratulations on learning so many different instruments - thats quite an accomplishment!
All the best, Heidi
08/22/14 11:14:28PM @karen-keane:
Hello and welcome to the site. This is a great place to share ideas and listen to music. I hope you enjoy!
Welcome, Mike, to this little corner of dulcimer heaven. It's nice to be gifted with an instrument. Glad you're deciding to learn to play it. Hope you enjoy it here.
Hi Mike, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.
Hi Mike, I think the best advice I have for you is to learn your three-course dulcimer in DAD first, and put aside other tunings and the 4-equidistant dulcimer until you know your way around the basics. Spend alot of time learning songs and chords in DAD to get grounded, so all of it feels familiar to you. This could take weeks or months... that is to be expected. Switching over to a different system of strings and tuning may only delay your ability to internalize the basics in DAD. Once youre there, then go back to the 4-equidistant and tune it to DAdd. Play your tunes as usual, but let the second treble d string drone. Finger your chords around it. See if you like the sound of the drone, and if not, press it on the same fret as your melody or bass string to make it conform more to the chord.
I think that learning different tunings is somewhat like learning different languages. I usually suggest trying them out for fun, but to land on one tuning in particular to really get good at. When its a part of you, then you can spend time in other tunings without dislodging your basic knowledge.
This is how I learned dulcimer... I started in 4-eq. and found it slow going... I went back and spent a year or so with a 3-course dulcimer, learned my way around, and came back to 4-eq. In the end it all worked out so that I could play both fluidly.
Good luck to you, and let me know how it goes.
Heidi
Hi Mike, thanks for your email. Is your second dulcimer that you tune in DAD set up as three courses or four? If three, have you been able to learn some tunes and chords on it?
I might be able to make some suggestions if I get an idea of where your skills are at present.
Also, were you able to make sense of the discussions located at the top of the 4-Equidistant String group page? Do you have specific questions after reading them? Youll see that my orientation is D-A-d-d tuning, so I can best help you with regard to that.
By the way, congratulations on learning so many different instruments - thats quite an accomplishment!
All the best, Heidi
Hello and welcome to the site. This is a great place to share ideas and listen to music. I hope you enjoy!
Welcome, Mike, to this little corner of dulcimer heaven. It's nice to be gifted with an instrument. Glad you're deciding to learn to play it. Hope you enjoy it here.
Rob
Howdy and welcome to FOTMD!
Hi Mike, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.
Ben
Welcome to FOTMD mike. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Hey Mike, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.