Group Discussions
Instruments for jamming
Does anyone bring two dulcimers to jams where the key changes every song/tune turn? Such as, a d and c tuned instrument? With a capo handy?
@CarolynF started 3 months ago - replies: 8
Chord Practice
I recently pulled out my practice sheet on playing the different chord shapes. I find it to be a real help by practicing the various chords by...
@Dennis Waldrop started 15 years ago - replies: 13
Easiest or Best way to play in Key of C
Since March of 2023 I have been learning to play chords in DAA tuning. However, there are many songs in the key of C that I would like to play. For...
@dyannay started 11 months ago - replies: 14
Looking for a DAA chord chart
The chart I have shows only D Major, E Minor, F# Minor, G Major, A Major, B Minor, E Major, C Major, and C# Minor. What other chords may be played...
@dyannay started 2 years ago - replies: 7
String gauges
I am playing "standard " D'Addario strings (12, 14, 22). To play with my church choir, I need keys such as C, F and now Bb. I started tuning down...
@Art S started 2 years ago - replies: 2
What brand of strings do you use?
Hi, All, Just curious: What brands of strings have you tried for your dulcimers? Any comments or preferences? Thanks!
@Garret started 5 years ago - replies: 13
American Roots Radio
Does anyone here enjoy playing along with the radio? I find that with the 1 1/2 fret a LOT of the songs played on American Roots Radio are in keys...
@banjelele started 4 years ago - replies: 3
7+ Fret
I took a dulcimer to a luthier used by all of the local music stores. He has added frets for me on several occasions. Oops! Instead of an 8+...
@Don Grundy started 7 years ago - replies: 18
New Purpleheart dulcimer made by Ron Ewing!
I just got this wonderful dulcimer made by Ron Ewing! It has a purple heart back and sides, walnut fretboard with purple heart overlay, and a...
@Matthew Andrew started 6 years ago - replies: 6
String distance for Flatpicking
I am a newbie to flatpicking mountain dulcimer. Currently my strings are approximately equal distant using three strings. Are there advantages to...
@Leny-Sue started 5 years ago - replies: 1
Best starting point for arranging music?
I would like to arrange some popular/modern songs for the dulcimer, but lacking dulcimer-specific sheet music, have a question how best to start....
@LisavB started 6 years ago - replies: 3
Anchoring Right Hand Fingers
Hello! I am a very new player and was wondering if anyone else has trouble with anchoring their right hand fingers? My anchored fingers keep...
@Simple Life started 6 years ago - replies: 6
Scarborough Fair: How Do You Play It?
I have always dug this old English folk song. I imagine most of us were introduced to it by Simon & Garfunkel’s version. One internet version...
@Jimmy Lamar started 6 years ago - replies: 7
The Masochism Tango, on chromatic dulcimer
I was at a Birdland, the renowned New York jazz club, where Les Paul's former bass player, Nicki Parrott, did a steamy rendition of Besame Mucho...
@Sam Edelston started 7 years ago - replies: 4
Gilbert & Sullivan patter song from HMS Pinafore
I recently taught a workshop on unusual chord voicings at August Dulcimer Daze, and used this song as an example. Played here on a chromatic...
@Sam Edelston started 7 years ago - replies: 4
song accompaniment
members of this group might be interested in my recent article in the DPN about singing with the dulcimer as it touches on my song...
@Dan Evans started 15 years ago - replies: 3
"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" 11/11/18
I had a showcase at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance conference (NERFA) this weekend, and realized that after midnight Saturday night would...
@Sam Edelston started 7 years ago - replies: 2
I am SO in over my head!!!
I am used to playing melody, but lately I'm interested in some songs that don't sound very good playing the melody~I think chords would be much...
@hugssandi started 8 years ago - replies: 44
Anyone else tune GDg?
I have two backpacker dulcimers with 22.5 VSL. Both are tuned GDG and GDDD. Does anyone else play short VSL that use this tuning?
@Don Grundy started 7 years ago - replies: 8
Confused Beginner.
I am a very "black and white" thinker. This can be good and bad. I like everything to be precise and many of my previous employments demanded...
@nigelbleddfa started 7 years ago - replies: 5