Group Discussions
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 months 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 3 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 2 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 5 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 4 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 3 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 4 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 4 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 4 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 5 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 5 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 13 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 5 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 6 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 5 years ago - replies: 8
3 strings vs 4 strings
Does everyone that plays chords and picks find it easier to play this way with removing the 4th string? I'm finding that when I'm trying to fret...
@cindi perron started 12 years ago - replies: 87
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 5 years ago - replies: 5
3 or 4 strings?
When you’re playing melody notes and chords. DAD tuning. Do you play with one or two melody strings? Thank you.
@Don Grundy started 6 years ago - replies: 16
In Praise of the 'Ginger' and G,D,g Tuning
Now I don't play chord/melody style that often but over the last week on a camping trip to St David's, Wales I rediscovered the delights of...
@Robin Clark started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Norwegian Wood
Hi all, I had posted a version of this in one of the Groups, and was asked if I could post it in a more public spot. So here it is. This is a...
@Brian G. started 12 years ago - replies: 14