Group Discussions

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 6 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 last year - 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 last year - 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 4 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 3 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 6 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 5 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 4 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 6 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 6 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 14 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 6 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 7 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 6 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 6 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 7 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 12 years ago - replies: 12