Mountain Dulcimer Mailbox
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the same concerns, publishing them online might be an effective
way to widen the enquiry Tuning, strings, and Macintosh music software outnumbered other topics of enquiry.
Music
Theory and Chord Reference for Mountain Dulcimer For more information, see these pages: For books, recordings and dulcimers: |
RECENT QUESTIONS FROM THE MAIL Q: How can I tune a mountain dulcimer into Aeolian mode (minor)? A: Tune into D Aeolian (D-A-C) Steps 1 and 2 are the same as for D Ionian: Step 1. Tune the 3rd or bass string of the dulcimer to the D below Middle C (this is the same note as the open 4th string of the guitar) Step 2. Hold the 3rd or bass string just to the left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your middle or 2nd string so it exactly matches this pitch. Step 3. Hold the 3rd or bass string at the 6th fret and pluck this note (C). Tune the melody or 1st string to this note. Note: From Ionian D-A-A, you'll have to tighten the melody string somewhat to get to D-A-C. If you're coming from D-A-D, you'll have to loosen the melody string slightly in pitch to get to D-A-C.) Now you can play the Aeolian mode on the melody string from frets 1 to 8 and back down. Skip the 6+ fret.
Q: I'm looking for a music program. I found the samples from your books and want to know if you do the tab yourself, and, if so, what program do you use? I have been using Encore on a Mac but it cannot do diatonic tab, so I still have to hand-write fret numbers, and lately it has been giving me trouble. Q: I saw on your homepage that you have a Mac computer. So do I, and I'd like to find software to help put my simple arrangements into print. It needn't be complex. All I do is work a tune out on the dulcimer, then I need a way to make the notation legible. Pencil scribblings work OK for me temporarily, but then I forget what I meant. A I do all of my dulcimer tab in Composer's Mosaic on the Mac. This is an extremely capable program that is very Mac-like and quite user-friendly. What sets it apart from Coda's Finale and Passport's Encore is that Mosaic doesn't link the music to automatic chromatic fret numbers. You can also get nice stems and beams connected to fairly large-scaled-up numbers---this is VERY difficult to acheive in the other programs. You cannot buy a simple, cheap, bare-bones sofware package that will do TAB (at least I don't know about it if it does exist). Composer's Mosaic has a tablature function which is unequalled. But like any other high-octane notation program designed for professional composers and arrangers, there is somewhat of a learning curve, and it helps if you are MIDI sequencer savvy, too. You can find out more info about the program at the developer's website: Note: Composer's Mosaic is usually available at a good educational discount. Q: I built a six string hourglass dulcimer from a kit, and now my dilemma is how to tune it? I have a Korg Electronic Guitar/Bass tuner which I hope to find some way to apply to my dulcimer. A You are not alone in being confused about how to tune the dulcimer--6-string or not! The healthiest way to look at the 6-string is that it is simply three pairs (courses) of strings, each pair tuned in unison. The mandolin is strung in pairs like this, as is a 12-string guitar. On your 6-string dulcimer, set up the gauges as you would for either D-A-A or D-A-D. I suggest .010" for the melody pair (lightest), .014" middle pair (slightly heavier) and the only exception would be the bass string course--you can have an octave here instead of a unison. For example, a heavy, wound bass string tuned to low D paired with D an octave higher (light string). Of course, you would have to gauge especially for this octave (.022"/.010") instead of (.022"/.022" for unison tuning). Q: . . .While tuning the other day, the bass string broke. I'm not sure what gauge string I should purchase to replace it. I realize this is not one of your instruments but I was wondering what advice there is to be had on strings. A String gauge is an individual choice, but a bass string for D-A-A or D-A-D tuning with an average string length on a standard size dulcimer is .022" or .024" usually wound with brass or bronze, although nickel will work fine, too. Make sure you look at how the strings are hooked on the end---you might have to specify "loop-end" or "banjo" strings. Some dulcimers have little posts that can accept "ball-end" or "guitar" strings. Now---the reason that the bass string broke is that you put WAY TOO MUCH tension on it!Tuned to D below middle C, this string will be rather loose, so keep track of how tight you are making it when tuning, OK? Good luck! Updated August 6, 1998 |
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