How do you read dulcimer chords?

How do you read dulcimer chords?

These represent the strings of the dulcimer with the bass string on top, the middle string in the middle and the melody string at the bottom.. Notes are written on the staff using numbers. A zero indicates that a particular string is played “open” or unfretted. The numbers indicate which fret is used to produce a note.

Where is middle C on a dulcimer?

NOTE: We have added a number next to each note to indicate the correct octave. Middle C is C4, and all the notes below Mid- dle C are marked with the number 3. The scale above Middle C is all marked #4 until you get to C above Middle C, which starts the next octave #5.

What are the strings on a 4 string dulcimer?

A four-string dulcimer has one bass string, one middle string, and two melody strings. A five-string dulcimer has two bass strings, one middle string, and two melody strings. When there is a set of strings (two bass strings or two melody strings), all strings in that set should be tuned in the same manner.

What is Dad tuning for dulcimer?

There are two common tunings for mountain dulcimer, DAA and DAD. In DAA, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle and paired melody strings tuned to A. In DAD, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle string tuned to A. In this tuning, however, the paired melody strings are tuned to D.

What key is a dulcimer in?

Traditional Appalachian dulcimer players always tuned the dulcimer in what are called “open tunings”. What does that mean? For the dulcimer it means that when you play the melody in a certain key, for example “D”, the other strings are tuned to some of the notes in the “D” chord.

Can guitar strings be used on a dulcimer?

Appalachian dulcimers are strung with metal wire strings; wound strings may be used for the lower pitched courses….Dulcimer Strings.

What notes are dulcimer strings?

Press the 3rd or bass string just left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your middle or 2nd string until it matches this pitch. Press the 2nd or middle string just left of the 3rd fret and pluck this note (high D, one octave above the open bass string)….grandkids.