BanjoLemonade For 4 strings, I'd recommend using Ultra-Lights. My Chromatic Dulcimer is strung w/ Ultra-Lights because the braces have been thinned down to compensate for the lower tension. The other thing I did so I can get lower action w/ lighter strings w/o any buzz was to shave the frets down nearly flush w/ the fretboard.

BanjoLemonade The 5 string Dulcimer is called a MaxDAD which has 5 single strings tuned DADAD (2 Octave D Power Chord). The 3rd String acts as a "Pivot string" so you can change Octaves when playing music. Something super cool.

God bless you for the good teaching

BanjoLemonade For 4 strings, I'd suggest tuning down a couple of semitones like instead of DAD, try BF#B

For 4 strings it makes sense to use the lightest gauge of strings.

just decoration wise by the way, that dulcimer is absolutely beautiful. The sound holes and engravings are really cool, I've always found the little heart shaped holes to be a quite charming feature of many dulcimers

@BanjoLemonade

6 ай бұрын

Thanks.

This was information I had been trying to find for a few months now. Thanks!

Thank U for your knowledge. I've picked a banjo since 1962..60 years as of today. Live in Johnson City TN ( Wagon Wheel ? ) 😎 The lady who taught me ...she and her husband use to travel with the Carter Family performing at schools, churches, and yes..barn dances until her husband got sick with tuberculosis in the early 1930's therefore the 2 of them had to stop performing so she could take care of him which was 90% incurable in the 1930's. She charged $3.00 for an hour and drew all her instructions out on her notebook paper, banging on her open back 1925 year banjo, dipping chewing tobacco or snuff as she taught. She was maybe 5 foot tall. She was always full of great stories about her, her husband, and other performers that they " opened for " such as Papa Stoneman and his family out of Galax, VA, as well as the great Jimmy Rogers as he performed in the East TN, Western N.C. and Virginia area before he became famous, etc. I still go to the Carter Cold Musical Barn located in Hilton's VA which was established by A.P. CARTER'S children Joe, Jenett, and Rita. This was the last place Johnny Cash performed...knowing his life was coming to an end and he had his son John Carter drive him from Nashville to Hilton's one weekend. Johnny died a few weeks later but he wanted to perform one more time in the location where it all started. As I recall my teacher...Mrs. Mary Myers said it took most the day for the Carter to drive 19 miles from Hilton's to Bristol for the Ralph Peer big bang recordings of the Bristol Sessions. In closing several of the songs I learned as a 12 year old were Carter's songs which Mrs Myers know we're popular...Will the circle be unbroken, Wildwood Flower, and others. WHAT A MARVELOUS TIME BACK IN THOSE DAYS😁 U take care and again thank u for what u do to help others learn music. Joe Reed Johnson City TN 423.367.4478 Phone anytime if u want to hear ole time music stories that I can fill u in on Thanks Again !

@BanjoLemonade

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Joe for that beautiful story!

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Since I've decided to add a 4th string on my Dulcimer (which is an Electrified Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer), I had to switch to lighter string gauges & lower the action. But to make it a bit easier to play, I tuned mine down a step from DAD to CGC & that worked out great because I'm having issues singing the high notes.

If you do go w/ 4 strings, I'd suggest tuning a step lower so maybe CGC.

I like the sound of both 3 and 4. I have a 3 string. And it is pretty old school with simple scroll head and friction tuning peg. As such I really can't switch from 3 to 4 without adding another tuning peg. But for folks ordering a dulcimer I would always recommend ordering the 4 string and getting both the 3 and 4 string nuts/bridges (as you point out). It just allows for more options. As for finger pain... I never had any issues with that with a dulcimer. It's far more prevalent with an acoustic guitar. That said, indeed there are many styles of playing. Strumming with droning, finger style, pressing the strings with your fingers or even using a "slide". I tend to do a mix of these.... though not lately. I am refinishing and revitalizing my dulcimer at this very point in time. Dulcimers are such an overlooked and underused part of Americana and music. But they are super portable, and I love playing "modern" songs on them as well as the classics. Mix it up! Keep playing and keep the videos rolling! Cheers!

For 4 strings I'd maybe tune down a half step to Db, Ab, Db

More to learn Thank You

Thank you for this video. Like you, I feel I get better sound with only the three strings so I removed my fourth.

I play with 3 strings, but if I wanted to occasionally play with 4 I think I’d add a parking peg for the 4th string. I’m enjoying your videos, thank you.

@-jank-willson

Жыл бұрын

I think it would be awesome to have a 'walking' dulcimer/dulcitar in 6 equidistant strings (6 courses, NOT paired) just like a guitar, so if you already new how to play a song on a guitar, you could just pick it up and play it 1-for-1

Mystery solved thank you .

Mandy, which string would you recommend I remove - the one closest to me or the other one? I never even heard of a mountain dulcimer until our trip to Tennessee this past spring. I walked out of a store with one and have love it ever since. Your course has been so helpful. No instructors anywhere in my state in the midwest so than you so very much for helping us beginners!

@BanjoLemonade

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Kelly, if you can make it so you have an equal distance between each string. So remove whichever gets you closer to having all 3 an equal distance apart. Most times that would mean removing the inside one (towards the middle), but not always. Glad you are enjoying the course.

Love your videos, can you please do a series on 5 string dulcimers

@BanjoLemonade

Жыл бұрын

I would but I don’t have a 5 string yet. One day I will.

@a1wireless1964

Жыл бұрын

@BanjoLemonade I was lucky enough to pick up a John Maxwell. They didn't know what they had… They were trying to play it like a regular ddulcimer. (It's designed to be a noter style).

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade The 5 string Dulcimer is called a MaxDAD & what makes it really cool is that the 3rd String acts as a "Pivot String" so you can change your octave between the Bass Octave & Standard Octave.

BanjoLemonade For 4 Strings you need to switch to the lightest gauge of strings.

@BanjoLemonade

9 ай бұрын

How long you been playing dulcimer Oscar?

@RockStarOscarStern634

9 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Couple of years (it's a Chromatic Version so I can play in every key) & w/ the 4 strings mine is tuned a half step lower to make it a bit easier to play. As a bonus the Half step down tuning makes it easier to sing the high notes.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade For 4 strings, lighter gauges might help.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Hello are you there? It's black history month. John Pearse makes the lightest gauge dulcimer strings which are .009, .010, .012, .023w

The smallest Dulcimer is called Dulcimette

I've been searching for a strictly diatonic dulcimer besides my cardboard one. I've contacted several builders and haven't had any luck.

@BanjoLemonade

2 жыл бұрын

Folkcraft will build you whatever you like. - Tell them Mandy sent you.

I wondering about this same thing this morning. I just ordered a dulcimer from backyard music and had the 4th string put on. I kinda wished I knew this before I had ordered.

@Cheesus4jesus

2 жыл бұрын

Just take one of the melody strings off, it's easy.

@thewhiskeycowboy-official

7 ай бұрын

@@Cheesus4jesus while true, the string spacing will be off. It will still play fine though. What folks can do is just replace the nut and bridge.(as she points out you can order both sets.. for 3 and for 4). I am revitalizing my mountain dulcimer and the maker was pretty sloppy so I am making my own new bridge and nut. It's pretty easy work.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@thewhiskeycowboy-official Or if you do go w/ 4 strings, try tuning down a step to CGC.

BanjoLemonade If you do add the 4th string, I would suggest maybe lowering that action.

@BanjoLemonade

4 ай бұрын

I’m not adding the 4th. I do play in all sorts of different tunings. I also play with heavier gauge strings. Only dulcimer I will use with double melody is a true diatonic fretted one.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade A 5 string MaxDAD Dulcimer (tuned DADAD) would be a new one to try next. Quite a large note range, & the 3rd string acts as a Pivot string.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Actually a 4 string Dulcimer would be a bit easier to play if it was held like a Guitar (w/ thumb behind the neck) such as that Merlin. What if Folk Craft made Stick Dulcimers?

For me I found removing the 4 th string made it less frustrating and it sure sounded cleaner. Awesome video!💕💕

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

If you do add the 4th string, I'd suggest tuning a few steps lower so instead of DAD, try B, F#, B.

Mandy, I can I use Baritone strings on a "normal' Dulcimer

@BanjoLemonade

2 жыл бұрын

You risk wallowing out your string slots with the larger strings on your nut and bridge. Thicker strings (especially the bass string) needs to be higher off the fretboard to prevent buzzing normally. So I wouldn’t recommend it.

@blueykoala2687

2 жыл бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Thanks so much for your quick reply. I'll leave mine as is, again thanks

@-jank-willson

Жыл бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade @Bluey Koala I think you would have to make a custom dulcimer that could use those kind of strings

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade I've put Baritone strings on a Standard Dulcimer & they recommend changing the nut & bridge, which is why they actually included a special bridge & nut for those strings.

Interchangeable Nuts & Bridges? That's something you don't hear every day.

@BanjoLemonade

4 ай бұрын

Yes Folkcrafts are able to easily be changed

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade That is as Cool as Coconuts. I read online that 4 string Dulcimers often have the strings hover closer to the frets so that the doubled melody string is easier to press down w/ the lower action.

@BanjoLemonade

4 ай бұрын

@@RockStarOscarStern634 - action height is more of an artists preference really. I know some who love high action at the back, I love it low all over.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade Generally speaking the Doubled Melody strings would be easier to press down if you either use lighter gauges or if the scale length is shorter. I think a shorter scale length would make 4 strings easier to play by lowering the tension by a huge amount.

@RockStarOscarStern634

4 ай бұрын

@@BanjoLemonade What would really help is if they made a Keyboard attachment for the Dulcimer so that w/ a 4 string dulcimer you could change the pitch by pressing the keys Like on a Nyckelharpa.