Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Our first forum for instruments you don't blow.
User avatar
weedie
Posts: 578
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 2:23 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: New South Wales Australia
Contact:

Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by weedie »

G'day Friends.
My friend Alana has an Apalachin Dulcimer and we play Irish tunes together with myself playing Flute..
She tunes it to D .. First string D ,second A and third D.
Seeing as there's many Irish Tunes in the key of G,she's tried to tune down to G and was met a 'flubbery' sound with strings too slack..
So, I'm thinking that if she were to use heavier gauge strings to compensate for the lower tuning,the the Dulcimer in the the key of G might work.. ie: ( G D G )
I'm wondering if any one here has experience with this ? and could suggest gauges of string that would suit and not cause potential damage to the instrument ? .
The Strings she's using now are ,022 .014 and .012 (D A D ) .. she's only using single strings and the scale length of the Dulcimer is 27" ..
Thanks all ... regards from OZ ... Charlie.
" Quiet is quite nice " ..... weedie .....
User avatar
stanton135
Posts: 235
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:39 am
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Hi Nano. I was somewhat active on the Chiffboards maybe 5 or 6 years ago, participating in several whistle tours (Bracker, Hardy, Ellis). I took a break from the Chiffboards, and music mostly, for several years because I got a full-time job and had a baby. I'm easing back into the music, though (which is great, I missed it). It's good to be back!
Location: Northwest Indiana

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by stanton135 »

To play in G I usually just tune my middle string down to G: D G dd. Should work fine with the same strings as for D A dd.
User avatar
walrii
Posts: 1174
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:21 pm
antispam: No
Location: Burkburnett, TX

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by walrii »

There are a number of guitar string tension calculators online. Here's one I used to pick the strings for my cookie tin banjo: http://wahiduddin.net/calc/calc_guitar_string.htm. You can play around with string sizes too get the sound you want without putting too much tension on the instrument.
The Walrus

What would a wild walrus whistle if a walrus could whistle wild?

The second mouse may get the cheese but the presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
Dulcimer Bill
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 4:20 pm
antispam: No
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by Dulcimer Bill »

I just use a capo for playing in G or A.
User avatar
weedie
Posts: 578
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 2:23 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: New South Wales Australia
Contact:

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by weedie »

Thanks Folks for your input ...
Are there 'special' capos for Apalachin Dulcimers Bill ? ..
" Quiet is quite nice " ..... weedie .....
Dulcimer Bill
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 4:20 pm
antispam: No
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by Dulcimer Bill »

Weenie...yes. My favorite is a Clemmer made by Mike Clemmer of Wood N Strings Dulcimer Shop. Made of wood. Goes across the fretboard. $21.00. Best I've used. And some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Makes a heck of a dulcimer too.
User avatar
weedie
Posts: 578
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 2:23 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: New South Wales Australia
Contact:

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by weedie »

Thanks Bill... I'll look into those capos..
and... I'll even forgive you for the typo regarding my user-name :wink: :poke: :) ..
" Quiet is quite nice " ..... weedie .....
User avatar
MTGuru
Posts: 18663
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:45 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by MTGuru »

weedie wrote:and... I'll even forgive you for the typo regarding my user-name :wink: :poke: :) ..
And if you do that, we'll all forgive you for misspelling Appalachian. :lol:
Vivat diabolus in musica! MTGuru's (old) GG Clips / Blackbird Clips

Joel Barish: Is there any risk of brain damage?
Dr. Mierzwiak: Well, technically speaking, the procedure is brain damage.
Dulcimer Bill
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 4:20 pm
antispam: No
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by Dulcimer Bill »

Sorry....I'm usually pretty good about checking my spell check. Good luck on finding a capo.
User avatar
weedie
Posts: 578
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 2:23 am
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: New South Wales Australia
Contact:

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by weedie »

As our man MT has pointed out,a spelling make was made myself.. :oops: .. sharp as a razor he is :) ..
Seems as though we're just about even Bill ..
Alana says she's tried the capo idea and is not too fond of them.. I think she'll be trying the dropped A (to G) and see how she goes..
Best wishes and happy tunes to you both :thumbsup: ..
" Quiet is quite nice " ..... weedie .....
robert schuler
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 12
Location: new jersey

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by robert schuler »

What you need is a baritone dulcimer. We normally tune them AEA, but play nicely in gdg. I build them with 28 and 30" scales. Three strings . I'm still experimenting with gauge's but .014 plain .018 to .020 wound and .030 wound bass work's for me in mixolydian. There are many tunings and modes to try, that is what's great about the dulcimer... Bob.
Oh body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?... WB Yeats
robert schuler
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 12
Location: new jersey

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by robert schuler »

Another thing you can do is tune Ionian. You don't need to change string gagues...Tune bass to G3 with middle and melody strings tuned D4. The G scale begins at third fret... Bob
Oh body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?... WB Yeats
User avatar
sbfluter
Posts: 1411
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:31 pm

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by sbfluter »

I tune to DGd. Works great but there are some G tunes that need a low G, not a low D, so sometimes it doesn't work.
~ Diane
Flutes: Tipple D and E flutes and a Casey Burns Boxwood Rudall D flute
Whistles: Jerry Freeman Tweaked D Blackbird
User avatar
s1m0n
Posts: 10069
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:17 am
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
Location: The Inside Passage

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by s1m0n »

Dulcimer Bill wrote:Weenie...yes. My favorite is a Clemmer made by Mike Clemmer of Wood N Strings Dulcimer Shop. Made of wood. Goes across the fretboard. $21.00. Best I've used. And some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Makes a heck of a dulcimer too.
Aren't capos devices for going up, not down a tone? How do you use a capo to make a string longer? And if you're using the capo to up a fourth (not from Dad to to Cgc but from Dad to gd'g', I think) doesn't that sound kinda tinny?
And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')

C.S. Lewis
Dulcimer Bill
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 4:20 pm
antispam: No
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Apalachin Dulcimer Tuning ..

Post by Dulcimer Bill »

I play with a capo at the fourth fret for A all the time. Tinny? Not really. I use heavier strings and a thicker pick. Has a kind of mandolin sound. A capo is a quick way to change keys rather than retune. And you can play A tunes with a 1 1/2 fret, but by using a capo the familiarity of the fretboard is there.
Post Reply