Griffin Music Hammered Dulcimers

 
Frequently Asked Questions
About The Hammered Dulcimer

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General dulcimer questions

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General Questions about Hammered Dulcimer

How are the instruments tuned?
Diatonically. That is to say that notes are organized in the classic "Do-Re-Mi" scale, but not exactly linearly like on a harp. Like a guitar or mandolin, notes are grouped by intervals of fourths or fifths, depending on how you look at the instrument.

No, I mean... how do you tune it?
The instrument uses friction tuning pins, much like an autoharp or piano. A portable electronic tuner is recommended, like the Korg DT-1 or DT-3. But if you have an ear for differences in pitch, you can tune it to virtually any other instrument - piano, flute, pitch pipes, etc. Once you get used to it, tuning a dulcimer doesn't take more than 5 minutes.

What do the numbers mean, like 13/12?
Many dulcimer makers will indicate the size and range of their dulcimers by the number of "courses" or string groups found on each bridge. The first number is usually for the treble (center) bridge, the second for the bass (right side) bridge; and if a third number is given it means there is a third bridge on the far left of the instrument. As a general rule, the following is true: 9/8 = two octave, 12/11 = two 1/2 octave, and 15/14 = three octave range.

Does a half-octave really make that much difference?
On paper, you wouldn't think that it would. But once you get to compare two instruments side-by-side, you can immediately hear a difference in tone and depth, and after playing for a while a half octave can be significant because of how many keys you can play in. Other differences will be in note range (especially if you plan to do harmonizing), and volume. It seems that most professional players recommend getting at least a 12/11 as a first instrument.
Does a dulcimer have chromatics?
Chromatic notes (e.g. the black keys on a piano) can be found scattered in different parts of the dulcimer. Not all dulcimers have all chromatic notes - so check specs carefully to be sure you're getting what you want. As a side note, many people think at first that they need a fully chromatic instrument, to find later that they hardly ever use the chromatic notes. For example, traditional Irish music rarely requires notes that can't be found on a standard 12/11 dulcimer.

I am an absolute beginner. What is the best instrument to get?
Buying a dulcimer might seem to be an intimidating task. You need to carefully consider: what you plan to do with it, how much you can spend, and how your current level of musical expertise will apply to learning the dulcimer. An important note is that many teachers recommend getting at least a 12/11 sized instrument. For more advice, check out this guide.

Why buy a dulcimer with a black lacquer finish?
Under most lighting conditions, bridges and strings can be seen better over a black lacquer finish. You should consider a dulcimer with this finish if you plan to use it in a variety of settings. Many people also prefer the slick appearance of a black lacquer top. The major disadvantage to a black lacquer finish is sensitivity to full sunlight - a dulcimer may self-destruct if it gets too hot.

How often do the strings need to be replaced?
Only when they break. Unlike fretted instruments where you replace the strings every few months, dulcimers can keep their strings indefinitely since they are not played with your fingers. On guitars, dirt and skin oil will "gum up" their wound strings and dulls the sound. This doesn't happen to hammer dulcimers because they are played with wooden mallets called "hammers" or "spoons."

Hammer dulcimers do require a little care, but usually not much more than protecting the strings from moisture and contaminants so they do not rust.

What do I do if a string breaks?
First of all, remove and retain all remaining pieces of the string. You shouldn't re-use a piece of wire that has broken. Replacement wire can be acquired from the dulcimer manufacturer or from a local folk instrument store. If neither of these are available, check your Yellow Pages under "Piano - Repairing" and call some of the technicians. You will need to know the gauge or thickness of the wire when you call. If you don't have calipers, you may need to bring the broken string to a professional for gauging. Replace a dulcimer string only with the same gauge (and preferably the same material) of wire as the original.

Why should I own a pair of double-sided hammers?
Double-sided hammers are sort of a two-for-one deal, although they are typically more expensive than their single-sided counterparts. The two striking surfaces of a double-sided hammer will have different textures or covering material (e.g. leather, suede, felt) which produce different sounds. The idea behind a double-sided hammer is that you should be able to flip it from one side to another quickly in the middle of a performance. Not all designs will do this easily, however, so it's a good idea to try before you buy.

Okay, so why own a pair of single-sided hammers?
Single sided hammers are typically lighter than doubles, offering two distinct advantages: (1) their lower mass makes playing fast easier; (2) the lower profile of single-sided hammers make them less susceptible to drift from crosswinds when playing on a windy day.

As a player, you will have to experiment with both double and single sided hammers to determine what you are most comfortable playing with.

Do different hammer woods make different sounds?
Yes, although the difference is often subtle. Softwoods tend to have a dampening effect similar to using leather padding, whereas hardwoods often have a louder, more ringy tone. These differences will be more apparent in recordings than they will in performance.

How do I keep my dulcimer clean?
Dulcimer soundboards are efficient dust collectors and cleaning them can be a chore. Retailers sell all kinds of toys for cleaning dulcimers (some even sell a "dulcimer duster" which looks like an oversized pipe cleaner), but we've found that a long bristled paint brush works best. Use only a brand new brush, preferably made from camel hair. The brush should be held perpendicular to the soundboard and swept parallel with and through the strings.

Resources for More Dulcimer Information

What else is out there on the World Wide Web and the Internet that can tell me more about hammered dulcimers?
We recommend checking out the following sites:

In addition, you can subscribe to the Hammered Dulcimer e-mail list by sending a message to hammerd@mcs.com. Submissions to the list are done by sending mail to hammerd@mcs.com.

What are some good books on learning to play dulcimer?
There are quite a few books available, with more being written all the time. One of the best I've seen is Striking Out and Winning written by Lucille Reilly. This is a fairly expensive ($35) but rather thorough book. Three audio tapes which complement the book are sold separately; I haven't heard them so I can't advocate them as strongly.

A (relatively) new arrival to the scene is Maddie McNeil's "How To Play the Hammered Dulcimer" on the Mel Bay label. Maddie's book has been getting a lot of good reviews. A book & tape, or book & CD set is an excellent way to start learning the hammered dulcimer.

For learning lots of really good (and frequently played) dulcimer tunes, check out The Kitchen Musician. These are low-cost, high quality books written in both standard and numeric dulcimer notation.

Where can I find someone to teach me the dulcimer?
There are many teachers and instructors across the globe. Check out The Music Teachers' List for a teacher in your area. Most dulcimer teachers in the United States are listed here.

How about dulcimer recordings and bands?
A very w-i-d-e range of recordings are available from almost every CD superstore and folk instrument shop... so much so that we couldn't begin to list all of them. For the most part, dulcimer recordings are best for building up your repertoire after you've learned to play at the intermediate level. A select few recordings may actually help you learn new techniques, if you have a sharp ear and have good hand-ear coordination. Recordings alone will never show you a technique as clearly as live one-on-one instruction, but they can give you an idea to ask instructors "how is this done?"

Below is a list of artists and recordings that I have heard and recommend either for repertoire or technique, or both.

Jerry Read Smith
  • Strayaway Child
  • Heartdance
    No Strings Attached
  • Take Five
    John McCutcheon
  • Dulcimer duets, trios, and quartets
    Lee Spears
  • Confluence (highly recommended!)
    Maggie Sansone
  • Sounds of the Season
  • Dance Upon the Shore

    • Subscribing to Dulcimer Player's News
    The Dulcimer Player's News (often called "DPN" on newsgroups and other Internet forums) is a quarterly publication covering all aspects of both hammered and mountain dulcimers. It is a "must" for any serious dulcimer enthusiast.
            Dulcimer Players News ($30/year)
        PO Box 278
        Signal Mountain TN 37377
    Griffin Music
    PO Box 87462
    Montgomery Village MD 20886-7462
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    Last updated: 18-September-2006

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