FAQ's 6-String Dulcimer

On Sunday 23 August 2009 11:14:33 pm you wrote:

Your Name: Robert Tyler
Your Email Address: robert@i-cns.com
Subject: 6 string Dulcimer
Message: I was given a 6 string dulcimer and do not know how to
tune it. Any help would be grateful.

Greetings Robert,

The 6-String Dulcimer is tuned the same as a 3 and 4-string ... only
the chorus strings, (the strings adjacent to each other), are tuned
in unison.

There are a variety of tunings available for dulcimer...on a six-
string, it's common to tune all paired off strings in unison...

A common tuning would be:

DD AA AA

The D strings would be the furthest from the player...the low
strings...this D would be one whole step above middle C.

The middle pair would be AA...

and what would be considered the melody strings, those closest to the
player, would also be tuned in a unison A...

Hope this helps...Mickey

Folk of the Wood

Thanks for the response.

The problem it seems that the larger D and the smaller D are in some sort of
harmonic of each other but it is not the same note. The same situation goes
for the middle two strings. They are different sizes from each other and
different from what you call the D strings, and are tuned to different notes
that are in a harmonic of each other and in harmonic with the two D strings.
The two strings closest to me are tuned identical and are the smallest in
diamater. This was my sister's dulcimer and she passed away last year, so
I cannot ask her about this configuration. She was a musician and played the
dulcimer a good bit, but it was kind of our of tune when I received it. I
used to play several instruments but that was 30 years ago. I guess I need to
go to a local music store and get something to help me tune this to the
correct notes.

Thanks again for your help.

Robert T.

Yes ... however, this sounds like a custom strung dulcimer. There is a good possibility that the smaller D is one octave higher than the lower D. However, I cannot tell without looking at it in person. Hence, your best bet is to have a local dealer assist you personally. Additionally, a good investment would be a chromatic electronic tuner. All my best, Mickey

Subject: Kind of Dulcimer?
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 11:48:53 -0500

Hi There, Mickey! What kind of dulcimer do I have?: It is 2&3/4" deep, 28" from nut to bridge. It's shape is wide in the middle and narrow at nut and bridge. It has slots for 6 strings: 2 melody and 4 equi-distant. What kind of strings do I put on it to utilize all the slots? and what variations are possable using only some slots? Also, can I strum it with a noter or is it more for finger pickin' ?
Thank you. George S.

Greetings George,

It sounds like you have a 6-String Teardrop Mountain dulcimer...you can find these on our web site...look through the dulcimer section to match it up.

Most all mountain dulcimers are made with 4 strings today...however, the 6-string dulcimers have an added string to the other two of a standard dulcimer. This doesn't mean that it's tuned in different than a standard dulcimer...only that you have double strings, the ones adjacent to each other, that are tuned to equivalent pitches.

I'm not sure what you mean by "4 equi-distant"...if these 4 strings are separate from each other entirely, you have a different dulcimer than described above.

If you do have the dulcimer described above, simply purchase two sets of 4-string dulcimer strings, and then pair them off...you'll only end up with extra melody strings.

The noter is for fretting the dulcimer...you will want to strum your dulcimer with a standard flatpick...most players use a thinner large triangular flatpick for dulcimer playing.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Date: Mon, 07 Oct 2002 14:23:19 -0400
Subject: Tuning a six string dulcimer

A friend of mine has built a six-string dulcimer from a kit and would
like to know how to tune it. Thanks!

Greetings,

There are a variety of tunings available for dulcimer...on a six-string, it's common to tune all paired off strings in unison...

A common tuning would be:

DD AA AA

The D strings would be the furthest from the player...the low strings...this D would be one whole step above middle C.

The middle pair would be AA...

and what would be considered the melody strings, those closest to the player, would also be tuned in a unison A...

Hope this helps...Mickey