this is excellent info! I am an amateur builder, and recently put heavy strings on my stick dulcimer. cgc so i can play easily with my daughter's ukulele. the heavy strings are so powerful, i love it! I'm going to try the daa thanks
It's a beautiful tuning. I recommend having a DAA-only instrument strung perhaps 24-15-15 or 23-14-14 or even 26-16-16 depending on your VSL. Would also allow EAA, DAG, DGG, etc. Instruments tuned DAD, you can tune the melody string down to an A but it's pretty wimpy sounding. If you love DAA, go for the same string gauges for the middle and melody.
Couldn't agree with you more. I never fit in with the dulcimer club snobs because I played DAA strumming the melody only. I don't know a single chord. I don't think you should take a simple instrument and turn it into something people can't play. Bought my first dulcimer from a Sears catalog in 1980. I built two McSpadden kits in the late 90's. One hourglass and one teardrop. I like the hourglass better. Also have a garage sale one that has a deep soundbox. The volume is incredible.
I am an advocate for heavy strings! I agree with you, Stephen. I use a 14-14-16-30 gauge set (four equidistant). A twelve or 10 simply will not sound good tuned to an 'A'. I do not think that a 10 even sounds good as a 'D' unless you have double melody courses (whic I am not a fan of either). Thanks so much for enlightening us on this!
I tune my 4 string mountain dulcimers to GG cC a very sweet sound using .010 for the melody strings and the high c about .028 to .036 for the low C string
I agree completely about the DAA tuning. That melody string always sounds slinky to me because it needs a higher gauge to be nice and strong and tight.
Have one .trying to relearn how to play. a broken neck has all but taken it away . Just made a decent amazing grace and broke down crying at 85 percent of my mobility it a real bit of therapy tks good luck
Stephen Williams I hope your therapy is going well. keep working your healing. there are more forces working on your behalf than you realize. be strong, be happy, be true.
@@magicdave93 gone back to my old hoby ...amature radio. Keeps me Bussey. Also carry 24/7. Like the Jews"never again". No help from police or JUDGE. So I went CCW. I took a neighbor to the range. Now they got the message. .... quoting dirty Harry "in all the excitement. I can't rember was it 5 or was it 6 Want try ? Do you want to know.??? SGT williams retired tks . Psalm 27 1-10. Read it. Thanks
Sounds very beautiful! Going to try those strings and tuning.
Beautiful full rich melody
this is excellent info! I am an amateur builder, and recently put heavy strings on my stick dulcimer. cgc so i can play easily with my daughter's ukulele. the heavy strings are so powerful, i love it! I'm going to try the daa thanks
really cool great improv you really worked that dulcimer well its great to see people shaking things up a bit
i like it i learned something new
DAA is touching my heart deep inside
It's a beautiful tuning. I recommend having a DAA-only instrument strung perhaps 24-15-15 or 23-14-14 or even 26-16-16 depending on your VSL. Would also allow EAA, DAG, DGG, etc. Instruments tuned DAD, you can tune the melody string down to an A but it's pretty wimpy sounding. If you love DAA, go for the same string gauges for the middle and melody.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Couldn't agree with you more. I never fit in with the dulcimer club snobs because I played DAA strumming the melody only. I don't know a single chord. I don't think you should take a simple instrument and turn it into something people can't play. Bought my first dulcimer from a Sears catalog in 1980. I built two McSpadden kits in the late 90's. One hourglass and one teardrop. I like the hourglass better. Also have a garage sale one that has a deep soundbox. The volume is incredible.
That's really nice stuff Stephen. Thanks
I am an advocate for heavy strings! I agree with you, Stephen. I use a 14-14-16-30 gauge set (four equidistant). A twelve or 10 simply will not sound good tuned to an 'A'. I do not think that a 10 even sounds good as a 'D' unless you have double melody courses (whic I am not a fan of either). Thanks so much for enlightening us on this!
Dulcimers are beautiful. I want one.
I tune my 4 string mountain dulcimers to GG cC a very sweet sound using .010 for the melody strings and the high c about .028 to .036 for the low C string
Thank you Stephen,for showing us the dulcimer in its traditional Ionian mode.This is the tuning i always play in.
Amen!
I agree completely about the DAA tuning. That melody string always sounds slinky to me because it needs a higher gauge to be nice and strong and tight.
I prefer DAA,For playing melodies,i like having those three notes below "C" Will try your string suggestion.
Have one .trying to relearn how to play. a broken neck has all but taken it away . Just made a decent amazing grace and broke down crying at 85 percent of my mobility it a real bit of therapy tks good luck
Stephen Williams
I hope your therapy is going well. keep working your healing. there are more forces working on your behalf than you realize.
be strong, be happy, be true.
Hope you're healing. A dulcimer's angelic music is great therapy.
I suffer from Anxiety/depression and I’ve just gotten into this instrument and I think it’s the best therapy bar none. Thanks for posting.
@@magicdave93 gone back to my old hoby ...amature radio. Keeps me Bussey. Also carry 24/7. Like the Jews"never again". No help from police or JUDGE. So I went CCW. I took a neighbor to the range. Now they got the message. .... quoting dirty Harry "in all the excitement. I can't rember was it 5 or was it 6 Want try ? Do you want to know.??? SGT williams retired tks . Psalm 27 1-10. Read it. Thanks
what scale length is this model?
...Sounds great
Send this video link to Jerry Rockwell. He'll know.
I cannot find a 26 size string... Is it wound or unwound?
It is wound.
Skip skip skip 😁