Table of Contents
Is the hammered dulcimer hard to play?
Hammered dulcimer is one of the most satisfying instruments to learn because it’s easy to make a pleasant sound right from the beginning. You can start at any age, and you can have fun with it even if you don’t know any music theory and have never played an instrument before.
What is the best wood for a dulcimer?
Western red cedar is the most widely used of the cedars for dulcimer soundboards. The wood is softer and lighter than spruce but is less affected by changes in humidity. The sound properties of western red cedar are notable for very clear highs, excellent balance throughout the tonal range and a warm tone.
What is the hammered dulcimer made of?
Hammers are usually made of wood (most likely hardwoods such as maple, cherry, padauk, oak, walnut, or any other hardwood), but can also be made from any material, including metal and plastic.
How many strings does a hammer dulcimer have?
A dulcimer with 12 treble courses and 4 strings per course makes a good, all-round instrument. The hammer dulcimer diagram and dimensions are for such an instrument.
Who plays the hammered dulcimer?
More videos on YouTube The dulcimer in the soundtrack is a D650 played by Garrett Viggers. (Music by Sam Stewart.) Fun story that Garrett told us: His D25 is the one pictured in the movie.
How much does a dulcimer cost?
Our dulcimers range from about $700 to about $4,500. To view, download or print a price list, click the links below. Prices can also be found on our harp and hammered dulcimer model and accessory pages.
What is a ginger dulcimer?
McSpadden Ginger Models are smaller dulcimers with a 23 3/16″ fretboard that can provide a high (Key of G) clear voice similar to that of a mandolin. On request they can be set up in the Key of D to be used as a smaller standard dulcimer for players who have difficulty reaching positions on a standard size fretboard.
What is a double back on a dulcimer?
Putting a false or double back on a dulcimer allows the inside back to resonate without being dampened by contact with the players legs. There has also been a trend, more recently, for dulcimers to have a bigger lower bout with a bridge over the deck or top. As a guitarist, I want my dulcimers to sound distinctive.
What is the difference between a dulcimer and a hammered dulcimer?
The hammered dulcimer is a multi-stringed trapezoidal instrument that is struck to produce music. The strings of the psaltery are plucked with the fingers, while dulcimer strings are struck with small mallets or hammers. Technically, both instruments are from the same family of instruments called board-zithers.
Is a hammered dulcimer a zither?
The Appalachian dulcimer (or mountain dulcimer) is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. Its origins are in the Appalachian region of the United States. The body extends the length of the fingerboard, and its fretting is generally diatonic.
Can you pluck a hammered dulcimer?
The plucked dulcimer relies on the shortening (fretting or stopping) of strings to produce many pitches with one or few strings. The true hammer dulcimer is a close relative to the psaltery, the chief difference being that the psaltery is usually plucked and the dulcimer is usually struck.
How do you pick a hammered dulcimer?
Choosing a hammered dulcimer of your own size. weight. spacing between string courses (I think you can adapt to any spacing, really, though.) pitch range, which can vary from 2 1/2 octaves to 5 1/2 octaves. loudness. stability (how well it will stay in tune) whether it has extra chromatic notes.
What is the easiest stringed musical instrument to learn to play?
Ukuleles are cheap and fun to play. They are one of the easiest stringed (and fretted) instrument to learn. The size makes them an easy start for both children and adults alike. They only have four strings, and they are closer together than on a guitar.
What is the easiest instrument to teach yourself?
The 11 Easiest Musical Instruments to Learn Keyboard. Castanets. Harmonica. DJ Controller. The Harp. Drums. Guitar. Ukulele. The ukulele is one of the most popular instruments for people to start with.
What hammered dulcimer should I buy?
13 Best Hammered Dulcimer & Santoor Reviews Master Works “Sapelli Pioneer Package” 15-14 Hammer Dulcimer – Natural. Musicmakers 17/16 Hammered Dulcimer. Persian Professional Sadeghi Goldar Santoor, Dulcimer with Hard Case. Master Works “Pioneer Package” 15-14 Hammered Dulcimer.
How is a dulcimer tuned?
There are two common tunings for mountain dulcimer, DAA and DAD. In DAA, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle and paired melody strings tuned to A. In DAD, the bass string is tuned to D with the middle string tuned to A. That is, the unusual pattern of frets on a mountain dulcimer renders a seven-tone scale.
What country is the hammered dulcimer from?
Persia: Most commonly, it is believed that the hammer dulcimer originated in Persia around 900 A.D. The instrument is more than likely related to one of the early models of the psaltery of those days.
Where does the hammered dulcimer come from?
Surprisingly, the hammered dulcimer, which is an ancient ancestor of the piano, at one time enjoyed widespread popularity throughout this country. The hammered dulcimer probably originated in the Middle East about 900 A.D. and is related to the much older psaltery.
