If you've never granted a dulcimer before, you might think it's a professional job, but you can do it at home without the need for professional help. Tuning the instrument according to the ionic mode is the most widely used method today, but there are other options as well.
Steps
Learn to Know Your Dulcimer
Step 1. Look at the number of strings
Dulcimers can have 3 to 12 strings, but most have 3, 4, or 5. The tuning process for the most common dulcimers is quite similar, but there are some noteworthy differences.
- A three-string dulcimer has a bass string, a middle and a melody string.
- A four-string dulcimer has a bass string, a middle and two for the melody.
- A five-string dulcimer has two bass strings, one middle and two for the melody.
- In a set of strings (two for bass and two for melody), they must all be tuned the same way.
- If you have a dulcimer with more than five strings, it is best to take it to a professional for tuning as there are many variations in the position and sound of the strings.
Step 2. Examine the position of the strings
Before tuning a string, you need to know which clef governs a particular string and where each string is located.
- With the dulcimer placed frontally in front of you, the keys placed on the left generally regulate the middle strings. The key at the bottom right is usually the bass string, while at the top there are those for the melody.
- If in doubt, move the mechanics and see which string loosens or tightens. If you really can't figure out which key is connected to a string, get help from an expert.
- The bass string is usually referred to as the "third" string, even if you tune it first. Similarly, the melody string is called the "first" string even though it will be tuned last. This is because the bass string is the farthest from you, and vice versa that of the melody.
Method 1 of 4: Ionic (Re-La-La)
Step 1. Tune the bass string in D below middle C
Pluck the open string and listen to the sound produced. Play the D on a guitar, piano or tuning fork, then move the clef corresponding to the bass string of the dulcimer until the plucked sound is identical to the D played on the other instrument.
- On the guitar, the D below the middle C corresponds to the fourth open string.
- If you don't have any instruments to tune the bass string, make a sound with your voice that is as natural and spontaneous as possible. This may not be a king, but it will come close enough to the point.
- The ionic mode is the most common and is also called "natural major". A lot of traditional American songs are on this scale.
Step 2. Adjust the middle chord
On the dulcimer, press the fourth fret of the bass string. Pluck the string so as to produce the note of A, then, by moving the right key, adjust the middle string so that the sound of the open string corresponds to the A just plucked.
This step, as well as the previous one, is essential no matter which tuning method you choose to use
Step 3. Tune the melody string to the same note as the middle string
Pluck the string of the open melody and move the corresponding clef until the sound is identical to that of the middle open string.
- This note is an A, and it is the same sound produced by plucking the bass string pressed at the fourth fret.
- The scale of the Ionic method starts at the third fret and goes up to the tenth fret. On your dulcimer you will have other notes available both below and above the octave.
Method 2 of 4: Misolydian (Re-La-Re)
Step 1. Tune the bass string in D below middle C
Pluck the empty bass string and listen to the resulting sound. Then, play the D on a guitar, piano, or tuning fork and adjust the tuning of the bass string until the resulting sound is the same.
- If you're using a guitar, pluck the fourth open string to hear the correct note.
- When you don't have a tuning fork or other instrument to keep as a reference, you can informally tune the dulcimer by emitting a natural and spontaneous sound with your voice. Match the note you play to your "huumm" …
- The misolydian mode is also known as the "hybrid" mode. Usually, this scale is used in Neo-Celtic Irish violin music.
Step 2. Tone the middle string
Pluck the bass string by pressing the fourth fret. The resulting note will be, as we have already seen, an A. Use the appropriate clef to tune the middle string open until you get an A.
Note that this step and the previous one are identical for any tuning method, so if you master these two steps, you will be able to tune in any way
Step 3. Tune the melody string with the help of the middle string
Press the middle at the third fret and pinch it, to produce an acute D. Adjust the melody string accordingly, using the corresponding clef, until the open string produces the same D.
- This high D will be an octave higher than that played on the open bass string.
- Tuning in D-La-Re (or the mixolydian method) will cause an increase in tension on the melody string.
- The scale of the mixolydian method begins on the string of the open melody (also called “zero fret”) and goes up to the seventh fret. There are no notes below the octave on your dulcimer, but they are above it.
Method 3 of 4: Dorico (Re-La-Sol)
Step 1. Tune the bass string in D below middle C
Pluck the empty bass string and listen to the resulting sound. Then, play the D on a guitar, piano or tuning fork and adjust the tuning of the bass string until the resulting sound is the same.
- As already mentioned, the fourth open string of the guitar corresponds to a D.
- Again, when you don't have a tuning fork or other instrument to use as a reference, you can tune the dulcimer out with a sound that sounds natural and comfortable. Match the note with the sound your voice is making. This tuning method is not exact, but it still leads to acceptable results.
- The Doric mode is has minor tones compared to the mixolydian, but greater when compared to the aeolian. It is used for a variety of intonations, including Scarborough Fair and Greensleeves.
Step 2. Tone the middle string
Pluck the bass string by pressing the fourth fret. The resulting note will be an A. Use the appropriate clef to tune the middle string open until you get an A.
This step and the previous one are identical in any tuning method described here, so mastering these two steps is a crucial effort
Step 3. Tune the melody string with the help of the bass string
Press the bass string at the third fret and pluck it, to produce a G. Adjust the melody string accordingly (using the corresponding clef) until the open string produces the same note.
- You will need to loosen the tension of the melody string to lower the pitch.
- The Doric mode scale begins on the fourth fret and goes up to the eleventh. On the dulcimer there are further notes below the octave and some above.
Method 4 of 4: Wind (Re-La-Do)
Step 1. Tune the bass string in D below middle C
Pluck the empty bass string and listen to the resulting sound. Then, play the D on a guitar, piano, or tuning fork and adjust the tuning of the bass string until the resulting sound is the same.
- As already mentioned, the fourth open string of the guitar corresponds to a D.
- When you don't have a tuning fork or other instrument to use as a reference, use your voice (always making a spontaneous sound). However, the result will not be very precise.
- The wind mode is also known as "natural minor". It has a "plaintive" sound and is often used in traditional Scottish and Irish songs.
Step 2. Tone the middle string
Pluck the bass string by pressing the fourth fret. The resulting note will again be an A. Use the appropriate clef to tune the middle string open until you get an A.
This step and the one for tuning the bass are essentially the same for each method described in this article
Step 3. Tune the melody string with the help of the bass string
Press the bass string at the sixth fret and pluck it, so that it produces a C. Adjust the melody string accordingly, using the corresponding clef, until the open string produces the same note.
- You will need to loosen the tension of the melody string to lower the pitch.
- The scale of the wind mode starts at the first fret and goes up to the eighth. On the dulcimer you can find another note below the octave and many above.
