A dulcimer is a fretted, plucked musical instrument. The instrument first appeared in the early 1800s from the Scots-Irish in the southern Appalachian Mountains, and thus is also called a mountain dulcimer or an Appalachian dulcimer. There is a wide variation in Appalachian dulcimers and some may have up to 12 strings, but they are most commonly found with 3, 4, or 5 strings.

    Like a said earlier, there are a lot of types of Dulcimers, so I am only going to explain how to tune the most common dulcimers, the 3, 4, or 5 stringed dulcimers.
There are many ways you can tune a dulcimer, but currently the most common tunings are DAD, DAA, or DGD. DAD is the most common but it is often easier for the beginning player to tune to DAA or the so-called "Reverse Ionian" tuning, (DGD).

Difference between 3, 4, and 5 stringed Dulcimers

Down below i will explain how to tune a Dulcimer that has 4 strings. A 3 string and 5 string dulcimer are basically tuned to the same tuning as a 4 string dulcimer. The difference is that a 3 string has only 1 melody string, and the 5 string dulcimer has 2 melody strings and 2 bass strings. Those pairs of strings are tuned exactly the same note, to cause a harmonizing effect.

Tuning a Dulcimer using a Keyboard or Piano

Tuning a Dulcimer to itself

D Ionian (DAA) Tuning
1st String (bass) D - 2nd String (middle) A - 3rd String & 4th String (melody strings) A

1. Tune the 3rd or bass string to the D below Middle C on the Piano (or to the open 4th string of a guitar).
2. Press the 3rd or bass string just left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your middle or 2nd string until it matches this pitch.
3. Tune the 1st or melody string to the same note as the open middle string.

D Mixolydian (DAD) Tuning
1st String (bass) D - 2nd String (middle) A - 3rd String & 4th String (melody strings) D

1. Tune the 3rd or bass string to the D below Middle C on the Piano (or to the open 4th string of a guitar).
2. Press the 3rd or bass string just left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your middle or 2nd string until it matches this pitch.
3. Press the 2nd or middle string just left of the 3rd fret and pluck this note (high D, one octave above the open bass string). Tune the 1st or melody string to this note.

That's it! If you have any questions or comments, post them below.

Comments on this page

Guest [07-10-2009 16:56]   That is one of the most beautiful dulcimers I've seen. Who made it ???? t [26-09-2009 12:05]   hi dryforkcreek [15-08-2009 14:16]   I have not taken the time to learn to play my dulcimer (8 years). I am starting to get the "bug" again. I hope that I can learn to make music. Guest [12-06-2009 16:37]   i have a '73 Capriuaurus that I bought from the shop for $500 with case. I still play it - beautiful instrument. Mike Rugg is the maker and still plays. He is very interested in "Big Foot" these days. Hill Busybee [12-06-2009 08:51]   What a great site and so helpful Ansul [09-06-2009 21:03]   oh yeah Cords. not my strong suit but I do know there are not that many dulcimber books of note out there. most of them have chording charts. unless your 4 string dosen't play like a 3 then you should have no problems. I suggest googleing dulcimer you will find a site that has ... ahem lol... "everything dulcimer" out there. its an awsome resource for the dulcimer. again happy playing! Ansul [09-06-2009 20:59]   I've played the mountain dulcimer for about 18 years now. mine is a folk craft model. 4 string hourglass shape. this insturment has alot of history and many ways to play it. the notes are played very similar to the piano so you can ply by reading music or by number. the ease of play is what is so awsome about this particular stringed instrument. as with almost any instrument if you take care of it the sound gets better with time. I will advise any one who wants to play not to buy cheap. its ok to learn on but you should buy in the $300 - $700 range and get a nice instrument that will last forever. well thats my two cents in. happy playing! matt [24-05-2009 22:23]   is there a chord chart for a dulcimer[4 string]

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