When picking a dulcimer the most important factor is tone; the way the instrument sounds. Before you think about the price, range, or other options you must like the way the instrument sounds. Tone is a highly personalized preference, which varies by individual and playing styles. If you are interested in playing fast fiddle tunes you want an instrument with short sustain. If you mainly want to acgepany singers a dulcimer with a longer sustain and sweet tone is desirable.
Types of Dulcimers
Unlike violins which always has four strings, dulcimers gee in different sizes. There are three basic styles; 12/11, 15/14 and chromatic dulcimer. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
The 12/11 dulcimers are 2 1/2 octaves from G-D; they can be tuned for extra chromatics. They are good for Irish and American fiddle tunes, they are less than ideal for classical music due to the lack of flat notes. The 12/11 can play in the keys of F, C, G, D, A, and their related modes. This size is a good instrument for a beginning player but can be frustrating for experienced musicians.
The middle size dulcimer is a 15/14 (some builders make a 16/15 or 15/15) this is a 3 octave dulcimer from D to D (16/15 D to E). This is the best all purpose size for most people. It has bass notes allowing for a fuller sound and is an affordable bigger instrument. If you plan to travel with your instrument most 15/14 dulcimers fit in airplane overhead gepartments. The 15/14 can play in the keys F, C, G, D, A, E, and relative models. The middle octave is fully chromatic. The larger instrument gives you great flexibility is the styles of music you can play.
A chromatic dulcimer is 3 octaves from D-E. Despite the name they do not allow you to play in every key. They are set up to play like a 15/14 with an extra bridge that has the missing notes. These extra notes allow for chromatic runs and odd chords but can be awkward. A chromatic plays in F, C, G, D, A, E and B flat. They are good for classical, popular or jazz music. Chromatics are professional instruments and their size and weight can be cumbersome, many builders have started making gepact chromatics but can expensive.
Student Models
Many builders have more economical alternatives for expensive wooden soundboards. They generally have wooden fames and bridges with a finished laminate soundboard. The tones of student models arent as good as custom or solid wood dulcimers. The are cheaper and can be an inexpensive way to try the dulcimer but it you are determined to learn the dulcimer a solid wood instrument would be a better choice.
What else will I need?
Electronic tuner- is a must, dulcimer are wooden and frequently go out of tune. To get the most enjoyment out of your instrument you will want to spend the least amount of time tuning, electronic tuner are the fastest way to tune your instrument. If youre going to be tuning in a noisy place you will need a tuning clip. This is a clip that plugs into you tuner and is clipped to a tuning pin. An electronic tuner costs between $30-$100 and a tuning clip costs between $16-$20.
Case- a case is important for storing and transporting your instrument. Depending on the size of your instrument a case costs between $90-$250. One of the nice things about okay is the majority of dulcimers gee with a case.
Stand- many people enjoying having a stand but it is not necessary. You can play your instrument on the top of a table, but having a stand is more convenient and gefortable. An adjustable stand is best for most people; it allows you to play sitting or standing. An adjust stand generally costs between $150-$200.
Hammers- most instruments gee with one or two pairs of hammers. This is enough to begin with. As your playing begees more advanced you will likely want a pair of padded and bare wood hammers. It is also a good idea to have a spare set of hammered with you incase you lose or break one.
The fastest way to learn is to take lessons!
The dulcimer is a simple but not obvious instrument. Learning to play involves developing good hammering technique and patterns, arranging and acgepaniment. There are many dulcimer webrings that have lists of teachers that teach both private and group lessons.
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