Mountain Dulcimer Fret Variations | What do I need?

[@BanjoLemonade]

I hope you enjoy the video! I’m about 90% positive I misspoke about at least 1 thing here, please allow me some grace in that. Just trying to provide information. banjolemonade.com

[@Cheesus4jesus]

Mandy, thank you for taking the time to share this video. Love your positivity!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks for watching!

[@lorriew8627]

That was a great exploration of the Mountain Dulcimer..so nothing to fret about. I just love this instrument...❤ And Banjolemonade!❤❤❤ Banjolemonade

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you!

[@ElaineWood-f2t]

Hi Mandy! Thanks for putting out this great video explaining the different fret configurations. My first dulcimer is a diatonic. It's about as traditional as you're likely to find. It even has wooden tuning pegs! I have instruments with the 6+ fret. I recently got one with the 1+ fret. I think that's probably where I will stop. I'm not sure that I have the required musical skills to take on the chromatic fret board. Like you said, I have nothing but love and admiration for the folks who have the skills to play a chromatic dulcimer. Again, thanks for making this video! Take care and have a wonderful day!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hey Elaine! Thanks. Oh yeah the friction pegs! Neat. Believe it or not you don’t have to have tons of skills to play chromatic, but stop wherever you feel comfortable of course. All are great as you know. Have fun!

[@kellysas312]

Great presentation Mandy. You are so good at teaching and clearly explaining all mountain dulcimer topics!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you Kelly.

[@modelenginerding6996]

Nice, thanks for puting this together.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks!

[@manuelarichter586]

Hi mandy. Thank you so much. I like All the dulcimer. You are a great teacher for dulcimer music. Someday l will buy a dulcimer with 1+ and 8+. Blues and bluegrass its wonderful. I dont know🤔 one with flat or scroll head❤

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hey Manuela, I would say a flat head is definitely easier to restring and I like the looks of it too.

[@manuelarichter586]

Thank you mandy. Then a flathead dulcimer. I musst to change the strings next week 🙄🍀on my scrollhead dulcimer🎶☺

[@BanjoLemonade]

Have fun Manuela!

[@michaelblaney4461]

I think I would get a chromatic , the possibility to play chords would be nice to have. With a capo you would have the frets to play in more keys without changing the tuning. Im a bassist it might be fun to have something to play that is just for fun or get into other forms of music. 😊

[@BanjoLemonade]

Yes that’s the advantage of the chromatic for sure. But there’s amazingness in all the fret combo’s. BASS - love it.

[@LukeStoneStudios]

These are all great for many reasons. I love my diatonic with a 1+ tuned to C for church and some instrumental stuff. However, I use my baritone full chromatic. I use it as accompaniment for singing for my solo performances or if I’m the only instrument. It gives me a wider range of keys to play in on the fly.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Yep, I love them all because they ALL are useful to me. Thanks for watching!

[@christineweatherford5852]

Can you please make a video for someone wanting to learn dulcimer and helping us decide what dulcimer we should buy? I am so confused on 1.5 feet, chromatic vs diatonic, etc. I love the deeper sound you get with your resonator and your new walnut Folk Craft…they sound deeper not so bright as some of the others

[@Yallquietendown]

Thank you- this was a very helpful video ! I just ordered one and will have to see what kind it is when it arrives. I’ll probably want one of each haha/. I also play several instruments. Thank you for the overview ! I think it would be interesting to have a fretless one if they exist. I like being able to slide between notes on my fiddle. I also use that to cheat because if I don’t know where to press I can just start sliding and stop when my ear says I hit the right note 😂

[@BlessYourHeart254]

I love me some chromatic and I love me some diatonic with a 6 1/2 fret-it’s all good! Beautiful collection 🤩

[@BanjoLemonade]

Oh yes - thank you!

[@TheWhiskeyCowboyLife]

I have a classic diatonic dulcimer and find it very restricting. It's great for most dulcimer oriented songs or version of the songs, but leaves you without many notes that you need for more complex or modern songs. Because of that, the dulcimer I commissioned (should be done this month) is chromatic. I would rather have more notes than I "need" and play an incorrect note now and again than not having the notes I want and need for the songs I want to play. I want the weak part to be me and my skills, not the instrument. But no, there is no need to be negative about any of the fret/scale choices. It's like VSL, each has their advantages and drawbacks... but that said, a short VSL in chromatic scaling can be... tight. LOL You talk about sting spacing and numbers.... my new dulcimer is a 3 equal distance but tapered. The strings are closer at the bridge than the nut. The correct number of strings, frets, or other options is that which suits the player and what/how they want to play. Finding that out is probably the most important thing for folks. What you think you want, or how you play, may not be what you are, or end up being. But it's all fun... or should be. If it isn't... then the person not having fun needs to figure out why. Cheers!

[@BanjoLemonade]

I love having the diatonic, and my chromatic, and everything in between.

[@938quilt]

I’m curious if the 1 1/2 feet would eliminate the need for shorter vsl? The chording seems to be the biggest challenge (and I’m not advanced enough for it to be critical right now!😂) but if C is moved up toward the top end it seems easier fingering where the stretch isn’t as big if a deal?

[@BanjoLemonade]

Depends really on your hand size in relation to the scale length. For me it’s a big deal.

[@938quilt]

@@BanjoLemonade I guess it’s still a reach regardless of the extra frets🤔 I know it’s easier for me in the shorter Vsl dulcimer I got but I’m still pretty basic so enjoying the others too as I’m just noodling the melody strings

[@938quilt]

I just got my folkcraft that has 1.5 feet. I’m also having someone make one For me (yes I’ll stop lol😂) but after hitting the 1.5 by accident too many times I’m thinking of changing my request for those extra frets😢. When not looking too courtly I do better but not sure if I’m gonna adjust to it or want that stress. So I 100% get why someone would want simpler! My first dulcimer had 6.5 fret so I already knew I’d have to be careful in the middle but plenty to amuse myself with with 6 frets but that 1.5 only leaves 2 trouble free frets😂😜 but yep a wrong note that’s stilllin the scale ain’t nothing compared to one totally wrong😂😬

[@wandacass3981]

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