Beginning Mountain Dulcimer | How to Read Tablature

In this video I teach you how to read mountain dulcimer tab! I show you each part of the tab and how to understand what each part is and does. I give you 2 different types of tab and walk you through it. I hope you are enjoying this beginner series of dulcimer lessons. If you would like to give back, please consider buying me a coffee ☕️ paypal.me/Banj.... Thank you!
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms tab - www.dulcimerta...
Down in the Valley tab - www.dulcimerta...
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[@MaryMaríaMcG]

Amazing support for a true beginner. You are an excellent teacher. Instruction is detailed and easy for those who are beginning their journey with the mountain dulcimer. You are sharing your talent and inspiring so many. Thank you!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you very much!

[@LynnKsCouture]

What I got out of this is seeing the regular notes, tablature, and identifying the notes to the strings. Thank you!

[@PeterCreighton-r4q]

Thank you. I enjoyyour videos. Peter Creighton

[@BanjoLemonade]

Glad you like them!

[@shirleybreth1730]

Another great lesson. I played clarinet in 4th and 5th grade and read music and sang in chorus and ensemble in high school, but needless to say, that was 50+ years ago and I've pretty much forgotten most of it! I really want to learn how to use the tablature and play in correct time. Struggling, but think it's because I don't practice every day. That's going to be my commitment for this next week, practice at least 1 hour each day! This winter when thing slow down a bit, I plan to join in your paid lessons to learn more! Thanks Mandy for your great videos!

[@Nerotique]

This channel really is the most fantastic resource for mountain dulcimer. You're doing God's work.

[@daveyuke8]

Thanks for a great introduction to tab

[@annhester3983]

Thank you I learned a lot from this video. Like no 0 on first measure means you play lat two strings only. That was a big learning tool. Thanks so much.

[@darrellfoley7673]

Amen. I just got a dulcimer from my wife for a birthday gift. Your videos are very helpful for this beginner. I’m even in tune!! I noticed my dulcimer is smaller than others I see in videos. It’s a home made one from the 80’s but sounds good. Love your teaching. Thank you

[@joejones2700]

Thanks for the clarification on reading the music

[@richardkannarr9224]

I love her “down to earth” style. It has helped me a lot.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you Richard. New dulcimer video coming this Thursday.

[@donaldkeeth6948]

I have been watching all of your videos and I'm playing and understand my Dulcimer so much Thank you, and God bless

[@kathywilson3942]

I Love the instructions you give. So easy to understand.

[@lauratoro6353]

I am new to the dulcimer and your videos are very clear and easy to understand. Thank you for all your help.

[@suemattes202]

❤ thank you for taking time out of your day to teach dulcimer and banjo. I am giving God the Glory for having found you on KZbin. Until next time may you see and hear many new big and small blessings from our Lord in every day. Bye for now Your Sister in Christ

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you! God bless you.

[@lesliebucari4096]

You are so amazing and I love that you love Jesus so much. This gift of teaching us interested folks is such a blessing. My hands can’t do as much as before but I’m grateful for the Mountain folk who created this fine instrument for us to play. God bless you my friend and I look forward to playing the songs of Christmas this winter. 💕🙋‍♀️🙏🐩

[@kellysas312]

Thank you for your clear, simple and joy filled explanations. Your faith based approach is uplifting.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you very much!

[@genebean4548]

Very helpful to me as I am a complete novice! Appreciate your time & tips! God bless!

[@laurenhartwig3842]

Thank for these videos!

[@brendabumgarner5278]

Excellent! I had no idea how to read tablature. I know life is so very busy, but I would be very thankful if you keep the dulcimer lessons coming

[@BanjoLemonade]

Great! Yes I will keep them going. New video coming out tomorrow on dulcimer.

[@RangerMelB]

Glad I found your page

[@nepryce]

Just watched this, love how you describe and demonstrate

[@skallatorc]

I come from a family of dulcimer players and I can play only a few songs I learned as a kid but the pandemic has gotten me to dust off my heirloom and play again. I have learned more in just this video than I have learned in the decades of my tinkering around.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks, if you’d like a ton more lessons, tabs, and practice tracks plus a FREE 7 Day Membership - www.banjolemonade.com

[@cbruman2]

Thank you!

[@charlottemyers1964]

I fell in love with the dulcimer when I visited Dollywood years ago at a much younger age; I am now 73. I used to play banjo but gave it up for the dulcimer. My husband surprised me and bought me a dulcimer at Dollywood on that trip. It was very expensive and has pearl butterflies on it. I decided to learn to play it by signing up at a local college group. The instructor was a retired physician from southern Ohio and it was an awesome enlightening experience. I never quite got the reading of the actual notes well; used the tab numbers instead. I quit going to the sessions and never actually joined the dulcimer club in this region. I had a busy job and 5 kids; which became 10 grandkids family group. I dabble from time to time and haven't played except a few times a year. Now, I have decided it is time to get back into it again. I enjoyed this video...it certainly helped me. God Bless.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks for sharing that! You can do this, keep it up. check out my website for tons more lessons and tabs. www.banjolemonade.com

[@charlottemyers1964]

@@BanjoLemonade I am watching your finger positions now. Trying to see how I can improve. My fingers don't always reach. LOL

[@charlottemyers1964]

I actually was looking for accompanying things to play with; and found your drums...

[@bonniehoover7094]

Hi Charlotte! You are encouraging me...bless you! I am 78 and just beginning to learn the dulcimer. God bless you!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Just realize that you may not be able to reach certain things and you may need to move your hand into different positions, or turn it completely around to reach. If you have a LOT of trouble with it, there’s always getting a shorter VSL dulcimer. That made a huge difference for me.

[@MsBratsche]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@imogenekluson9702]

Thank you for sharing this. It is very helpful.

[@christopherbennett4559]

Great video. Very helpful. I need patience of job learning this.Thanks 😊

[@BanjoLemonade]

You can do it!

[@davfew]

Love your work, you make it so easy to follow!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks so much 😊

[@dythresher2611]

So helpful...Thanks so much

[@RangerMelB]

I made a strap as you suggested for my first zoom meeting group lesson today... it was GREAT!

[@BanjoLemonade]

I don’t know what zoom is but I’m glad it went well for you.

[@jimnichols9793]

So helpful again, just might have to sign up for lessons!?

[@BanjoLemonade]

Yep you should, haha. Thanks!

[@theamputeewoodworker1473]

I really enjoyed this lesson, unfortunately I am still very much new at this and really trying to understand how to read TAB. I never heard that term till today.

[@cynthiaisenberg1029]

Thank You 💜 this helps me very much! I'm coming from a piano background, so this is a big help with tablature.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Nice, I’ve heard multiple times that fretting a dulcimer is similar to playing a piano.

[@cynthiaisenberg1029]

@@BanjoLemonade I hope so! I love the sound of the dulcimer and it's portability. You have a great teaching method and play beautifully.

[@MariaMartinez-kg6ns]

Thank you a lot

[@BanjoLemonade]

You are welcome

[@janegay8265]

Sooo helpful and interesting. I feel so much more confident Beginning this musically journey. Now off to practice for awhile.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Great Jane!

[@kathyreece2042]

Thankyou sooo much. Jesus Love you also. I'm beginning to understand

[@shirleybreth1730]

Still following your lessons. I would like to know if you will be notifying us when you will have open 1-1 classes again.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hi - here you go it’s open - banjolemonade.com/1-on-1-live-lessons/

[@angaramacrafts8564]

This was VERY helpful! Thanks!!

[@judithsopher4711]

Exactly what I needed to know. thanks.

[@BeyondF1]

I found this helpful, thank you.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thank you Phil, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnmeeks9618]

At the 5:32 mark, there are two small dots at the 2nd and 3rd stanza, what do they mean?

[@BanjoLemonade]

Ah ok, there you just let the chord ring out for the whole measure.

[@johnmeeks9618]

There were two tiny dots next to the tabs on the 3rd and 4th strum, what does that mean?

[@BanjoLemonade]

What time in the video are you referring to John?

[@april_thomas]

What do you have your dulcimer tuned to for this video? Thank you for offering the free lessons. I got a dulcimer for $10 from a friend and am loving it so far. I can read music but reading tablature is new to me. But I currently have my dulcimer tuned to D, D, G from playing some songs last night but I don’t know hoe to tell what yours in tuned to for this. Is it DAD? Lol. Sorry if this should be obvious to me. Thank you for any help. And thank you for the wonderful reminders of Christ’s love for us all. ♥️

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hey April, yes it’s DAD. 🙏

[@MariaMartinez-kg6ns]

Amen amen amen

[@willieboy8798]

i am new to dulcimer, i have years of music training...can you please address how the shape of the sound box effects the sound. i have a few dulcimers but they are near the same shape. txs

[@BanjoLemonade]

It’s really negligible in my opinion. I have 1 teardrop that I made, and several hourglass models. I prefer the hourglass shape because it gives me more of a platform for my left hand and thumb.

[@willieboy8798]

@@BanjoLemonade you are right it is really not that important . ..they really sound about the same to me... in guitar you can modify the hell out of them the construction, wood used, pick ups all kinds of things... dulcimer does not work that way! of course we know that guitar is chromatic and dulcimer is diatonic. txs for the responce...

[@ryanc1036]

Could you direct me towards a full chart of notes with fingering? I can only find chord charts on google.

[@BanjoLemonade]

not sure what you mean there?

[@ryanc1036]

Basically which finger placement plays an individual note on the staff from the bottom to the top of the instruments range.

[@karlschulte9231]

What about noter style. Grest lessons!

[@BanjoLemonade]

I don’t play much noter, though I do have 1 or 2 videos on it.

[@johnmeeks9618]

Great, really appreciate the instruction. Would like you to play the whole song/tune from time to time so we/I can see and hear how the whole tune is played!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Thanks John, here are those videos - Leaning On the Everlasting Arms - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaPVlJ-becmli68 , Down in the Valley - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5WkhHV6ht6bqpY

[@carolechoff9979]

I read music and and don’t read tabs can you show how to read tabs on banjo and guitar

[@BanjoLemonade]

Sorry I don’t play guitar much, but I can do one on reading banjo tab.

[@carolechoff9979]

I will look for it thanks dear. By the way hope you and your family has a very beautiful wonderful blessed Christmas and New Years

[@BanjoLemonade]

It will be after Christmas. Aww thank you very much! Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your family.

[@johnmeeks9618]

You didn’t talk about the strum marks or the dot at the base of the strum marks.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hard to talk about every single possible thing in under 9 minutes.

[@neilrussell5733]

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