How to Tune the Hammered Dulcimer

Joshua Messick demonstrates his method for tuning the hammered dulcimer. JoshuaMessick.com
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[@maryfrance9783]

This is a superb lesson on tuning - exactly what I needed. The filming is excellent and the instruction well organized and clear. I cannot thank you enough for this video knowing how much it will help those of us who live in areas where there is no assistance or live instruction available.

[@sunshinejenny777]

Thank you for this! I so needed to learn this for my new Hammered Dulcimer. I am such a beginner.

[@QuietDiet]

Thanks for the tips; took me two weeks on and off to tune my new dulcimer...good gravy.

[@JoshuaMessick]

If you have some basic knowledge of how to do it, it is much, much easier :-) Glad this video was helpful!

[@judeiscool]

Hey I was Scorpio fries but now I'm Jude Drake! Anyway I got a hammered dulcimer! Thanks for this video to help me tune it!

[@JoshuaMessick]

Congratulations 🎉🎈 Enjoy it :)

[@paulagarrett3758]

Great tips! I tune my dulcimer from the top (both bridges at the same time) to the bottom, but this makes so much more sense.

[@chibimuffin2247]

Do you have any videos on changing strings? Your explanations are very thorough and you're a better teacher than on most of the videos I've seen lol 😆

[@JoshuaMessick]

Chibi Muffin I am glad you find the videos helpful! I don’t have a video about changing a string, but here is an excellent tutorial created by my good friend Russell Cook. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF6Ymoepj5JlZ9k

[@Dulcietta_LilliaClarke]

I must give this way a try. I normally tune by note, to avoid tension issues, as I initially tried from bass up ,and noticed by the time I had finished I had to start again, not so when doing all the Ds, then Es etc.

[@JoshuaMessick]

I hope it helps out!

[@cowboyathlete]

WHEW. Just now watching this, and I have the Clear Tune app

[@JoshuaMessick]

Hope it helps :)

[@quodlibetful]

After 10 years I feel more confident to go tune. Thanks so much.

[@JoshuaMessick]

Super great to hear! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@johnalmaguer644]

Hi Josh, this is great! I was looking for a video on tuning and I found this and realized it's Josh who used to live in Blk Mtn. I hope things are going great for you guys! Do you have more videos on learning to play or are you thinking of putting more out? I have gotten back into learning and there doesn't seem to be anybody in the area who teaches anymore and I'm trying to figure out how to get some basics in. ( this is Alicia of John & Alicia Almaguer from Blk Mtn )

[@MrStensnask]

But then how would one go about tuning the sober dulcimer?

[@cris4celtics]

Do you have a video showing the difference in a chromatic hammered dulcimer and a diatonic hammered dulcimer? I’m trying to decide on which would be best. Is the diatonic too limiting? Is the chromatic harder to play? I have an Irish penny whistle that is diatonic and it aggravates me when I can’t play a certain note 😂 but I’ve heard the diatonic hammered dulcimer is easier to play.

[@JoshuaMessick]

Thank you for reaching out! That's an excellent question. The hammered dulcimer is a diatonic configuration featuring three primary bridges separated by fifth intervals, creating a mostly chromatic layout. A standard-size dulcimer covers roughly three octaves, with the middle octave fully chromatic. However, the upper octave lacks two semitones, and the lower octave lacks three. A fully chromatic dulcimer adds five semitones, completing the chromatic scale across all three octaves, while maintaining the same primary configuration. You can think of these additional notes as five "makeup notes." It may be easier to understand this by reviewing the tuning charts of the Ultralight configurations: joshuamessick.com/product/master-works-ultralight/. I also explain this further in these videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZWoeYSKrr-De9E and kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIXCYX6lhrihn5o. All configurations are designed to be easy to play, and the chromatic option is a great feature that I highly recommend. If you have any further questions or are interested in ordering a hammered dulcimer, please don't hesitate to reach out through JoshuaMessick.com. I'd love the opportunity to earn your business. Thank you!

[@elizabethkrause1500]

I assume you use the quadrant method because the tuning pins for the treble and bass bridges are on opposite sides of the instrument? My dulcimer has all of the tuning pins on the same side, so it is easiest to tune both bridges at once. Is there any other advantage that I'm missing for tuning in quadrants like you do?

[@JoshuaMessick]

Elizabeth Krause There is more tension on the treble bridge than there is on the bass bridge. My goal is to get the strings with most tension tuned first. That is why the first half of the treble bridge is my first section. My approach is a general guideline that I’ve found works very well. Since your instrument has all of the tuning pins on one side, you should probably be fine tuning in succession since your tension distribution should be even enough. Would you be interested in experimenting with my quadrant method.... just to see if helps? :) Let me know!

[@sparc77]

The only disadvantage that I have found to my smartphone tuner (G string) is that it picks up everything and makes it hard to tune in a noisy environment.

[@sunshinejenny777]

Does the phone have to be ON the strings? Can it be on the music stand?

[@lostinart]

The link to the humidifier is broken

[@nishottara777]

Thank you so much for this video! Do you have recommendations for hammers for a beginner? Thank you!

[@JoshuaMessick]

Thank you, Cherie! :-) Hear is a video where I share some tips to choosing the right dulcimer hammer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZnCn4N9edOFas0

[@mistymarr4594]

How often do you need to tune your hammered dulcimer, assuming you have it on the stand and haven’t moved it?

[@JoshuaMessick]

Misty Marr The most important factors are temperature and humidity. If you keep it in a controlled, optimal environment, where the temperature and humidity aren’t drastically fluctuating, it is possible it could hold a tune for about a month. You might have to touch up a few notes along the way, but not retune the whole instrument.

[@DavidWoodmanMusic]

Hi Joshua - my DF has the extended bass bridge on the left side. I'm curious whether you'd include that in the 3rd quadrant with this method or the 4th (as they're the lowest notes)

[@JoshuaMessick]

Thanks for watching, David. It is unlikely to make a noticeable difference, but I'd include your extended-range bass in the 4th.

[@jamesparker1063]

I can't see[understand what you mean, "push the bridge"?

[@emmyfischer307]

What song were you playing in the intro?! Sounds amazing!

[@JoshuaMessick]

Emmy Fischer Thanks Emily! It was just an intro theme I composed for my channel :) Maybe it will one day turn into an entire song!? We will just wait and see :)

[@antigen4]

what about alternate tunings? can of worms?

[@JoshuaMessick]

antigen4 I’ve done alternate tunings before. I did it quite a bit when I recorded on the soundtrack of Mary and the Witch’s Flower. The main advantage is alternate tunings allow me to pay in different keys without serious gymnastics. The treble bridge is set to a 5th interval, so that limits alternate tunings. Many instruments around the world that are in the same family as the hammered dulcimer have drastically different layouts and configurations - that is a can of worms, since the possibilities are endless.

[@antigen4]

yes sure - thanks for that.

[@rodrodriguez460]

Okay....I'm saying this anyway...I'd show up to the gig. I'd start tuning. When I finish tuning, the gig has ended. Whew! Why isn't this instrument called a "zither"?

[@Dulcietta_LilliaClarke]

Rod , the dulcimer belongs to an ancient family of pre-piano instruments. There are minor differences between them all, related to country of origin and the style of music played. They can be shaped differently, have different soundholes, number and length of strings, and be tuned differently to give different scale modes . It includes, zither, santur, cimbalom, dulcimer, psaltery, bowed psaltery, hackbrett....