What Size Hammered Dulcimer Should You Choose? 12/11 and 16/15 Size Comparison

The 12/11 dulcimer is a very portable hammered dulcimer from Breezy Ridge! See their website here: www.jpstrings.com/brinst.htm The 16/15 is a Phoebe from Songbird Dulcimers. Find them here: www.songbirdhd.com/
If you're looking for a book to learn hammered dulcimer, Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer on Amazon is amazing: amzn.to/3Cl6pfD
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[@nydaarius6845]

i could listen to you all day long. love your voice. and thanks for the video. i recently discovered hammered dulcimers and fell in love with them. i play a lot of instruments already, but this one just hits the right spot. going to save up for one :)

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thank for the crash course in hammered dulcimers. I know I commented on your last video about my love of this instrument but I never really dove into the types. Good information... and you are dead on about those low notes.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Yes, the low notes become much more useful than you would expect, especially when you start playing chords and harmonies! I love the portability of the smaller version but I adore those low notes 😅

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@MusicalMollyKhan As someone who's first instrument was bass... I'm a big fan of the low notes. :-)

[@WombatSlug]

I own a 12/11 myself that I picked up from a music vendor at the Dickens' Faire (SF Bay Area) a few years ago. It's a plywood model that weighs more than most modern hammered dulcimers. It was made by someone in Grass Valley, CA and not really much more is known about it. I've spoken with Rick Thum about maybe getting one of his 15/14 travel dulcimers, but it's a bit out of my budget right now. I also own Dr. Wade's book and think it's a great resource, although I have questions for him about it. I've taken classes from him in online festivals both in hammered and mountain dulcimer, along with taking a music theory class from him. I have to remind him (and other instructors) when they play on G I can't follow them. ;) Otherwise, I'll just play a fourth up from them an be happy about it. :)

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Very cool! I have seen a 'hammered mbira' with metal tubes instead of strings, arranged in the same tuning as a hammered dulcimer. It's advertised as a travel dulcimer since it won't lose tune and is smaller and easier to carry. I'm definitely thinking about getting one made!

[@WombatSlug]

@@MusicalMollyKhan I’ve thought about it as well. I saw Ken Kolodner play one in an online concert. The thought of not having to tune appealed to me.

[@jssherrard]

Hiya Molly! I started learning on a 12/11 (Folkcraft) hammered dulcimer just a few years ago and it has been a really excellent beginners instrument. I was pleasantly surprised by just how much music can be played on a 12/11. And if you're willing to indulge in some octave-swapping exercises, you can arrange a lot of music that would normally require a larger instrument. But I did eventually outgrow my diminutive 12/11 and now have a Masterworks DulciForte nearing completion. Your point about the size of the instrument and its timbre/resonance is really important for folks to understand, especially if they are looking for an instrument to use in a typical live performance setting. Most 12/11 hammered dulcimers do not produce sufficient sound for a live venue; however, they can be perfect for a living room. Or even a recording studio! Just to see if I could do it, I modified Bach's Toccata (from Mark Alan Wade's excellent book of classical music for HD) to fit on my 12/11 and it actually worked! Of course, once my new instrument arrives, I'll have to re-learn it properly so I can finally get all those gorgeous low notes. Even with the DulciForte, I'll keep my 12/11 to bring with me when traveling. Thank you for sharing this excellent comparison!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

That is so exciting! I hope you love it, those are gorgeous instruments 😊

[@dulcimerjunkie8516]

Ordered my Phoebe chromatic last week through Jess Dickinson. Should be here by Thursday. Cannot wait!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Oh exciting! I hope you love it, Songbird makes beautiful instruments! 😊

[@mrman8342]

I recently bought one but I spoke to a music shop & they said it was a santoor but It still looks very similar to your ones....my question is where can I find the notes it should be tuned in , as its not tuned ?

[@deltafour1212]

What is the technical name for a hammered dulcimer solid sound board with no hole soundboard and open back?

[@kunjnayak]

Please help me I want to buy small 12 /11 hammered dulcimer Or 9 / 9... I mean small hammered dulcimer so I can easily carry while travelling and mostly my requirement of higher Octave playing so which model should I buy and from where can I get with Best Buy option.. I am living in India Gujarat Ahmedabad

[@drear45]

OK I have a 13/12 what is the difference between this and 12/11

[@Iceland874]

I need to get a dulcimer again. I built a church dulcimer in high school but traded it for another instrument. But my budget is limited. What do you recommend?

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Personally I think Songbird Dulcimers are very high quality and among the more inexpensive beginner options available. songbirdhd.com/product/chickadee-hammered-dulcimer/ If you join some hammered dulcimer facebook groups, you can often find a used one for a great price too! :D

[@Cocytus]

@Musical Molly Khan - Is this a String Instrument? Or is this a Percussion Instrument?

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Great question! A little of both? Honestly I think whoever made up the instrument classification system was gearing it more towards traditional, symphonic Western instruments. A lot of folk instruments like this, or instruments of other cultures, are hard to classify according to that system 😅

[@IfUfindthisURlost]

It is considered to be both, exactly like a piano would be. If you think of how a piano actually works, it is the same as the dulcimer, in that hammers strike the strings, (just instead of pressing the keys to activate the hammers, it is you, directly that strikes).

[@marlenehellmann8223]

Stringed. But it is played with little hammers

[@drear45]

13/12 chickadee

[@jwhallett]

Should I buy a chromatic dulcimer?

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

That really depends on what music you want to play, and how good you are at transposition. If you're into pop music, it's likely you'll eventually run into music that you want a chromatic dulcimer for. If you're mostly playing folk music of European countries or America, you likely will almost never need the chromatic notes! :D