| D Ionian
(D-A-A)
Step 1. Tune the 3rd or bass
string of the dulcimer to the D below Middle C (this is the same note as
the open 4th string of the guitar).
Step 2. Hold the 3rd or bass
string just to the left of the 4th fret and pluck this note (A). Tune your
middle or 2nd string so it exactly matches this pitch.
Step 3. Tune the melody or 1st
string to the same note as the open middle string. Now play the Ionian
mode from frets 3 through 10 and back down. Skip the 6+ fret!
D Dorian (D-A-G)
Steps 1 and 2 are the same as
for D Ionian.
Step 3. Hold the 3rd or bass
string at the 3rd fret and pluck this note (G). Tune the melody or 1st
string so that it exactly matches this G.
Note: you'll have to lower the
pitch of this string, loosening the tension slightly, from D-A-A to reach
D-A-G.
Play the Dorian mode on the melody
string from frets 4 to 11 and back down. Skip the 6+ fret.
Be careful to press the string
down to the fingerboard just to the left of the fret (not on top of it)
so that you achieve a clear and correctly pitched note; your corrugated
fingertips will soon toughen up if you play frequently.
Doubled string courses like the
melody pair on many modern dulcimers will need to be tuned to the same
pitch, and they must both be fretted at the same time.
One of the melody strings may
be completely removed if you find the pair too difficult. You could also
loosen one of them and temporarily park it--without buzzing--at the side
of the fretboard, on the tiny woodscrews installed for this purpose. (When
I build an instrument with double melody strings I generally add these,
unless the player doesn't want them). |
|
D Mixolydian
(D-A-D)
Steps 1 and 2 are the same as
for D Ionian.
Step 3. Hold the 2nd or middle
string down at the 3rd fret and pluck this note (high D, one octave above
the open bass string). Tune the melody or 1st string to this note.
Caution: From Ionian D-A-A, you
must raise the pitch of the melody string, putting considerably more tension
on it, to get to D-A-D.
Play the Mixolydian mode on the
melody string from the open string to fret 7 and back down. Skip the 6+
fret.
D Aeolian (D-A-C)
Steps 1 and 2 are the same as
for D Ionian.
Step 3. Hold the 3rd or bass
string at the 6th fret and pluck this note (C). Tune the melody or 1st
string to this note.
From Ionian D-A-A, you'll have
to tighten the melody string somewhat to get to D-A-C. If you're coming
from D-A-D, you'll have to loosen the melody string slightly in pitch to
get to D-A-C.)
Play the Aeolian mode on the
melody string from frets 1 to 8 and back down.
Skip the 6+ fret.
Please print and distribute these
tuning instructions to as many players as you can.
[Why not add them to your voicemail
menu or have them screenprinted on the backs of those great
Tune It or Die tee-shirts?] |
