Bass Dulcimer

Subject: Bass Dulcimer
From: Mudlark
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 01:46 PM

I've had the loan of a wonderful Blue Lion bass dulcimer for a couple of months now and am really enjoying it. The strings are much heavier, of course, than standard d. but oh, the sound. I've toughened up my calluses some (altho as I don't play with a pick my R hand fingernails are taking a beating). Are there any other bass dulcimer players out there? If so, I'd love to hear from you. The guitar is my main instrument, tho I've play at playing a dulcimer for many years. But the standard instrument is tuned and sounds the best in a range that is too high for my voice. The bass d. is perfect.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 02:15 PM

Great thread, Mudlark. I look forward to seeing what folks say as I've been wanting to try a bass, too.:-)

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: black walnut
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 02:37 PM

What pitches do you tune to, M? It's not an octave lower, so is it down by a fifth or so? Sounds cool.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 08:06 PM

I have a dulcimer that I converted to a bass dulcimer years ago (I didn't build it). Before people started talking about bass and baritone dulcimers. 4 equidistant strings. I use guitar strings on it (extra lights) tuned to guitar pitches. Keep it tuned to mixolydian A (AAEA high to low). It matches a standard A chord on a guitar.

I created it because I wanted an A dulcimer to go with my natural singing range. Tuning normal strings up to A just popped them. When I tried tuning them down to A they were way too loose.

Then I took a look at a guitar and thought, wait a minute, all the open notes I want are there. Bought a set of guitar strings, slapped 'em on the dulcimer, and the rest is history.

It has the tone of the gods and bass you wouldn't believe you could get from a dulcimer.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 03:08 AM

Black Walnut...I dont know anything about music but do know that the strings are tuned DAAD (at least I think that's what Janita told me). It's actually a little TOO low for some things but the sound is so great I'm willing to stretch.

Guest, Russ...what a great idea. I could presumably do the same thing with my standard dulcimer, then, right? It's a McSpadden so should be up to the change. I had the same experience, trying to retune it to fit my voice. Thanks for the suggestion.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 10:32 AM

Might want to be careful on that, Mudlark, and check with the dulcimer's builder before putting on heavy strings. If your instrument is not adequately braced, could result in some damage.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 01:00 PM

Thanks for the caution, Pinetop...will check B4 restringing.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: black walnut
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 06:32 PM

The tension is mounting....

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Susan of DT
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 07:08 PM

I assume you are talking about a large, deep body, rather than just putting heavy strings on a standard dulcimer. A friend of mine had a large dulcimer once. I don't know what it was tuned to.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 04 Mar 04 - 06:49 PM

Mudlark,

The cautionary advice is good...but

I put the guitar strings on the dulcimer without consulting the maker. I was going by my usual rule that it is easier to obtain forgiveness than permission. It was also a "spare" dulcimer that wasn't getting much use. At first I was simply interested in hearing what it would sound like. When I realized how much I liked the sound it was too late to go back. For a while I kept a close eye on things. I eventually decided that if something bad was gonna happen it would've done so by now and stopped worrying.

Anyway, I am putting guitar strings on and tuning them to normal guitar pitch. For example, the low A in the guitar set becomes the low A on the dulcimer. I don't claim to know anything about stringed instrument physics, so don't know what sort of problem that could cause.

Susan of DT,

The dulcimer is large compared to traditional dulcimers, but sort of average size when compared to the modern dulcimers I and my friends play. For example, it is the same size as the one I keep tuned to mixolydian D. It is definitely not large in the John Jacob Niles sense of large.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: GUEST,KateG on a new cookieless computer
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 03:12 PM

I have a deep bodied Folk Roots baritone dulcimer, designed to be tuned AEA (a fourth below the standard DAd). However, I find that it is much more useful tuned down a step to GDG. I seem to encounter a lot more tunes in G than in A, and the baritone sounds much nicer than my regular dulcimer capoed up to G. It's also a good range for singing (at least for me, as a lowish alto). Plus it adds to my range of keys: capo on 1 for A minor/dorian, capo on 3 for C etc. With the two dulcimers I find that I can hold my own in most of the jams I've encountered which seem to mix fiddle tunes from a variety of traditions with gospel songs.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 10:05 PM

Just to add to the cautionary tale...Blue Lion agrees with Guest, Russ, that using guitar strings tuned to a guitar chancy, at best, and many dulcimers wont survive it/or sound good. Her suggestion (for tuning to lower voice) was to retune to reverse mode. She writes:

To play/sing in the key of A, the way I'd recommend would be to tune to
reverse Ionian: E A A E. You scale will start in the 3rd fret melody
string...you'll be playing in the key of A. If you want to play in the
key of C, tune C GG C (mixolydian): key of F—C FFC (rev. ionian). Key
of G= D GG D (rev. ionian).

Just another opinion, but a well-informed one. Glad it's working out so well for you, Russ. But I treasure my McSpadden trad. dulcimer and would not like to put it at risk.

Subject: RE: Bass Dulcimer
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 11:52 PM

I have a big 6 string named Boom Box that I use as a bass dulcimer. I do exactly as Russ does. Makes for a nice jam if you have three bass dulcimers in your group. I've gone through some of my songs and added a bass line to act as harmony. Sounds pretty good .