As mentioned in passing above, instruments that play only diatonic scale notes, and music for such instruments, frequently make references to tunes being in one or another "mode." The FRETTED DULCIMER (another common name for it) is possibly the primary instrument most people encounter where nearly all "how to play" books make extensive reference to modality in tunes.

For a very few people, "thinking modally" seems to come easily; but for most "normal people" it ain't really natural, and requires a bit of study.

When (and if) you progress with your dulcimer to the point where the varying treatments of modes in the numerous references for the instrument have completely confused you, one of the best references on modes that I've seen is right here at mudcate. It's comprehensive and detailed enough to require some study, but clear enough that I even thought it made sense, at:

MODES FOR MUDCATTERS: A SYNTHESIS PRIMER

Since we've recently had some discussion about mudcat peculiars elsewhere, I'll note that:

1. The above link is a "local link" that will only work when you're already at mudcat. Many links that you'll find in threads are of this kind. The "address" contained in the link is shortened to:

/thread.cfm?threadid=19748&messages=67#202739

If you want to save the location, perhaps in a document on your own machine, or to give it to a friend via email or a letter you'll need to use the global URL, which is:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=19748&messages=67#202739

2. You can also save a thread location on your Personal Page by opening the thread, going down to the end, and clicking on the "Add to Tracer" at the top of the box where you'd add a new post to the thread. This will put a link to that thread on your Personal Page and the link will stay there until you remove it. Provided that you're logged in, you can click on "Personal Page" just below "Café" in the header on any page to go to your personal page. This is also where you'd go to read any "PMs" you receive, or to compose a PM to another member. (PM = Personal Message)

3. This is an old thread that was scrambled by a database crash a few months ago, so the links don't appear in the order they were posted. At the top of the page, you can click on "Printer Friendly" to get them in their original order, which you should do in order to make sense of the thread. (There are numerous other threads where this is handy to know.)

Having used this opportunity to take a cheap shot at giving a couple of "navigation hints" I'll suggest that if it interests you now, take a look at the thread; but unless you've had some exposure to modes you'll probably want to save thorough study for later when it becomes more necessary (and will make more sense). This means you'll want to make a note of the URL, and/or put a Trace in your Personal Page so you can find it easily.

You might find some of it useful with your harmonica playing as well as for the dulcimer, since the harmonica usually is a "mostly diatonic" instrument; but you'll have to determine for yourself how far you want to get into it now. I've not found many harmonica players who use the language of modes, but a few of them "think that way" without knowing they're doing it.

John