Kat et al--

If I may add two cents worth on the subject of cuatros-- I bought one about a year ago and since I was already struggling with banjo and mandolin, had not the strength to tune is as it ought to be and learn yet a third set of chords and scales. I had my resident instrument guru Alex tune it like my mandolin with the bass course at the same interval, so it's CGDAE. Sounds like an octave mandolin, with good tone all the way up the neck and great sustain for the small box. I am told the cuatro once had only four courses, hence the name, which now, with five courses, makes no sense. Alternatively, I understand from Groves that from the beginning (i.e., c.AD 1600) there were 5-coursed "Florentine" manodlins as well as 4-coursed Neopolitan ones. I'm told cuatros are not right now in Peru-Ecuador and also Dominican Rep. I also gather that there is a Mexican equivalent called a juapanga, but Mexican musicians hereabouts give me a blank stare if I ask about cuatros. Alex found me the correct cuatro tuning, but all I can remember is that the base course is not identical but a third interval, and fourth and third are octaves apart. When I get home I'll look it up and post it tomorrow. Your comments on bowing the mountain dulcimer are encouraging; I flat- and banjo-pick mine. I know they are sometimes bowed, but haven't tried that yet.

Mudcat forum is the greatest thing since the capo.

Chicken Charlie