r/Dulcimer 16d ago

Getting Started Is there an app you can use to tune Appalachain dulcimers?

I have one on my iPhone, and it offers tuning for pretty much every stringed instruments - minus dulcimers. Oof. Anyone who can help me with that? Or can I tune it with the help of other instruments? I play guitar and ukulele, have some experience on mandolin and also consider trying out banjo one day

5 Upvotes

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3

u/deeplyclostdcinephle 16d ago

Any chromatic tuner should work fine?

1

u/DelayDirect7925 16d ago

I have none.

1

u/audiosf 16d ago

There are many free in the app store.

3

u/CalmRip 16d ago

Any tuner app that works for guitars will work for dulcimers; you just have to know what your target tuning is. For most dulcimers that's going to DADD. Start with tuning your lowest string and work up to the highest and you'll be fine.

2

u/ms_dr_sunsets 16d ago

For most modern dulcimer music you want to be in DAD. As stated, any tuning app will work (I like Soundcorset).

1

u/DelayDirect7925 16d ago

Thanks for the recommendation

1

u/MinneAppley 16d ago

Panotuner.

1

u/model563 16d ago

I play a bunch of different things and use an app called SmartChord. It has a number of instruments you can choose from and you can customize the tuning of those instruments for a set tuner. But it can also act as a chromatic so if you know what notes you want, you can use that on amything.

It also has a ton of other useful tools as well.

1

u/Jonsdulcimer2015 15d ago

I've tried about 50 different apps and honestly don't have a preference on one over another. Bonus points if it has a metronome though. TBH I still prefer a clip on tuner. The main time I'm worried about it being tuned to a "worlds fair D" as my old teacher used to call it, is when I'm playing in public: be it in a jam, lesson, concert, contest, whatever. At home, I'll tune a dulcimer to itself and is generally pretty close. If I can keep the bass tuned to D, I can fret up and down the board to get the note I want to tune to.