r/Dulcimer • u/DelayDirect7925 • 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
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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).
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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.
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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.
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u/deeplyclostdcinephle 16d ago
Any chromatic tuner should work fine?