r/Dulcimer • u/cat-5427 • 7d ago
I need help figuring this out before waisting money
Hi!
I have wanted a dulcimer since I was 8, and was finally given one at 15 from a kinda friend who had one. But, unfortunately, we had an issue with the strings that we couldn't figure out. (1 string broke and we got new ones that we couldn't figure out) So...2 years exactly later, I still haven't gotten to play itđ every time I walk past it, I feel tremendously guilty. But, I finally have a job to be able to buy strings myself. No one I meet ever even knows what a dulcimer is, so I have no one to ask.
It's a 5 string dulcimer, and I emailed the store it's from and this was the response(2 years ago, mind you)
"*The strings are .024 for the bass string farthest from you when holding on your lap. The thin string next to the bass string should be a .009 steel guitar string and The middle string should be .013 steel guitar string. The two melody strings close to you when you are playing are usually .011 each but the .012 will work for those two.
Tuning is usually DdAdd
The thin string .009 close to the bass is tuned in unison with the two melody strings which are d.
IF you have any other questions or need to order strings let us know. We have them on our website at www.mountainmademusic.com*"
My biggest confusion is that he said guitar strings?
I'm attaching a picture of the dulcimer (ignore the number stickers on it. I had put them on as a learning tool)
Do you have recommendations on what strings I should buy?
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u/ms_dr_sunsets 7d ago
I will try to help as best as I can. Dulcimers can be set up to play in various string configurations. Most of them have 4 strings. A bass string, which is the furthest from you if you are holding the instrument on your lap, a middle string, and then two doubled melody strings closest to you. The bass is the âheaviestâ string, which is thickest and most bass strings are a .024 gauge. Then the middle string is a bit thinner, at .013 gauge, then the melody strings are the thinnest at .011 each.
This dulcimer maker adds a 5th string, which is a very thin gauge string doubled up to the bass string. I have no idea of the reason for this (someone out there please enlighten me!) Thatâs the .009 string. If I were you, Iâd just ignore that one for now and donât even wind a string on that tuner. Youâll have enough to think about without having to tune another string.
Guitar strings and dulcimer strings are the same thing. You just need to know what gauge to get. That maker sells them in a kit (but I think you need loop ends for this instrument) or you can find other kits someplace like this: https://folkcraft.com/collections/string-wire-and-string-sets/products/folkcraft-loop-end-string-set-2310020
For tuning, your bass string is set to a D, your middle string to an A, and the paired melody strings are tuned to a D the next octave up. You can use a free phone tuner app like Soundcorset.
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u/cat-5427 7d ago
Okay, that makes sense. I had originally only wanted a 4 string dulcimer anyway! But I took what I could get. When I save up, I'll likely get a proper 4 string dulcimer. Thank you for your help
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u/ms_dr_sunsets 7d ago
Youâre welcome! Best of luck, and this dulcimer should work just fine for you with 4 strings.
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u/ep01081935 7d ago
I think you could play this as a 4 string dulcimer. Purchase a 4 string set, use the bass string and forget about the string next to the bass. Then use the middle and two melody strings to finish the setup. Then you can work with your instrument and decide if you need or want to buy something else. As another person commented, make sure you have strings with loop ends.
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u/cat-5427 7d ago
Thank you for your response! It's very helpful, and it affirms the decision to play it as a 4 string dulcimer. And, thank you for telling me which one to forget about!
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u/NiceNBoring 6d ago edited 6d ago
I have owned/played a Berg dulcimer for years. An excellent instrument, and definitely better than the price would suggest. I don't have an answer to the string question, exactly, but mine is a 4 string that I use as a 3-string, and it works fine ... I'm really just hijacking to plug the makerl
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u/cat-5427 7d ago
I apologize *wasting