Boston area Hammered Dulcimer FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

I live in eastern Massachusetts and I'm often asked questions about the Hammered Dulcimer from people in the area who are interested in acquiring, and/or learning to play the instrument.

Here then are the questions I'm most frequently asked, along with my opinions and answers. I've also included links to other pages or email addresses where more information is available. I hope this provides a good starting point if you are interested in this beautiful and fascinating instrument...

Jon Weinberg
Last updated: 11/8/2009

What do I need to get started playing the Hammered Dulcimer?

• A hammered dulcimer (unless you can rent one from someone - see below)

• hammers, ~$20-35 (one pair usually comes with a new instrument). There are various styles, weights, balances of hammers. You'll probably acquire a collection of these over time, with one or two sets that you'll favor and use most of the time. Most people have at least one set of soft hammers (padded on the striking surface with leather, suede, rubber, etc.) and one pair of hard hammers (just wood). Festivals are a good place to find and try out new hammers, and to swap hammers that you didn't really like when you got home with someone else in the same situation.

• a tuning wrench, ~$12-15. One usually comes with your instrument. There are two types: gooseneck and T-wrench. They both work fine, just make sure (if you are buying one) that it properly fits the pins on your instrument.

• a case for the instrument, ~$50-220 depending upon the size and features. Most these days are soft cases made from well padded Cordura nylon. They protect the instrument when inevitably banged into something while being carried. Its thermal insulation (from the foam padding) also helps the instrument stay in tune as it's carried through indoor and outdoor temperature changes. If you will travelling much with your instrument I recommend spending the money for a good case.

• a stand, $50-200. I recommend one that is adjustable for playing both sitting and standing, and where the instrument angle can be adjusted to suit your physique and playing style. These usually cost $100-150.

• an electronic tuner, ~$25-100. Unless you enjoy spending hours tuning your instrument you'll want one of these. Make sure it's chromatic (even if your instrument is not) - don't get one made for guitars (that only tunes 6 notes). Also be aware that some tuners can be too sensitive (making it difficult to determine what is exactly in tune - strings change pitch after being struck), or take too long to determine what note it hears. I've also found some tuners that work fine on single stringed instruments (like guitars) have a more difficult time with double/triple stringed instruments like hammer duclimers and mandolins. Best advice is to bring your instrument to the music store and try out the tuner there (I actually got my first paying gig from a person who watched me doing this..).

  The tuners I find work best are made by the companies Sabine and Boss. Many people use Korg tuners as well.

  I also recommend getting a clip-on pickup if you can (~$9-18) - otherwise you're likely to discover the pitch of your refrigerator motor, the traffic outside, etc. Don't get the suction cup type of pickup - it's really just a microphone, not a transducer.

Where can I buy a Hammered Dulcimer?

Here are some places (listed alphabetically) that are within a days drive, have catalogs and/or do mail order. If you go to visit them be sure to call first to make sure they will be open on the day of your trip:

• Andy's Front Hall, in Voorheesville, NY (near Albany/Schenectedy) - sells a large variety of folk instruments, books, and recordings. Offers a variety of hammered dulcimers from several builders and a large selection of instruction and tunebooks. Highly recommended. Get one of their catalogs and get on their mailing list...

• Folkcraft Instruments, Winsted, CT - (860) 379-9857

• Vintage Fret Shop - 20 Riverside Drive, Ashland,NH - (603) 968-3346

What types of instruments are there?

Pictures of each type and description appear below. You can click on each picture for a more detailed enlargement. I've owned some of each type and so will offer my observations - just remember that these are limited to those instruments I've had experience with (either owned or played).

Also note that some builders make or have made instruments of both types.

Unibody Construction

Probably most dulcimers made today are of this type. These feature a clean look since the soundboard extends to the edge of the instrument covering the pinblocks. Most (if not all) have two strings per course on both the bass and treble bridges.

Builders of this type of dulcimer include Sam Rizetta, Dusty Strings, James Jones, Folkcraft Instruments, Masterworks/Russel Cook, Jerry Reed Smith, and many others.

In my experience these instruments often have a very sweet, mellow sound (although this is not always true), and often weigh less than a comparable instrument of the other type (but not always). They seem more sensitive to temperature changes since they must expand and contract as a unit.

Floating Soundboard Construction

With this style of instrument the sound board sits inside of the frame, which is usually exposed. The soundboard is held in place by the tension of the strings on the bridges and is free to expand and contract. Proponents of this type claim that the sound is "better" since the soundboard is not constrained as much as with unibody construction.

Builders of this type include R.L. Tack and Sons, and Michael Allen (Cloud Nine).

These instrument can come with 2 or 3 strings per treble course (the instrument in the picture above has 3 strings), and most have 2 strings on the bass courses.

I've found that they indeed can be louder (but not always), and do seem less susceptible to going out of tune due to temperature changes. Depending upon the type of wood used for the soundboard, many have a sharper sound that I find "comes through" better when playing with other instruments (especially fiddles).

What size/type of instrument should I buy?

1. Rent one - great in theory but difficult to find in practice. Some teachers have extra instruments they offer to rent to their students. I don't know of any store that rents dulcimers.

2. Purchase a used instrument - used instruments are hard to come by. If you can find one and can have someone who knows something about dulcimers check it out for you, this can be a good, less expensive way to get your feet wet. Be careful of instruments with non-standard (i.e. not 5th interval) tuning, or structural problems (cracked soundboards or pinblocks, etc.).

3. Buy an 11/12 model - this is how I got started. These instruments are smaller, lighter, and have fewer strings to tune. Models can range from inexpensive beginner models to rather good sounding ones that you'll be pleased with after you've become proficient. Figure on spending about $400 - $650 for an instrument with a case.

   If you're looking at the Dusty Strings models I recommend spending the extra money (if you can afford it) for the D10 over the Prelude or Apprentice (which is what I did for my first instrument, and I'm glad I did).

4. Buy a 14/15 model (if you can afford it) - this 3 octave instrument will provide you with more playing options, and will probably be the size instrument you'll want after you've learned to play on an 11/12 instrument. Prices will be around $900 - $1400 with case for non-chromatic models.

   For most people, however, I do not recommend starting out with this type of instrument. After you've learned to play and start listening to other instruments, you'll probably discover a particular instrument or builder whose sound you like. You'll then be in a much better position to move up to a 15/16 you'll be happy with for a long term relationship, and can better decide whether you want or need a chromatic instrument (even more $$$).

Do I need to read music to play the dulcimer?

Where can I get lessons in the area?

• Michael Ciccone, Waltham, MA - (781) 891-3296 or email at mvcicone@yahoo.com

• David Neiman, Cambridge, MA (617) 876-2996 or email at DaveNeiman@aol.com

• Jon Weinberg (me), Marlboro, MA - send me an email

• Bob Wey, Westford, MA - (978) 692-1810 or email at bobwey@ear-relevant.com

Are they any regular hammered dulcimer clubs/gatherings in the area?

Are there any dulcimer festivals or camps in the area?

The CCAE (Cambridge Center for Adult Education) Spring Dulcimer Festival is held in Cambridge, MA each spring, usually the first weekend in May.

The festival seems to be only for mountain dulcimers these days. However they may include hammered dulcimers again in the future if the interest is there.

Other nearby festivals I'm aware of are:

• Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering, in central NY. This is one of the oldest and largest dulcimer festivals in the area, attracting people from throughout the northeast US, and top name featured performers. It's a three day festival (Fri - Sun) usually held at the end of July.

• Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival - in Connecticut usually in the fall.

• Meadowlark Music Camp in Washington, ME is a week-long music camp that features hammered dulcimer as one of its instruments

Are there a publications for dulcimer players?

Why yes there are! The granddaddy hammered (and fretted) dulcimer publication is Dulcimer Player News. It's published quarterly, and a year's subscription is currently (1999) $20. Their snail mail address is:

P.O. Box 2164
Winchester, VA 22604

Another recently-started publication is Dulcimer Times. Their address is:

Upcreek Productions, Inc.
1513 Upcreek Rd.
Bidwell, OH 45614

What other Hammered Dulcimer resources are on the internet?

There is a usenet newsgroup: rec.music.makers.dulcimer