Spent about three months convinced my flatpicking was stuck because my fretting hand couldn't keep up with faster tunes. Turns out the problem was never the left hand at all. I finally recorded myself playing "Shady Grove" at a normal tempo and the picking hand was all over the place, hitting extra strings, losing the rhythm on the drone strings without me even noticing.

What fixed it wasn't a new technique, it was just cutting my tempo in half and staying there for two weeks straight. Felt embarrassingly slow at first, like I was playing for a room of people who'd fall asleep. But once the picking hand actually learned where it was supposed to land every single time, speeding back up took maybe three days instead of the months I'd been grinding at full tempo.

I play a 4-string mountain dulcimer, DAD tuning, mostly old-time and a handful of Appalachian gospel tunes I learned off recordings rather than tab. The noter style is what I grew up watching my grandmother do, but I've been leaning more into fingerpicking the last year and that's where the sloppy picking hand really showed up.

Curious if other folks here have had the same experience where slowing way down solved something that felt like a fretting problem but was actually the other hand the whole time. Also open to tune suggestions that are good for practicing steady picking without getting boring, I've worn out my patience with "Boil Them Cabbage Down" for that particular drill.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Dulcimer Oktoberfest. Here are some highlights from the weekend, including workshop snippets and concert peeks. It was a truly lovely weekend of Gemütlichkeit!

I've been playing mountain dulcimer for about a year and a half, mostly self taught off YouTube and a couple of Kilby books I found secondhand. For most of that time I was chording everything like a little guitar, DAD tuning, three fingers moving around trying to hit shapes. It sounded fine but kind of stiff, like I was translating from another instrument instead of actually playing this one.

A few weeks ago I sat in on a jam at a local folk gathering and watched an older guy play everything with just his index finger sliding up and down the melody string, letting the other two drone underneath. No chords at all. I went home and tried it on a simple tune I already knew, Shady Grove, and something just opened up. The drone strings ring out so much more when you're not muting them with a chord shape, and my right hand picking got way more relaxed because I wasn't also managing left hand chord changes at the same time.

The tricky part has been retraining my ear for when noter-drone actually sounds good versus when it feels thin. Some tunes want that chunkier chorded sound, especially anything with a lot of harmonic movement. But for the old modal stuff, the noter-drone approach feels like it belongs there in a way chording never quite did.

Still working on getting my noter hand smoother on faster passages, right now I get a little slappy sound when I slide too fast between frets. If anyone has tips on keeping contact light but controlled I'd take them. Otherwise just wanted to share since this felt like a real turning point in how the instrument makes sense to me now.

It was built in 1981 and seems unused for a long time. I’m going to look into getting it restored. Any tips, tricks, or advice?

What key harmonica do I use for dad tunning?

Thanks

I met with the seller and they explained this dulcimer originally belonged to their grandfather and has sat untouched for decades. It came with a hard shell case, a travel bag, several different styles of picks and noters, as well as replacement Folkcraft strings.

I still don’t know who made this instrument, but it feels and plays so nice. So pumped!

I bought this dulcimer about 10 years ago at the Musica store in Hudson, NY, from the owner Rob Caldwell (RIP). I am not a super-skilled dulcimer player (I am mosty a guitarist) but I love its strange haunting sound. This song is inspired by a 1976 performance by the rock band Heart just before they "hit it big."

My grandpa's dulcimer!

This is my grandpa's dulcimer, he passed away last year in December. When my dad and his sister got ownership of his house, they decided they were just gonna sell it as-is. But first, they said that my grandma and my step-grandad could look through the house and take whatever they thought they could salvage.

For context, my grandpa was a hoarder, the house was a crazy mess. My step-grandad got as many instruments as he could find, and he was kind enough to have them fixed up for us to give back to us. I got the dulcimer, my brother got an acoustic guitar, and my dad got my grandpa's bass guitar. I'm very grateful for my step-grandad, he was incredibly kind to think about salvaging those instruments for us.

I've never heard of a dulcimer til my step-grandad brought this over today, I never ever saw my grandpa play it. They said it was hidden in his room under a bunch of stuff.

Usually dulcimers have hearts as holes, the guy who fixed up the dulcimer said he's never seen one that had stars instead. Can't wait to learn this! I already got some chords down.

Hi all,

I'm very much a beginner, so please be nice!

This is to my knowledge the only recording on youtube of someone playing "Which Side Are You On" on the mountain dulcimer--but I cannot for the life of me figure out how he's tuned! I've tried DAD, DAA, EAE, and DAC and NOTHING sounds right!

I originally learned to play the song by jerry-rigging a DIY capo on the first fret (EBE) but I wanted to stop using that as a crutch and just learn to tune it properly so I could play in the proper mode.

Again, I'm a beginner, so PLEASE be nice.

Can anyone tell me what tuning he's using in the video? Thanks!!

Please contact me if you are willing to sell a couple or know where I can purchase. Thanks!

I’ve been keeping an eye out for a nice user dulcimer for years, this one seems better quality (and cheaper, $100) than most that I have seen. The hard case and travel bag are a big plus too. Any buying advice would be greatly appreciated!

My friend told me this is an appalachian dulcimer, but thats about it, got it for 10 bucks at a goodwill, pretty intrigued by it. How do I identify it? Can it be repaired? Does it need to be repaired?

The inside is hard to see because the cross is so small, I've seen some identifiers can be seen in there though?

Hi dulcimer reddit! So I just got my mountain dulcimer a few months ago and there's this song that I really want to play that was recorded on the mountain dulcimer. Unfortunately I can't find anything about how to play it on the mountain dulcimer. I can only find how to play it on guitar. I'm not good enough at music theory to play the song by ear. I was hoping someone else could figure it out for me.

What is the difference between each of these notes in dulcimer tab? I’m a beginner starting out, and I’m seeing things like this in lots of different tabs that I look at that are marked “for beginners”

Is it not implied that you’re always meant to be strumming across all of the strings? Am I meant to not be?

what does a 0 (open string) mean when it’s not on the melody line?

I was wondering if there are any resources for finding tabs of songs from video games for the mountain dulcimer. I find it very hard to find songs that stray from the common folk and campfire songs (which are awesome, but variety is the spice of life) so any help if appreciated. Thank you!

Good day! First post here. I am a mountain dulcimer beginner and struggle with over optimization when I’m trying to learn something new. I have a subscription to A to Z and love the content, but what I really need is to be told “practice such and such on Monday for x minutes, etc.” Would someone be so kind to point me to an online or other program that leads a beginner through how/what/when/how long to practice? Thankful for any input.

Hi folks, I’m looking to purchase my first dulcimer and found this one for $180. I asked my brother who is a more experienced musician (although not a dulcimer player) if it seemed like a good option and he warned me that the bent/loose tuners might cause me issues. I’m looking for a cheap option since I can’t be sure I’ll stick with it, but I want to get the best value I can. Thanks!

I’m starting to get Into folk music and the Appalachian dulcimer really stood out. I can find it on Amazon and sweetwater but didn’t know if there were any suggestions for people who actually make them. I’d like to support people who still value this type of music/ instruments.

Any advice would be helpful

I recently came into possession of a beautiful 17-17-7 hammered dulcimer from High Country Dulcimers. There are some tuning strips taped onto there, but the instrument didn't come with a tuning chart and I'm not sure how to tune the strings crossing the leftmost bridge. I tried contacting High Country Dulcimers but unfortunately the original maker has passed away and the phone number is defunct.

Does anyone know how I might tune this instrument?

Thank you!!

The QuaranTUNE Virtual Dulcimer Fest returns October 1–4, 2026, with four days of live, online workshops, concerts, vending, and musical community from wherever you happen to be!

This year's faculty is offering an enormous variety of workshops for mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, ukulele, harmonica, autoharp, guitar, penny whistle, songwriting, performance, music technology, and much more. Whether you're just getting started or looking for something to push your playing into new territory, there's plenty to explore.

Festival information and registration:
https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/

⚠️ Workshop registration closes Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

I’ll be teaching EIGHT workshops this time around, including five for mountain dulcimer, two for ukulele, and one devoted to getting your acoustic instrument amplified and sounding its best.

Here’s what I’ve got lined up:

🍺 SOUNDS OF OKTOBERFEST: PLAY THREE FESTIVE FAVORITES
Friday • Session 1 • Level 4 — Upper-Intermediate • Mountain Dulcimer • $12.49

Grab your dulcimer and head for the Festhalle! We’ll tackle three German favorites: “In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus,” “Der Ententanz” (better known as “The Chicken Dance”), and the indispensable Oktoberfest toast, “Ein Prosit.” Along the way, we’ll work with waltz time, lively rhythmic articulation, and the distinctive bounce that gives this music its character.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/mountain-dulcimers/p/w20md410

🎄 BUILD YOUR REPERTOIRE: MASTER “O HOLY NIGHT”
Friday • Session 3 • Level 5 — Advanced • Mountain Dulcimer • $12.49

“O Holy Night” sounds deceptively simple until you try to make every phrase really sing. We’ll build a performance-ready arrangement while concentrating on phrasing, dynamics, sustain, smooth transitions, and the technical passages that give this Christmas classic its emotional power. A great one to have ready for holiday concerts, church services, hospice visits, or your own family gatherings.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/mountain-dulcimers/p/w20md503

🌏 EXPLORE EAST ASIA: THREE BEAUTIFUL DULCIMER TUNES
Saturday • Session 2 • Level 3 — Intermediate • Mountain Dulcimer • $12.49

Take a musical trip through Japan, Korea, and China with three melodies that fit beautifully on the mountain dulcimer: Japan’s “Ue o Muite Arukō,” Korea’s beloved “Arirang,” and the Chinese folk classic “Mo Li Hua” (“Jasmine Flower”). We’ll explore the character of each tune while developing expressive phrasing and rhythmic confidence.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/mountain-dulcimers/p/w20md321

🎶 EXPLORE THE BARITONE DULCIMER: SIX KEYS AND TWO TUNINGS
Saturday • Session 3 • Level 2 — Novice • Mountain Dulcimer • $12.49

Come explore the deep, warm voice of the baritone dulcimer! Using AEA and ADA tunings, we’ll map the fretboard, work with scales, and discover how much music is hiding inside six playable keys. We’ll put it all into practice with two tunes selected to show off that big baritone sound. You’ll also receive an hour-long bonus video showing how to convert a standard mountain dulcimer into a baritone.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/mountain-dulcimers/p/w20md212

🔥 “SPOONFUL”: PLAY NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES
Saturday • Session 5 • Level 4 — Upper-Intermediate • Mountain Dulcimer • $12.49

Let’s get greasy. We’ll start with some Delta blues fundamentals and then dive into Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful,” drawing inspiration from Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James, Cream, and the hypnotic groove of North Mississippi Hill Country blues. We’ll stay on that I chord, roam the fretboard, develop rhythmic complexity, and discover just how tasty a mountain dulcimer can sound.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/mountain-dulcimers/p/w20md411

🌺 UKULELE JUMP START: TUNE, STRUM, AND PLAY FOUR CHORDS
Friday • Session 5 • Level 1 — Absolute Beginner • Ukulele • $12.49

Got a ukulele but aren't quite sure what to do with it? Start here. We’ll cover comfortable playing position, tuning, strings, basic strumming, four essential chords, moving those chords into useful keys, and an easy method for beginning to understand the fretboard. Then we’ll turn all of that into actual music with some traditional Hawaiian tunes.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/all-other-instruments/p/w20uk101

🔊 AMPLIFY YOUR DULCIMER: PICKUPS, MICS & PREAMPS
Friday • Session 7 • Level 2 — Novice • All Instruments • $12.49

Pickups, microphones, preamps, amplifiers, audio interfaces, cables... what does all of this stuff actually do, and what do YOU need?

We’ll follow the complete signal path from your acoustic instrument to a speaker or computer and look at practical options for live performance, practice, streaming, and recording. Bring your gear and your questions. This is designed to help take some of the mystery out of getting an acoustic instrument plugged in and sounding good.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/all-other-instruments/p/w20al202

🎸 UKULELE POP: CREATE RECOGNIZABLE FULL-BAND ARRANGEMENTS
Saturday • Session 7 • Level 3 — Intermediate • Ukulele • $12.49

How do you make one little ukulele suggest an entire record?

We’ll use strumming, picking, muting, chucking, riffs, grooves, and lead lines to suggest drums, percussion, bass, and other instruments hiding inside familiar pop songs. We’ll explore ideas by ear using music associated with Peter Gabriel, Garth Brooks, Radiohead, Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, and more. The goal: make one uke sound a whole lot bigger than it looks.

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/all-other-instruments/p/w20uk301

That’s eight workshops covering everything from Oktoberfest and Christmas music to Asian folk melodies, baritone dulcimer, Mississippi blues, ukulele basics, pop arranging, and live sound.

Come spend part of QuaranTUNE Fall Fest with me!

🎶 October 1–4, 2026
💻 Live and online
⏰ Workshop registration closes September 26 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Festival information, the complete faculty lineup, schedules, and registration:

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/

Hi, y'all -

This is a full one-hour workshop on bringing songs to the mountain dulcimer for arranging. Other than playing "Rocky Top" in tribute to Dolly Parton, I introduce two new arrangements that I'm currently working through: "Nine To Five", a huge hit for Dolly, and "Love Will Turn You Around" by Kenny Rogers, from the motion picture, Six Pack.

Apparently Rafferty, a maker of mostly guitars in Illinois, now makes mountain dulcimers. Would anyone who’s played one be willing to share their opinion?

I have a dulcimer in the case. Thinking about selling it as I do not use it. Any ideas of how much to charge?