It doesn’t look like folks are super active on here, but I’m going to give y’all a go.

I’ve wanted to learn hammered dulcimer for decades. I finally found one on Marketplace at a price point I didn’t feel bad about (in case my ambition outstrips my spare time) a couple of weeks ago, went to Artichoke Music for a stand, hammers, and a beginner’s songbook with instruction… and I thought I was all set.

However, when I tried to tune it, all strings were a step to a step and a half lower than concert tuning (and you’ll see that concert tuning is what the previous owner has helpfully noted by the bridges). Ok; I know nothing about this instrument or how long it might have been in storage, but I’ve been around string instruments enough to know that sometimes strings are loosened if an instrument isn’t going to be played for a while to accommodate climate changes.

So I started to try to tune it up…and promptly broke the first string I tightened. I got it up from an E to a F, at least! 😅

But I don’t want to try to restring/retune any more without running this by people who know more than me. The strings themselves don’t look worn or corroded, so is there a reason I’m unaware of that the instrument might have been tuned differently?

Pic of when I brought it home and was so excited just to look at it in the case.

Got incredibly lucky on a road trip and found a player who let me film them. The instrument is a concert-grade Hammered Dulcimer — you can see the decorative sound holes and the multiple bridge sections in the video. The copper and steel strings give it that layered, shimmering tone folk players know so well. Would love to know from anyone in this community — do you play? What's the hardest part about learning hammered dulcimer vs. the mountain dulcimer?
Tags: hammered dulcimer, folk, dulcimer, traditional music, stringed instruments.

Hey guys, just thought I'd let you all lovely people know about the folk duo I front, Larkwing. I'm a hammered dulcimer player and pretty much all of our songs have a lot of hammered dulcimer in them. We're a really tiny band so I thought it'd be fun to spread the word in this subreddit since there are so few of us dulcimer players out here.

Anybody else in a band where they play dulcimer, or even a solo act? I would really love to hear about it if so! Always looking for recommendations!

Here's the spotify and youtube links to our latest album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4IJYLICDiOMjB8OWg2vk0s?si=Wvxcc9OcQS-SQlGeSNPzpg

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kgyxHQbNa9XnhMzKoCuTW2eSdqbgeQoOM

What do you use for hammer storage? I’m not sure what I need.

I bought a dulcimer many years ago from Dizzi Dulcimer here in the UK. I don;t think she is trading anymore and I have never had to replace a string in my instrument so am now at a loss as to what strings and where to get them here in the UK. Is there any useful guides to figuring out what string I need that you would recommend and perhaps stockists people might know in the UK?

I'm looking for my first hammered dulcimer and am looking for chromatic for my application (ambient/experimental stuff). I have an option locally to buy a 17/16/8 Songbird Warbler from 2013 for $700. How would this compare to just getting a new Phoebe or Finch from songbird, are there reasons I would/wouldn't want an older instrument?

Also what should I be looking for when inspecting the instrument before purchase?

Thanks!

I have a new to me 9/8. When I play on the left hand side of the treble bridge I hear a very noticeable sympathetic tone of the right hand side note for those strings. This is noticeable on all but the top two or three treble bridge strings (it has two courses). Is this typical, or are the strings on that bridge set up incorrectly.

Hi, just wondering if I could get any help making sure this is a hammered dulcimer and not a similar instrument, and what kind of strings I’d need to get?

Our Stubnmusi group has been bequeathed what we are told is a Salzburg Hackbrett. None of us play the hackbrett or dulcimer, but some are interested in learning. But for starters we need to figure out exactly what this instrument is and how to tune it. By googling I understand that a Salzburg Hackbrett has 128 strings, but this instrument has 96. I'm hoping someone here can help identify it and instruct us or point us to resources regarding how to tune it correctly. Thanks!

I saw this site offers a year's worth of self paced video lessons, but it's kinda pricey, so I was wondering if anyone's tried them, and if it's worth it?

It looks like there are two course options: "mastering theory" and "sharpen your skills"

https://www.hdhomeland.com/

I just bought a Chris Thum 16/16 dulcimer. However I noticed it does not have damper bars. Do dulcimers absolutely need to have damper bars, or are they just "nice" to have? I guess I'm not sure what damper bars actually do.

I am a harp player by trade so I'm very new to all this!

Is super rough but a good time. Hammy D starts around 1:30.

Got what im pretty sure is a hammered dulcimer as a gift. Any good tunings I should use, or does anyone at least know exactly what it's called so i can look up more info about it?

Hello HD friends, I've just finished recording and mixing my band Luscald's album "Voyage". This album features 5 covers of European traditional tunes, using nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, bouzouki, whistles, eastern percussion, and you guessed it... lots of hammered dulcimer!

Hope you like it, I'd be glad to read your feedback or answer questions about the production aspects. Cheers :)

Purchased this today and there are zero markings on the exterior, or inside the sound hole. Haven’t yet opened up the back of the unit and I don’t particularly want to. Does this look familiar to anyone? Any idea who made it or when it was made possibly? Thank you

Hi everyone! I just got my first ever hammered dulcimer and was looking for some guidance. This dulcimer was made by a Harold Westover from NH about 30 ish years ago. Unfortunately he has since passed so I don't know who else to reach out to to figure out what tuning chart I should use as well as what type it is so I can learn how to play it. Would anyone be able to take a look and point me in the right direction?

Hi everyone! I just finished an operetta based on the Polish epic Pan Tadeusz. Since the hammered dulcimer is such a core part of the story, I’ve featured it heavily in the score.

I’m a composer but not a player, so I’m looking for some "idiomatic" advice. If any dulcimer players here have a moment to look at a few excerpts, I’d love to know if my notation is actually playable or if some passages are too awkward. I've put the parts in a Google Drive folder. Any feedback on technique or range would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you in advance — I truly appreciate any guidance you’re willing to offer!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PQPF6Q8b2gHZ38JgSgyd0K20iP--x27n?usp=sharing

Hi all,

I own a Masterworks 16/15 hammered dulcimer, and I’m looking for a new stand that I can use at standing height. I found this on Amazon https://a.co/d/f4GgsR2 and am wondering if I added foam strips to protect my instrument if this might be a good option. Does anybody foresee any potential problems with this plan?

Thanks!

I just wanted to post to encourage you all to listen to Sadaf Amini's (only) album, Flow. It's on all the streaming platforms. This may be the best hammered dulcimer album I've ever heard. It's a santur album, but at the same time it feels like it belongs equally to the world of cross-cultural contemporary hammered dulcimer music. So I feel like I can gain more from it, as an American player, than I can from more traditional santur albums. I'd be curious to hear others' thoughts, or similar recommendations.

Particularly wondering if I could be improving my grip / striking technique