View CartMy Account / Order StatusHelp

The Pickin Parlor is proud to ba a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association

Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America


Join our mailing list!





(Your shopping cart is empty)
You are here: Home > Play Dulcimer
Learn To Play Dulcimer
 
Learn to play dulcimer with our selection of mountain dulcimers and dulcimer instructional materials. The mountain dulcimer is one of the few "American" instruments and can trace its origins to the Appalachian region in the early 1800’s. The dulcimer came near to extinction before the renewed interest in folk music in the 1960’s aided it’s come back. It now holds a position as one of the more popular folk instruments. The mountain dulcimer’s soft tone and ability to tune to any key lends a quality to traditional music that is difficult to accomplish with other instruments.
The mountain dulcimer can be tuned to any key with the Ionian (major) mode being the most popular. An example of an Ionian tuning for the mountain dulcimer is as follows:

1. Tune the bass string to the key note of the key you wish to play in.
2. Fret the middle string at the 3rd fret and tune until it matches the bass string but one octave higher.
3. Tune the melody strings to match the middle string.
 
Other mountain dulcimer tunings include the Mixolydian, Aeolian and Dorian modes.
 
New and Noteworthy  
 Complete Dulcimer Handbook                         
 The Complete Dulcimer Handbook
This book was written as a basic guide and source book for all dulcimer players, from the absolute novice to the most advanced picker. With its 53 songs in various modes and tunings, The Complete Dulcimer Handbook is meant to be used as a songbook, a lesson plan book, and a step-by-step guide from beginner to intermediate or advanced level. The author's basic premise is that, given this instrument's relatively brief pedagogical history, "There are no right or wrong ways to play the mountain dulcimer, only harder or easier means of reaching the same ends". The stereo CD features the author’s outstanding performance of 17 tunes from the book.
 
Sort By:
Page of 3  
Applecreek Dulcimer
Applecreek Dulcimer
Our Price: $99.95
Sale Price: $69.95
You Save $30.00!

Applecreek Dulcimers are made using the most tested construction techniques for long life and precise fretting for perfect intonation.
Morrell Tennessee Mountain Dulcimer - MTMD3
Morrell Tennessee Mountain Dulcimer
List Price: $199.95
Our Price: $199.95
Sale Price: $129.95
You Save $70.00!

An attractive mountain dulcimer with a great old time sound.
Morrell Tennessee Mountain Dulcimer - MTMD2
Morrell Tennessee Mountain Dulcimer
List Price: $179.95
Our Price: $179.95
Sale Price: $119.95
You Save $60.00!

A nice mountain dulcimer with great tone and sustain.
Dulcimer Chords
Dulcimer Chords
Our Price: $9.95
Sale Price: $8.95
You Save $1.00!

This great mountain dulcimer DVD clearly demonstrates how to form different chords.
Learn To Play Mountain Dulcimer
Learn To Play Mountain Dulcimer
Our Price: $19.95
Sale Price: $17.95
You Save $2.00!

A great introduction to playing the mountain dulcimer.
Favorite Old-Time American Songs for Dulcimer
Favorite Old-Time American Songs for Dulcimer
Our Price: $24.95
Sale Price: $22.45
You Save $2.50!

This giant book features over 100 of America's favorite folk songs, expertly arranged for the Appalachaian dulicmer.
Basic Dulcimer Solos
Basic Dulcimer Solos
Our Price: $9.95
Sale Price: $8.95
You Save $1.00!

This book introduces simplified techniques of chording and fingerpicking for both smaller and larger hands and presents dozens of songs
Beginning Appalachian Dulcimer
Beginning Appalachian Dulcimer
Our Price: $30.00
Sale Price: $26.95
You Save $3.05!

In this video, Mark Nelson covers all the basics from tuning to strumming and hand position.
Dulcimer a La Mode
Dulcimer a La Mode
Our Price: $19.95
Sale Price: $17.95
You Save $2.00!

Dulcimer a La Mode takes the mystery of out modal tuning and playing for the mountain dulcimer player.
Hands-On Dulcimer
Hands-On Dulcimer
Our Price: $24.95
Sale Price: $22.45
You Save $2.50!

This book is designed to help fretted dulcimer players at all levels grow in their technical abilities by developing strength, precision, control and flexibility in both the right and left hands.
   
 
The Pickin Parlor
610 Gilbert Avenue South
Park Rapids, MN 56470
Phone 1-800-721-7464

 About Us
 Become an Affiliate
 Privacy Policy
 Send Us Feedback