I encourage anyone who would like to make a dulcimer to do so. Inexpensive appalachian mountain dulcimers and easily assembled dulcimer kits designed for beginning players, schools, and amateur instrument builders. The dulcimers stringed keyboard eventually led to the development of the pianoforte, which did offer a dynamic range, ultimately eclipsing the dulcimer in popularity. Restoration of 1958 jethro amburgey mountain dulcimer this mountain dulcimer, by jethro amburgey, number 371, dated january 30, 1958, came to me. They have an open, ringing quality to them that is due, in large part, to their open tuning. Dulcimers free delivery possible on eligible purchases. My traditional dulcimers are the easiest instruments on which to play tunes or to strum rhythmstyle and sing with the three basic chords. There is nothing quite like the sound of a mountain dulcimer. How to arrange tablature in the 5 tuning using the learning aids. H mountain dulcimer plans how admit meadow appalachian mountain dulcimer stand plans dulcimers are made. For those who have plans to generate your own woodworking projects at home, the web is a good place to locate different types of woodworking plans. The 5 string hourglass appalachian dulcimer is a traditional hourglass shape instrument with 5 strings tuned as two pairs and a single. Also the drawings were unreadable even with a magnifying glass. Many of the books listed may be out of print but usually with a little effort, you should be able to find either a reprint or pdf.
Boil them cabbage down, lesson two for the mountain dulcimer. Thank you for purchasing this woodworkers journal classic project plan. The tops and backs are precut and sides are prebent. Our kits have solid wood fretboards, geared tuning machines, and sound boxes made of extra strong corrugated cardboard. Build mountain dulcimer stand plans patio deck plans free pdf. I hope you enjoy this learning for life video by brett ridgeway. How dulcimer is made material, making, history, how to. All the parts are included strings, pick, geared tuners and instructions, too. Oct 10, 2015 restoration of 1958 jethro amburgey mountain dulcimer this mountain dulcimer, by jethro amburgey, number 371, dated january 30, 1958, came to me. Woodcraft magazine make a mountain dulcimer downloadable. This video provides sound comparisons among mcspadden, blue. There are two large round soundholes precut, which you can improve on if you choose. How dulcimer is made material, making, history, how to make. In the united states, the fretted dulcimer is better known as the appalachian or mountain dulcimer.
I found the article and plans very useful as a reference for my mountain dulcimer. Choosing a new dulcimer can be overwhelming, and many times i am asked to advise people on their choices. People made them with whatever local materials that were readily available to them and traced the shapes that were pleasing to them. These individual tabs for the mountain dulcimer are provided to you free of charge.
As soon as you complete your plan purchase with us, you will automatically be given a download link to access your plans. The dulcimers tuning allows a player to play a drone chord on open strings while playing a melody over top of itsimilar to a sitar or bagpipe. The best beginner mountain dulcimer lessons period intro by scott grove how to play the mountain dulcimer, parts i and ii. The very first step of the woodworking project is to construct the storage unit. Kits for building mountain dulcimers are widely available, but many people prefer to build their own instruments. I have made over 17,000 appalachian dulcimers, maintaining the authentic design and sound of the mountain dulcimer. The teardrop dulcimer shown here is easier to build because you dont need steam or a bending iron to make the sides. Cad plan for dulcimer hourglass mountain style guitar. Sound comparison of various mountain dulcimers youtube. A simple but rewarding introduction to instrument making, this high quality solid walnut american kit produces a handsome traditional dulcimer with beautiful tone. Buy traditional hourglass style mountain dulcimer plan. Building cigar box mountain dulcimers if you are looking to expand your cigar box instrumentbuilding repertoire beyond the basic 3 and 4string cigar box guitars, then consider taking a look at a classic instrument of american folk and roots music. Please note that specific products and sources cited in a plan when it.
Furniture, toys, frames, beds, animal houses, racks, dressers, chairs, coasters, and many more. This book shows how to make a masterpiece dulcimore, but the large, violinshaped dulcimer is relatively rare and hard to make. Homemade dulcimer free instrument making plans how to build the homemade hammered dulcimer, including diagram, instructions, the hammered versus the appalachian dulcimers. The dulcimer pegbox is built up from an interior core glued inside the dulcimer sides. The fretted dulcimer resembles an elongated violin with a limited number of strings usually three to five that can be plucked or bowed. Native woods from here in central kentucky walnut, cherry and tulip poplar are used. The best build mountain dulcimer stand plans free download pdf and video. This pdf presents basic of reading rhythm notation and pitch as related to the dulcimer, the notes on the neck of the. Plenty dulcimer building supplies plans and instruction manual at some of the industrys c. His handcrafted instruments have taken the appalachian dulcimer into the 21st century while remaining true to the nostalgic sound we all know and love. Hourglass mountain dulcimer plans traditional folkcraft. The book is suppose to give enough information to build a dulcimer. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
Below are just some of the businesses or organizations who do. The walnut classic shares the same dimensions as the cedar creek but features all solid wood construction. Our full scale pattern shows you the exact dimensions and shapes for the fingerboard, soundboard top, braces, back, tail block, fingerboard, fret spacing this plan shows a 27 vsl, bridges, string spacing and so much more. Its possible to locate woodworking plans on the web for free. The mountain dulcimer is the simplest of string instruments to play. Please note that specific products and sources cited in a plan when it originally appeared may no longer be available. Books and plans dean kimball, constructing the mountain dulcimer chet hines, how to make and play the dulcimore. The online dulcimer shop 401 lotis way louisville, ky, 40207 usa. However, if you wish to purchase them for a nominal fee in a single compiled pdf you may do so here. Building a welldesigned dulcimer kit can help you understand the basic dimensions of. The best plans for mountain dulcimer free download pdf and video. The schematics provided with the article do not print as the color is too light. This video provides sound comparisons among mcspadden, blue lion, papaws dulcimers. Introduction and the dulce melos method this basic mountain dulcimer lesson is for people who have yet to meet the appalachian mountain dulcimer or who might enjoy an introduction to the playing st.
The hammered dulcimer is familiar in the british isles as a dulcimer and in a different form in ireland as the tiompan. The best free mountain dulcimer plans download mp3rdm168 free download pdf and video. The following plans were developed through my own work and 20 years of teaching musical instrument making at. A unique strummedplucked instrument that is distinct from th. Georgia luthier supply hourglass mountain dulcimer plan. Please consider becoming a patron and helping support this program.
If you have ever wondered how to build your own mountain dulcimer, then you need our building plans for a traditional hourglassshaped mountain dulcimer. If you think you are too old or too slow to play an instrument you will be surprised by the simplicity of the dulcimer. Hourglass mountain dulcimer kit assembly instructions musicmakers 14525 61st st ct n stillwater, mn 55082 wood parts a solid wood top b solid wood back c fretboard d 2 end blocks e 1 peghead f 2 sides g 2 braces for back 1 long, 1 short h 3 spacers hardware 4 geared tuners with screws set of 4 ball end dulcimer strings 1 wood screw, 2. The bookmatched walnut back and sides add even more depth and balance to the stereo sound of the cedar creek. If you experience any problems with this plan, please contact. Many folks today own mountain dulcimers that are designed for playing in higher or lower keys than those provided by the d, e or f tunings shown in our chord charts. Advice for those who want to learn to make dulcimers. At folkcraft instruments, we offer some free downloads. This plan makes an excellent first project for the woodworker who would like to learn the techniques of lutherie, steam bending and fretting being the most important. The appalachian dulcimer is one of two folk instruments of the settlers of north america. Bristol adult education 1981 2000 evening classes swindon adult education 1986 1991 evening classes bath spa university college 1995 1999 teaching music students the photo is from a class in filton, bristol, taken about 1982.
This kit comes with user friendly pdf instructions you can print. Click to share on twitter opens in new window click to share on facebook opens in new window. One pdf is available for all the 3string tabs, and another for all the 4string tabs. Learn the art of woodworking using these stepbystep woodworking plans.
Mountain dulcimer plans plans diy free download two story. This is a kit version of our walnut classic mountain dulcimer. The appalachian mountain dulcimer is an american folk instrument and comes in all sizes and shapes. Mountain dulcimer kits traditional song played with folkcraft northern cherry six string hourglass dulcimer kit with only four strings and tuned d a dd skip to content. Woodworkers journal classic projects are scans of muchloved woodworking plans from our library of back issues.
Using plans will ensure that your mountain dulcimer has correct proportions, and sounds the way it should. There are two kinds of instruments commonly called dulcimer here in the u. Construct the parts of the dulcimer according to your plans. This did not prevent me from building a very nice dulcimer though. We use solid figured english sycamore for the back and ribs, solid swiss pine for the soundboard and plain sycamore for the fingerboard. These mountain dulcimer plans is intended to offer you a starting point and a set of guidelines for the instruments you will build. Make a mountain dulcimer downloadable plan woodcraft. I regularly receive requests for advice on making a dulcimer so i thought id present some of the suggestions that people have found helpful.
Let me know if you are aware of any other important resources. While the dulcimer was no longer a court instrument, it remained a great favorite with street musicians, gypsies, and other plain folk. Traditional hourglass style mountain dulcimer plan. The shapes and measurements will differ from design to design, so be careful not to mix designs or measurements. A simple but rewarding introduction to instrument making, this high quality solid walnut american kit produces a handsome traditional dulcimer with beautiful tone all the parts are included strings, pick, geared tuners and instructions, too. Unless otherwise specified, all plans are sold as electronic downloads. Introduction and the dulce melos method this basic mountain dulcimer lesson is for people who have yet to meet the appalachian mountain dulcimer or. The entire body of the dulcimer has already been constructed. Hourglass mountain dulcimer kit assembly instructions. The mountain dulcimer remains a popular instrument in folk and dance music of the mountains. If you are looking to expand your cigar box instrumentbuilding repertoire beyond the basic 3 and 4string cigar box guitars, then consider taking a look at a classic instrument of american folk and roots music. Like many stringed instruments, a mountain dulcimers curved sides improve sound reflection.
This is a pdf resource designed for lesson two of the fifth grade music curriculum. If the book would have enclosed full size plans of the two type plus included more info about how the string are attached would help a lot. Dec 06, 2012 choosing a new dulcimer can be overwhelming, and many times i am asked to advise people on their choices. Mountain dulcimers by kentucky woodworker warren a. It is also called the appalachian dulcimer because it originated in the appalachian mountain region.
Of is that the mint dulcimer has also been called plucked. Roosebeck grace mountain dulcimer 4string vaulted fretboard spruce knotwork 4. Our appalachian dulcimers are more refined than some of the primitive mountain dulcimers and are available in two qualities. This kit produces a beautiful traditional style dulcimer approximately 6 in wide at widest point, 35 inches long and 1 34 inches deep. Sign up for free download today get free mountain dulcimer plans download mp3rdm168.
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