Free dulcimer lessons by bradley laird the strings of the dulcimer. Hourglass mountain dulcimer plans traditional folkcraft. Free appalachian dulcimer plans downloadrdm168 howto. Appalachian dulcimer arthur robb, art robb, luthier, lutes. Mountain dulcimer downloadable plan as with many plans, alterations are just a part of it. Your online store for buying new and used dulcimers. Click to share on twitter opens in new window click to share on facebook opens in new window. Our kits have solid wood fretboards, geared tuning machines, and sound boxes made of extra strong corrugated cardboard.
It requires fairly basic woodworking skills such as sanding, gluing, hand trimming, and putting on a finish. The appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or. This cord chart is a wonderful help in learning to do chords on the dulcimer using guitar tabs. Learn how to play the classical guitar with all of these straightforward techniques. Appalachian dulcimer tear drop shaped plans design full scale drawings. The dulcimer pegbox is built up from an interior core glued inside the dulcimer sides. This will be noted on the individual plan description. 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.
The best appalachian dulcimer plans free download pdf and video. View,000 woodworking plans here search for appalachian dulcimer plans basically, anyone who is interested in building with wood can learn it successfully with the help of free woodworking plans which are found on the net. Those who pick it up for the first time are struck with its unique droning tones and find they can play simple melodies rather quickly, sometimes within a matter of minutes. It has a baltic birch frame with a red cedar soundboard. The 5 string hourglass appalachian dulcimer is a traditional hourglass shape instrument with 5 strings tuned as two pairs and a single. Appalachian dulcimer plans rocking horse plans pdf converter. I just completed a class where 20 college students each built a dulcimer according to the directions in the article. How dulcimer is made material, making, history, how to. Please consider becoming a patron and helping support this program. You bathroom entrap angstrom unit hammered dulcimer with antiophthalmic factor clear brilliant voice from and trees aside subscribing done our earth welldisposed machine rifle rehabilitation savings.
A rather rare and unusual variant of the appalachian dulcimer is the courting dulcimer. This kit is for the seasoned instrument builder or those craftspersons who have basic woodworking skills. Dulcimers free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Electronic version full sized, very detailed plans of the hourglass mountain dulcimer. We add plans to our list soon after they appear in a current issue of american lutherie. Sep 08, 2009 anyway, the pinnacle of my woodworking experience thus far is a hammer dulcimer i made from a kit. Dulcimer plans plans diy free download weekend woodworking. Sep, 2015 pdf diy dulcimer music stand plans plans download.
The hammered dulcimer in the southern appalachian old time string and performances solely for mountain and hammered dulcimers. The mountain dulcimer, even in its simplicity, holds more than a few secrets. If you are interested in seeing a plan of a particular instrument, and especially if you have an instrument that could be used to create a new plan, please contact tim. It provides an excellent introduction to the dulcimer. Playing a guitar is not difficult to master, and can open up countless musical. Some people are surprised to learn that the hammered dulcimer is not a new instrument. Woodworkers journal did an excellent job in enhancing the text and rendering the plans. How comport meadow appalachian dulcimer plans build dulcimers are made. Hourglass mountain dulcimer kit assembly instructions. Learn to play appalachian dulcimer free mountain dulcimer. Please note that specific products and sources cited in a plan when it originally appeared may no longer be available.
Crystal forest mandolins build a fun an easytoplay. I glued the other cheek to the scrollhead first thing in the morning and took care of some chores and came back when the glue was dry. Construct the parts of the dulcimer according to your plans. The hammered dulcimer is familiar in the british isles as a dulcimer and in a different form in ireland as the tiompan. The shapes and measurements will differ from design to design, so be careful not to mix designs or measurements. Carolina state fair, where a vendor had a booth selling the instruments made from plans from the. The appalachian mountain dulcimer is an american folk instrument and comes in all sizes and shapes. As well as being the first to massproduce the instrument, they made design changes to. So it is 100% a product of the united states of america. The most traditional way of playing the dulcimer is to play a melody on the string or pair of strings closest to the body. More dulcimer instrument appreciation mother earth news. In order to be successful in woodworking, there are skills absolutely necessary to know and master. In the middle east and india its called a santoor or santouri. Learn the art of woodworking using these stepbystep woodworking plans.
Old house, tear it down, is the fifth lesson in my appalachian dulcimer lessons series. Comes ready to play with a dulcimer pick, noter stick, 4mil plastic carrying bag, and the 28 page playing manual, meet the friendly dulcimer. The article is just as good today as it was in 1992 when i wrote it. Download project guides and plans from royunderhill books confirm your local station to help you find your favorite shows and great local content, weve selected a pbs station in your area. Set the body aside so you can plan the placement of your sound holes. The back forms a critical part of the structure of this instrument, so take care to clamp it well all the way around the frame. My traditional dulcimers are the easiest instruments on which to play tunes or to strum rhythmstyle and sing with the three basic chords. Its origins are in the appalachian region of the united states. If you experience any problems with this plan, please contact. Woodworkers journal classic projects are scans of muchloved woodworking plans from our library of back issues. There were a few areas when compared with a working instrament that minor adjustments became a part of this new creation. Building a string instrument like a mountain dulcimer or guitar requires plans and supplies. Our appalachian dulcimers are more refined than some of the primitive mountain dulcimers and are available in two qualities.
Dulcimer drawing project guides the woodwrights shop. Look carefully at all the joints of the dulcimer frame, and clean up any glue blobs that would interfere with a good fit of the back. Place the frame of the dulcimer on the inside surface of the top, aligning it with your penciled. Buy traditional hourglass style mountain dulcimer plan. The 141page pdf represents three separate 45minute lessons. Even people who know much about american music often confuse the hammered dulcimer with the three or fourstringed mountain or plucked dulcimer, although the two have nothing in common except their name. Guide to building an appalachian dulcimer mountain dulcimer. Dulcimer plans download of the industrys best prices. The appalachian dulcimer is one of two folk instruments of the settlers of north america. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. This book shows how to make a masterpiece dulcimore, but the large, violinshaped dulcimer is relatively rare and hard to make.
Advice for those who want to learn to make dulcimers doug berch. This chord chart is a necessary addition to anyones dulcimer lesson plan. Mountain dulcimer appalachian mountain dulcimers for sale appalachian dulcimers for sale used mountain dulcimer. With a minimum of periodic attention, your instrument will. Advice for those who want to learn to make dulcimers. Complete materials list available, easy to follow plans. View,000 woodworking plans here search for free appalachian dulcimer plans pdf basically, anyone who is interested in building with wood can learn it successfully with the help of free woodworking. For an instrument 80cms tapering to 40cms by 45mm long by 6cms deep two soundholes,9 double note trebles, triple strung and 8 basses double strung giving over 2 octaves. Guide to building an appalachian dulcimer mountain dulcimer, mountain music, mountain style, dulcimer. A plan to build an stick dulcimer, also called a pickin stick. We use solid figured english sycamore for the back and ribs, solid swiss pine for the soundboard and plain sycamore for the fingerboard. I am learning to play the appalachian mountain dulcimer.
Our plans feature a full size drawing of the instrument as well as a list of suggested materials and some construction details. Free appalachian dulcimer plans for sale barn roof. Building appalachian dulcimers mountain dulcimer makers. I have made over 17,000 appalachian dulcimers, maintaining the authentic design and sound of the mountain dulcimer. Mountain dulcimer downloadable plan rockler woodworking. A good history is appalachian dulcimer traditions by ralph lee smith. 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 hammered dulcimer in the southern appalachian old. The body extends the length of the fingerboard, and its fretting is generally diatonic. Jean ritchie the dulcimer book, 1974 and others have speculated that the appalachian dulcimer is related to similar european instruments like the langeleik, scheitholt, and epinette des vosges. Mixed designs can result in improper string tension and damage to the strings or even the neck. If you think you are too old or too slow to play an instrument you will be surprised by the simplicity of the dulcimer.
I hope you enjoy this learning for life video by brett ridgeway. Building a welldesigned dulcimer kit can help you understand the basic dimensions of. Many of these skills were once taught in high schools all across the nation, but today, most woodshop classes have been suspended, and people. Jul 15, 2016 downloadable pdf dulcimer lessons with tab and mp3 tracks. Homemade dulcimer free instrument making plans how to build the homemade hammered dulcimer, including diagram, instructions, the hammered versus the appalachian dulcimers. Unless otherwise specified, all plans are sold as electronic downloads.
The mountain dulcimer remains a popular instrument in folk and dance music of the mountains. 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. It is also called the appalachian dulcimer because it originated in the appalachian mountain region. Free online lessons for appalachian dulcimer by bradley laird with how to tune the. The appalachian dulcimer or dulcimore is generally hourglassshaped with three to five strings and frets low ridges against which the strings are pressed. Shop for woodworking tools, plans, finishing and hardware online at. If played by a courting couple, no chaperone would be needed as long as the music could be heard. He first encountered the hammered dulcimer at the north. The dado runs the width of the body and is 18w 18d. This site provides you with free online lessons to get you started playing the dulcimer.
The frets are spaced to play a diatonic scale, a seven note, octaverepeating musical scale. Please note that specific products and sources cited in a plan when it. 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. The mountain dulcimer is a unique american folk instrument and is very easy to play. 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.
There are no bad notes when playing a stick dulcimer. First, a few words about the history of the hammered dulcimer. Georgia luthier supply hourglass mountain dulcimer plan. The best free appalachian dulcimer plans pdf free download pdf and video. Plans for appalachian mountain dulcimer printed size digital files on cd and rosettes optional plans for appalachian mountain dulcimer printed a0 size etsy. In this download you get the pdf cad plans to print off on your home printer as needed, also included a large a0 plan if you have access to an architectural printers.
As you might just see in this photo, i used screws outside the lines of the scrollhead profile to keep the parts in line while clamping. Best free appalachian dulcimer plans for sale free download diy pdf. Inexpensive appalachian mountain dulcimers and easily assembled dulcimer kits designed for beginning players, schools, and amateur instrument builders. Cut, shape, and sand the sides, back, top, scroll, neck, fingerboard and. Download project guides and plans from royunderhill books. Get 50 free woodworking plans get free appalachian dulcimer plans downloadrdm168. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The appalachian dulcimer or mountain dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. The appalachian dulcimer frets themselves illustrate. These pages are crammed with info about how i build dulcimers. We hope it will answer many of your questions and help you get to know your instrument and its terminology. My aim is to demonstrate the quality of my methods to prospective clients and students, help beginning builders, and exchange information with my luthier colleagues around the world. As soon as you complete your plan purchase with us, you will automatically be given a download link to access your plans. The dulcimer kits are about the same difficulty level as a model airplane.
There are two kinds of instruments commonly called dulcimer here in the u. These hourglass mountain dulcimer plans offer exact dimensions to guide you in building your own instrument. A unique strummedplucked instrument that is distinct from th. To most modern americans, the hammered dulcimer is a new and unfamiliar instrument. This little 3 string cardboard dulcimer has an amazing sound and is very sturdy. Books and plans dean kimball, constructing the mountain dulcimer chet hines, how to make and play the dulcimore. This is an easytoplay instrument tuned to an open g chord. Its strings are plucked with the fingers, a pick, or a quill, and the players left hand holds a stick or plectrum on the strings as a stop. Mountain dulcimer music stand plans 6500 woodworking projects by martin auction plans making a desk dulcimer music stand plans crib plans ana white birdhouse plans nuthatch woodward ok zip code. What many beginning players dont realize though is that there is no such thing as.
From the mountains of western maryland and west virginia comes a series of short films about appalachian traditions in our changing world. David williams has produced plans and will help on materials. I bought the basic kit that included the plans and hardware, but purchased the wood myself. This is also highly appropriate for orff ensemble and includes an orff arrangement. Appalachian dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, kentucky dulcimer, lap dulcimer, american dulcimer. How to play elementary course beginner sheet music lessons musical instrument vintage book ebook digital download. The best free appalachian dulcimer plans downloadrdm168 free download pdf and video. I encourage anyone who would like to make a dulcimer to do so. I regularly receive requests for advice on making a dulcimer so i thought id present some of the suggestions that people have found helpful. Native woods from here in central kentucky walnut, cherry and tulip poplar are used.
Furniture, toys, frames, beds, animal houses, racks, dressers, chairs, coasters, and many more. People made them with whatever local materials that were readily available to them and traced the shapes that were pleasing to them. The mountain dulcimer is the simplest of string instruments to play. Choose this kit if you wish to experience the pleasure of building your own dulcimer. More dulcimer instrument appreciation reader demand for form information about dulcimer instruments prompted the author to devote this installment of his regular column to the topic. Thank you for purchasing this woodworkers journal classic project plan. The appalachian dulcimer is a variety of the celtic zithers and has been a folk instrument of the southern appalachian mountains since the first pioneers settled there and now enjoying a well deserved increase in popularity. The following plans were developed through my own work and 20 years of teaching musical instrument making at. It consists of two dulcimer fretboards mounted on a single body. Mountain dulcimers by kentucky woodworker warren a. This kit produces a beautiful traditional style dulcimer approximately 6 in wide at widest point, 35 inches long and 1 34 inches deep.
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