Dulcimer Modes Tunings and Chords

Modes on the Dulcimer Common Modes. Major: So

Mixolydian La

Ti

Do

Re

Ionian Mi

Fa

So

La

Ti

Do

Re

Mi

Minor: Aeolian

Dorian

General Approach to tuning the dulcimer 1 Play tune on melody string. Find where it ends on the scale. This usually signals the mode. 2 Tune one drone string (usually/preferably the bass string) an octave below this note 3 Tune the second drone string (usually, preferably the middle string) to a note a fifth above (or a fourth below) the first drone tuned. Note: you may change the pitch of either or both strings to: a) have strings not too tight or too loose, and b) have the relationship you want between the strings. Conventional Tunings, desired relationships: Ionian melody string matches bass string played at fourth space open bass string is octave below note on melody string found on 3rd space scale starts at 3rd space middle string a fifth above the bass string Dorian melody string matches bass string played at third space bass string octave below note on melody string found on 4th space scale starts at 4th space middle iddl string t i a fifth above b the th bass b string ti Aeolian melody string matches bass string played at the 6th space bass string octave below note on melody string found on 1st space scale starts at 1st space middle string a fifth above the bass string Mixolydian melody string matches bass string played at the 7th space bass string octave below open melody string scale starts on open string middle string a fifth above the bass string

Some D tunings

Ionian

G major

Dorian

lower melody string one whole step D,E,F?

D, E,F?

Dorian Hey Ho Nobody Home Drunken Sailor Scarboro Fair Two brothers

Prepared by David Cross

Aeolian

raise melody string a minor third C,D,E,F?

Aeolian Cock Robin Shady Grove O Come Emmanual

Mixolydian

Reverse Ionian

raise melogy string to octave above bass

lower middle string one whole step

C,D,E,F?

G,A

Mixolydian Old Joe Clark Going Home on a Cloud Going to Boston

© Backyard Music 2011

BackyardMusic.com

Modes on the Dulcimer Some Useful Chord Patterns Mixolydian Mode (DAD tuning) I Chord=D

IV Chord= G

II Minor = E minor

= alternative

V Chord= A

VI Minor = B minor

7 Reverse Ionian Tuning (DGD)

(accompany records played in G major)

I Chord=G

V= D

IV= C

II Minor = E minor

IV Chord= G

Ionian Mode (DAA tuning) I Chord=D

IV Chord= G

= alternative

V Chord= A

Prepared by David Cross

VI Minor = B minor

© Backyard Music 2011

BackyardMusic.com