Tuning diagram: You will need a tuning diagram for your dulcimer (If you’ve bought our popular Chickadee (non-chromatic) model, you can get that 13/12 tuning chart here.

Tuners listen to the pitch of your string and let you know how sharp or flat (how high or low) your string is by signaling with a meter or a light.

Tuner: We like to use either a chromatic electronic tuner (like the Snark SN1X electronic tuner) or a reliable tuning app on a smartphone (check out our post on recommended tuning apps ).

If you don’t have one, you can get one here.

If you have a different kind of tuning wrench, it will work, but we recommend the T-handled wrench with the star tip because it allows a better grip to help you precisely tune your instrument. We supply a quality T-handle tuning wrench with every dulcimer we send out. Tuning wrench: You must have a tuning wrench to adjust the strings of your dulcimer.Items You Will Need to Tune Your Hammered Dulcimerīelow is a list of the things you will need for hammered dulcimer tuning: Not all dulcimers will have the smaller, third bridge indicated in this photo. This is our Phoebe Chromatic Hammered Dulcimer. Here is the anatomy of the dulcimer to use as a guide as you go through this process:

This is done by tightening or loosening the tuning pins. So let’s break it down: The main goal of hammered dulcimer tuning is to match the pitch of your string to the ideal note the string should be set to. Once beginners learn the basics and go through it methodically, it becomes pretty easy. And if you have tuned any other instrument, you will find that tuning the hammered dulcimer is really no different–just with more strings. Anyone can tune, even if you are brand-spanking new to the dulcimer world! Is it Hard to Tune a Hammered Dulcimer?ĭo not be deterred by any music jargon, learning how to tune your hammered dulcimer is not hard. If this all sounds Greek to you, not to worry newbies! We’ve made this article beginner-friendly so you can easily follow along. This will cause your hammered dulcimer to be what is called “out of tune.” Keeping it in tune will allow you to better identify pitches as well as produce a richer timbre to your music. Just as any stringed instrument does, when the tension on the strings changes, it changes the pitch of the notes played. Are you a hammered dulcimer newbie? Have you noticed your dulcimer just doesn’t sound as good as it did when you first started playing? Do people grimace in pain as you play? These may be signs your hammered dulcimer may be out of tune.

Instructions for a snark guitar tuner