How do you tune a dulcimer?

Answer 1

you may find help at dizzi.co.uk, she has a lot of interesting vids on her web site one being how to tune a Dulcimer, also if you do a searce for songbird Dulcimer, he has a great vid as well taking you through the process. hope this helps baggy

Answer 2

The best way to tune a mandolin is to get an electronic tuner, that way you know for a fact its in perfect tune thanks to digital technology. You see many people use electronic tuners when tuning a guitar, but an electronic tuner can be used for tuning a lot of instruments! They also make tuners that you can blow into (kind of sounds like a harmonica) which gives you the notes that you need when tuning. A keyboard works well if you have to do it the broke man's way, like me. Just find whatever you can that will give you direct and perfect sounding notes, then you can go from there to tune your mandolin. The options just mentioned are only to give you an idea as to what you can find, and what can fit best with the money you have. But the notes that need to be on your mandolin strings are: G,D,A, and E. The thickest strings are G, the 2nd thickest strings are D, the 2nd thinnest strings are A, and finally, the thinnest strings are E. Remember, since each string is practically in the set of 2, both strings must be G, not G and its pair being D# or something like that. So actually, i guess the tuning would really be GG,DD,AA,EE then! But, that's basically what you really need to know! So do whatever you can to find out how to get those notes to sound from another source, and apply that to the 8 "strings" on your mandolin. I just go to my keyboard, play the "G" key, then on my mandolin i adjust the tuners to where it sounds close enough to the keyboard's "G." When BOTH G "strings" finally match the keyboard's "G", I move on to the next pair of strings; and continue the exact same way until all strings are perfectly tuned to the appropriate note. If you break one, just keep in mind that you can buy single strings for instruments, you don't have to buy a brand new set! Good luck!

Answer 3

Actually not as simple as "taking them off and putting on new ones".

When replacing strings on any instrument, you want to do them one at a time. So, for example, on a guitar, I start with the low E string (low meaning tone, not position). Remove it by unwinding it until it's loose (never just cut strings) and then replacing it. Then move to the next and so on.

The reason why we do this is because there is a balance between the string tension and the neck tension. If you remove all of that string tension at once, it can "mess with" the natural memory of the wood and metal truss rod that make up the neck.

In order to actually change the strings you need to take the new string and hook it into the bridge (there should be a small lump which hooks in or a small hoop- which goes over a little hook (this may be hidden by a cover which must be removed)

The take the other end and poke it through a small hole which should be in the bolt on the machine head- leaving about 5/6 inches on the other side. This is the fiddly bit so you might need to try this next bit a couple of times.

OK- so pull both ends of the string against the bolt so they bend and stay in place. Then start turning the machine head (you can do it in either direction- just ensure you turn them all the same way). Whilst doing this you need to keep pulling on the end which is attached to the bridge in order to keep the tension and get it wound nice and tight. Keep turning- this may take a while until it is fairly close to the right tension.

Something I would advise is running your finger under the string when it's nearly tight enough which stretches the string slightly so the guitar won't fall out of tune so often after changing.

Repeat with all the other strings until VOILA! you have a newly strung banjo

Answer 4

If You Are talking about a 5 String then its G D G B D highest to lowest

Answer 5

Traditionally, from lowest to highest notes, it's EADGBe, just like a guitar.

Answer 6

A six string banjo has the exact same strings as a guitar: E,A,D,G,B,E. One can use a tuner or fork tuning to help with tuning and get the highest accuracy of tone.