Modes on the Dulcimer

Common Modes.Major: Mixolydian Ionian

So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re MiMinor:

Aeolian

General Approach to tuning the dulcimer

Dorian

Prepared by David Cross © Backyard Music 2011 BackyardMusic.com

General Approach to tuning the dulcimer1 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 note3 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, andb) have the relationship you want between the strings. b) have the relationship you want between the strings.

Conventional Tunings, desired relationships:Ionian melody string matches bass string played at fourth spacescale starts open bass string is octave below note on melody string found on 3rd spaceat 3rd space middle string a fifth above the bass stringDorian melody string matches bass string played at third spacescale starts bass string octave below note on melody string found on 4th space

iddl t i fifth b th b t iat 4th space middle string a fifth above the bass stringAeolian melody string matches bass string played at the 6th spacescale starts bass string octave below note on melody string found on 1st spaceat 1st space middle string a fifth above the bass stringMixolydian melody string matches bass string played at the 7th spacescale starts on bass string octave below open melody stringopen string middle string a fifth above the bass string

Some D tunings G major

Ionian Dorian Mixolydian Reverse Ionian

lower melody string raise melody string raise melogy string lower middle stringone whole step a minor third to octave above bass one whole step

D,E,F? D, E,F? C,D,E,F? G,A

Aeolian

C,D,E,F?

Dorian Aeolian MixolydianHey Ho Nobody Home Cock Robin Old Joe ClarkDrunken Sailor Shady Grove Going Home on a CloudScarboro Fair O Come Emmanual Going to BostonTwo brothers

Prepared by David Cross © Backyard Music 2011 BackyardMusic.com

Modes on the Dulcimer

Some Useful Chord Patterns

Mixolydian Mode (DAD tuning)I Chord=D

Prepared by David Cross © Backyard Music 2011 BackyardMusic.com

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

Ionian Mode (DAA tuning)I Chord=DI Chord=D

IV Chord= G II Minor = E minor IV Chord= G

= alternative

V Chord= A VI Minor = B minor

Prepared by David Cross © Backyard Music 2011 BackyardMusic.com