In this new addition to Mel Bay's popular School Of series, MacNeil explains how to sing and accompany on the dulcimer. The book explains different chord types and how to apply them to a variety of songs. Learning backup will also help you hear chord changes and melodic movement, which will help you contribute to the song's narrative. The book includes accompanying audio

Madeline MacNeil's performances are characterized by her effortless vocals and impeccable mountain and hammered dulcimer playing. In this book she reveals some of the secrets of her success with the mountain dulcimer. Early on, she reminds the reader that the dulcimer is not a toy or a stringed kazoo but a serious, expressive musical instrument capable of stretching as far as the imagination. She endorses both playing by ear and learning to read standard notation. In easily-understood language she manages to explore some very complex, even esoteric concepts, making this a particularly valuable book for the beginning instrumentalists. You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer is simply a great fundamental book. Twelve intensive lessons in 95 pages with arrangements in both DAA and DAD tuning. Standard notation and tablature. Illustrated with photographs and drawings. Includes access to online audio and video.

Dulcimer experiences, news, memories, snapshots, playing styles, tuning and tablature methods, favourite songs, opinions, advice and information on the Appalachian dulcimer.

This instruction manual and song collection is a well-crafted collection of basic dulcimer technique and traditional songs that might have been popular in CrippleCreek, Colorado in the 19th Century-- plus a few modern day tunes by its currentinhabitants. The techniques and songs have been transcribed from the performances of Bud and Donna Ford who have been collecting songs for theirfavorite instrument for some time. Bud and Donna explain the basics of playing the dulcimer, including instructions on strumming, tunings, and picking. Solos are offered in all of the various modes (Ionian, Dorian, Locrian, etc.) in standard notation only with lyrics and chord symbols. The end result is an attractive yetpragmatic book that offers a solid grounding in the art of dulcimer playing. Therecording features verbal instruction and performances of most of the tunes in the book on solo dulcimer, making learning easy and fun. The recording used tunings which are lower than those in the book, but this will not affect players reading the tablature. Includes access to online audio

The Galax Dulcimer book is a comprehensive, informative book dedicated to the unique playing and construction style of the Galax Dulcimer. Included are songs with playing instructions and Phyllis' own adapted notation showing the authentic playing style of the Galax Dulcimer. There is a section about the history and construction as well as some of the artists who defined this style. This book is a valuable resource for historians, musicians and dulcimer fans of all ability levels and interests.Also included is an instructional Audio CD of all the tunes in the book. Each tune is played slowly and then up tempo.

This beginner's method presents clear, concise instruction for learning to play the traditional three-stringed mountain dulcimer. Thirty-eight songs are taught with notation and fret numbers for each note. Chord symbols are also included for playing with guitar, banjo, or another chording instrument. Melody playing with drones and basic chord playing are both taught. Lyrics are included with the songs for added fun. From the time this text was first published, it has been a steady best seller.

Dulcimer a La Mode takes the mystery of out modal tuning and playing for the mountain dulcimer player by presenting four common tunings (DAA, DAG, DAD, and DAC) with instructions for tuning, finding the scales and chords, and learning traditional tunes in each of the four modes. This book will encourage players to retune their instrument and learn more of its versatility. Each tune is presented as a melody with a drone in the mode indicated with strumming and rhythm guides. for most tunes, an optional arrangement or accompaniment is also provided using more complex chords and reflecting more traditional Western harmony. As a further learning tool, the accompanying CD allows the listener to play along with the song as presented in the book.

The mountain dulcimer has a long and interesting history in the southern Appalachian mountains, and it's an instrument that so many of us enjoy playing. The book begins with the basics of tuning, strumming and finding notes on the dulcimer. The songs and tunes include favorites of dulcimer players, such as Boil That Cabbage Down, Old Joe Clark, Waterbound, Amazing Grace, Aura Lee and Are You Sleeping. The tracks in the accompanying online audio include count-ins and are played at easy-to-follow moderate tempos. Includes access to online audio.