All in all, these aren't inexpensive fret boards, but they're worth every penny. It is certainly not used in the majority of popular songs, but it is used in a cool and important minority. Many dulcimer players like having small marks inlaid at certain points along the fretboard to help guide 7 There are five different options for scale length. This works for many of them and it is certainly easier. For that reason, you can see how scale length is a little more complicated than a single measurement.” (You can unsubscribe anytime). Marker dots are there to indicate a change in octave. Chromatic Dulcimer. Note that the root is expressed by exponentiation in the formula above – the twelfth root of 2 is the same as 2 raised to the 1/12 th power.. Bear Meadow Custom Fret Template. Blank-off clips for use with Diatonic Scales. This Fret Scale and Fingerboard Length Calculator can be used to calculate fret scale and fingerboard length. If you were building for an experienced musician used to guitars, you probably wouldn’t want to give them one with diatonic fretting. And second is 22th or 23th ? We’d need a little more specifics as to which article you mean Joanne. There does appear to be an error in the spreadsheet that we are working to fix. by Steve Eulberg With mountain dulcimer, every tuning has benefits to recommend it. Using a diatonic fretting style can make it a lot easier to play basic songs, since there are less frets (and therefore notes) to choose from. I was wondering why “Ti” was sounding so flat…. If you have further questions, please feel free to reach us at [email protected]. The Appalachian dulcimer (many variant names; see below) is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, originally played in the Appalachian region of the United States. Each song is played slowly for students to learn by ear in addition to reading notation. Determine fret spacings and layout fretboards accurately. The dulcimer's teardrop shape and lightweight build allows for an easy grip on the lap. We use a tiny, tiny router bit (.5 millimeters in diameter) to cut the fret slots, then use a press (not a hammer!) Required fields are marked *. Thanks again. Most folks are familiar, at least by sight, with the six-string guitar – whether an acoustic guitar like a Martin or an electric guitar like a Fender Stratocaster™. Having this “blue note” in the scale is necessary to play a number of popular songs. When I started playing in the 1970’s they were still offered as an option. I recently purchased a 4 string kit dulcimer. After number 6 the spacing is unlike any I’ve seen online. I cannot remember what the scale is of the side-by-side chromatic/diatonic diagrams. Vaulted fretboard for increased body resonnance; available in 4 or 5 strings; So while the 4 string model offers the regular “string layout”: 1 bass drone string, one mid string and a doubled melody/treble string… The 5 strings model also offers a doubled mid string for increased volume. 4. The Dulcimer Chord Bible, with its 4,764 chords offers a complete solution for both beginner and experienced professional musicians alike. #4916 For Fender 25.5" includes fretboard cut-off and nut positions. On a standard guitar they are placed on frets 3-5-7-9-12-15-17-19-21-24. By using this tool, you can determine the length fingerboard you should purchase. “Compensation The lowest note is the A two octaves and a bit below middle C. It is laid out in a 19/18/9/9 configuration, meaning that there are 19 courses of strings on the treble bridge, 18 courses on the bass bridge, and a 9-course super bass bridge on the left and right, which provide the lower octave as well as some of the chromatic notes. And if the fret markers involve a design that connects several frets in a row, they won't work on the diatonic fretboard of the dulcimer. Also, since slanting the bridge changes the scale length, which one should be used to calculate fret placement? Songwriting resources: SUMMERSONG - summer camp for songsmiths! Is it the end of the can that creates the bridge? Note to Dulcimer Players - The chords in the following sections will work for. Another choice is … Here are some sketches of different fret patterns. Someone wrote to me recently to ask why we include lessons on the DulcimerCrossing website in the DAA tuning. Hello C.B. To put it most simply, diatonic fretting makes an instrument easier to play, but less versatile overall. The dulcimer belongs to a family of instruments characterized as fretted zithers. Yes, I would like to receive emails from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply. Dec 6, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Daniel Day. I am building my first dulcimer with diatonic scale with 17 frets. Once I started it at the 3rd fret, it was right on. Basically, in diatonic fretting the sharps and flats are left out, leaving only natural or “whole” notes. The blue notes are located at the 11th and 23rd frets in this case. In other words - you would need to use a mirror image of these chords on the Mountain Dulcimers. The dulcimer's teardrop shape and lightweight build allows for an easy grip on the lap. The downside is that you are pretty much playing in one or two keys, and if the song you are playing happens to include a sharp or flat note that is not in the basic scale, you just won’t find it on your fretboard. Holes in it … The VSL roughly determines the overall length of the fretboard, which then in turn determines the overall length of the body. It’s hard to get a good idea about what you’re describing without seeing it. If instead you start at the THIRD fret, and go up the scale, playing the blue note but skipping the one after it), that is a different key. When I began making dulcimers I was taught to divide the string length by 17.81715385 and the resulting number would be the distance from the nut to the first fret. Discover (and save!) Think of the “DO RE MI” scale that kids learn. There are various other fretting layouts that have been used throughout the history of stringed instruments, but the most common variation to the chromatic style discussed above, is based on what is called the diatonic scale. The Appalachian dulcimer has many variant names. That is the diatonic scale, just the key notes of the scale with no sharp or flats in there to bung things up. The next shows the most traditional of dulcimer fret patterns, not all that common today. Dulcimer Fretboard Chart Free PDF eBooks. Look at your CBG neck from the side. "Before working on any vintage guitar, I always check fret accuracy with these rules. We’re happy to help. The top one is your familiar chromatic pattern found on all guitars & banjos etc. Tools for Fretting - order today with StewMAX FREE Shipping! The fretboard is crucial to the success of the instrument. There are four input modes for overhang. 2. The logic of a dulcimer fretboard is quite different from other stringed instruments. Note to Dulcimer Players - The chords in the following sections will work for Mountain Dulcimers but they will be reversed. In effect, the fretboard can be … This would seem to interfere with the formula used to come up with the fret spacing. That’s a pretty good place to get started. Where should fret markers be placed? Why is the bridge of a strumstick slanted. The ends of the legs of this inverted "U" are glued to the top, and the top is then carved out to open the fretboard to the interior cavity of the dulcimer body. So it is natural that when people think of frets, or a fretboard, they think of a guitar fretboard – an evenly distributed collection of frets that get closer together the further you go up the neck towards the guitar body. There are various other fretting layouts that have been used throughout the history of stringed instruments, but the most common variation to the chromatic style discussed above, is based on what is called the diatonic scale. Next, fret the lowest (thickest-gauge) string at the 12th fret. We are not going to get into the theory behind what that means here, but just take away this tidbit: a chromatic scale, like on a standard guitar, allows you to play every note you could possibly need for a song. I think the ones I got were made for a ukulele, so they're pretty small. Terrific question, Norman. Many builders make the mistake of using the fretboard like a building's girder, or the keel of a ship, demanding rigidity. Get used to playing the instrument with the diatonic fretting. On a standard guitar, like the Fender Strat mentioned above, or the cigar box guitar in the photo below, it is said to be fretted on a chromatic scale. The Appalachian dulcimer is now a core instrument in the American old-time music tradition, but styles performed by modern dulcimer enthusiasts run the gamut from traditional folk music through popular and experimental forms. The D670 has 4½ octaves of range. Deciding whether to fret your cigar box guitar, Video: Creating your First Cigar Box Guitar Fretboard, Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain – Willie Nelson, Video: How To Install Fret Markers on your Cigar Box Guitar Fretboard, Zero Frets – How and Why to Use Them on Cigar Box Guitars, https://www.cbgitty.com/news/what-is-scale-length-why-does-it-matter/, VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 1 – Introduction, VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 2 – Anatomy of a Canjo, VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 3 – How to Play, Tune & Read Tablature, VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 4 – Advanced Playing Techniques, 2015 Huntsville Cigar Box Guitar Festival, 2016 New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival, The Gang Performs The Eagles ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ [VIDEO], [VIDEO] Let It Be performed on Gitty Gang Show #44, One Neck For Multiple DIY Instruments [VIDEO], Gitty Gang Show #124 | Homemade Music Is Amazing [VIDEO], [VIDEO] Bob Seger’s Against The Wind Played On Gitty Gang Show #123, Green Grow The Rashes, O Played On The Gitty Gang Show [VIDEO], [VIDEO] The Gang Performs Red River Valley. In other words ... Strumbly-Chords.pdf. These ride in relieved pockets (so their surfaces are flush with the sides and edge of the template). So if your instrument had one string and that string was tuned to the key of “C”, starting at the third fret would be the key of “F”. The nut and bridge slots are cut by the router, too, which gives them the correct spacing relative to the frets. 35th is a bit far This holds especially true for heavier-gauge strings. The fretboard overhang is the distance from the center of outer strings to edge of nut or bridge. (OPTIONAL) If you choose to inlay some pearl marking dots in the FRETBOARD, this is the best time to do it. Sorry for the confusion! You know, all those "unnecessary" notes. DAA) Tuning… The two most important dimensions on a mountain dulcimer are the fretboard scale length (also known as the VSL: Vibrating String Length), and the overall volume in cubic inches. No sharp or unusual tools are needed. I print it, tape the 2 pages together, trim it to size and use a light coat of spray mount to put it right on the fretboard. So, your dulcimer string when tuned to D is in fact correctly fretted and is playing: D(open string), E, F#, G, A, B, C, C#, and D. Site Owner Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach. or what is the bridge on it? The VSL roughly determines the overall length of the fretboard, which then in turn determines the overall length of the body. The body extends the length of the fingerboard, and its fretting is generally diatonic. A contemporary mountain dulcimer fretboard. Chords for DAA Tuning Plays in the KEY of D 48 Notes on the Fretboard. If you write songs or dream of writing songs, beat a path to this event. and the rest of the crew at the Canjo and Diddley Bow shop: How about releasing a bass canjo and or diddley bow? Chords for DGD Tuning Plays in the KEY of G 47 4. Oh my GOSH! It seems to me that making the dulcimer chromatic instead of diatonic, is making it into a three(or four) string guitar. The bridge is slanted to accommodate the varying gauges of strings. That is because some of the frets have been left out – the frets that would have allowed the sharp and flat notes to be played. Hello, Lori. When pressed to the fretboard, the string stretches. Your site is really great ! try { 3. notes on the fretboard. Note to Dulcimer Players - The chords in the following sections will work for Mountain Dulcimers but they will be reversed. Dec 6, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Daniel Day. As a preview from the article… These sort of guitars are often called “Strummers” or the like, because they are based on the (trademarked) “Strumstick” invented by Bob McNally back in the early 80’s. Now place the body of the dulcimer on the SOUNDBOARD. This fretboard is chromatic up to the 7th fret/first octave and diatonic the rest of the way. The mountain dulcimer is a beautiful, sweet-sounding stringed instrument that developed in the Appalachian mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries. But since we play together (I play guitar) we thought the addition of the 1/2 fret would expand the spectrum of cords available to her and would minimize the necessity of so many re-tunings. We send out a weekly newsletter, full of how-to info, product features and more. The scale of the instrument in the first photo is about 21″. Another option open to dulcimer customization is fretboard layout. Hi, extremely useful article. But first ‘**’ is on 11th position. Mountain Dulcimers but they will be reversed. In other words, it is just like a guitar fretboard with the "in between" notes taken away. Check out the frets on the American Canjo Company canjo above. In this Instructable, I will guide you through my challenges and roadblocks I face… No idea when your dulcimer was made. by Steve Eulberg With mountain dulcimer, every tuning has benefits to recommend it. On the right is the glue pot that keeps hide glue warm and happy. Such a fretboard will make for a very quiet dulcimer. Here are the 4 reasons that I wrote back in response: 1) Do-sol-sol or 1-5-5- (e.g. below) Diddley Bow a cool one string instrument! Creating a homemade dulcimer will acquaint you with some of the mechanics of building a real one, and would give you the chance to learn to play a dulcimer without a large investment of time and energy. In contrast to "traditional" mountain dulcimers, which have diatonic fretboards, it's also possible to build chromatic dulcimers.I often jokingly call mine Martian Dulcimers, as the chromatic fretboard is sometimes seen as an space invader in the mountain dulcimer world — and also because I first used them on the Twang Darkly album Martian Archaeology. Posted on July 21, 2015. A dulcimer that is fretted to play using the equal tempered scale will play in tune with most other (Western) instruments. Diatonic fretting can be used with pretty much any scale length. to insert the American-made fret wire. Many dulcimer makers glue the fretted fretboard to the top before gluing the top to the sides. The 4-string layout (not 6 as advertised) lets you strum effortlessly as you enjoy the sweet, warm sound. This article about scale length will help to answer your question with more depth: https://www.cbgitty.com/news/what-is-scale-length-why-does-it-matter/ It will not be possible to get them all, as one of the frets is omitted between Chromatic and Diatonic. On the downside, having that blue note on there does give you one more potential wrong note to hit, and the fact that it is not in the major “do re mi” scale of the instrument means that if you do hit it by accident, it will sound more discordant than the other notes on the instrument. I designed this page to calculate where each fret slot should be cut, measured both from the nut to fret, and from the fret to bridge. We start from scratch, calculating our own scale using the fret "factor" and a scale length which would most closely match this average. The result is a fretboard that allows you to play DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-LA-TI-DO as you move up the neck one fret at a time. I have the fret slots cut. Drop us a line at [email protected]. This highly comprehensive guide provides the musician with no fewer than 68 different types of chord in all twelve … The results are given in both english and metric values. Thanks so much for the enlightenment! DIY Stick Dulcimer: So, I've always wanted to make a stick dulcimer. The total length of ours are usually 28 inches though that can vary depending on the style. I have thought of writing a post about how I install frets and your letter has inspired me to do so. How to Build and Play Cigar Box Guitars and other Homemade Instruments. Blank-off clips for use with Diatonic Scales. The two most important dimensions on a mountain dulcimer are the fretboard scale length (also known as the VSL: Vibrating String Length), and the overall volume in cubic inches. Holes in it somewhere for the sound to come out. OK now about the dashed lines on frets #10 and #22. Literally. Chords for DGD Tuning Plays in the KEY of G 47 Notes on the Fretboard. Contact David. To be technical, it is the flatted seventh note of the scale, and it lets you do two things: So just by adding two extra frets, at the 10th and 22nd positions, you can effectively double the versatility of an instrument. The author of the book is the owner of Folkcraft Instruments, one of the oldest dulcimer-building companies in the world. Here are a few videos of Ben “Gitty” Baker explaining and playing canjos which, in this case, use diatonic fretting. Regular price $5.95 Folkcraft® Mountain Dulcimer Hardware Kit, Design Your Own. It’s all in there, and if you aren’t sure of what you are doing it is pretty easy to hit a sharp or a flat when you don’t mean to, causing potentially jarring discordance. Adding that fret gives you what is often called the “blue note” of the dulcimer scale. A zither is an instrument where the fretboard runs along the entire length of the instrument. #4915 Martin Dreadnought scale is commonly referred to as 25.4" but is actually 25.34". The dashed line frets are explained further down in the article…. The scale of the chromatically fretted cigar box guitar is 25″. This is SO helpful!! The scale length of the canjo shown in the article photo is fretted to a 24.5 inch scale. The mountain dulcimer remains a popular instrument in folk and dance music of the mountains. And the distance of that end to the nut is your scale? Don't miss out - sign up for the Gitty newsletter today! The frets marked with a double X (XX) are optional - if included, this fret will give you the "6.5" dulcimer fret, sometimes also known as the "blue note". Thanks for posting the new song tabs for CBG’s. Posted on July 21, 2015. Her instrument already had the 1 1/2, 6 1/2 and the 13 1/2 frets when she got it. If you feel you want to take your playing a little further, then build another one (or add the extra frets to your existing one, and go from there. 3. Hi. your own Pins on Pinterest Tuning & Specifications Range. Just a quick question, the dotted line at 5 1/2 is the “mythical” extra 6 1/2 fret people have been adding to dulcimers for some time now? The fretboard is a dynamic element of the design. (I'm only sorry I didn't discover it in 1999! string height, discussed later in this article) well-suited for fretted CBG play. This 208-page book is the ultimate reference for any builder of Appalachian dulcimers. The picture here is of a bass version of the Colombian instrument called the bandola. Dulcimer Fret patterns . CARE AND USAGE: There may be minor clouding or cutting stains on the surface of the plastic, left over from the laser cutting process, which can … Also for 25" scales like Paul Reed Smith ®, Dobro ®, Danelectro ®, and Benedetto. I score the fret lines with a razor and then use my Harbor Freight pull saw to cut the fret slots. Thoughts? var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? If you’d like, send us the same question along with a photo to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help. This gives our mountain dulcimer fretboards flawless intonation, and makes every chord on your instrument sound "right". For each model of fretboard, fret scale template or fret scale rule we produce, we first measure a large number of instruments from the manufacturer, and determine the average scale length they were using over the last 40 or 50 years. To compensate for string-stretching, bridges are often set at an angle (as opposed to perpendicular to the strings) with a little more length added to the heavier than the lighter strings. I just finished building a dulcimer (helping my daughter with her Appalachian Music Class). VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 1 – Introduction : "http://www. The only book of its kind, Bing Futch’s Method For Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer is the definitive source of instructional materials for this unique part of American culture. Thank you for asking! Such a fretboard will make for a very quiet dulcimer. VIDEO: The Essential Canjo – Part 4 – Advanced Playing Techniques For fretboards with multiple scale lengths this is calculated as delta x distance, distance measured along a line drawn perpendicular to the neck's midline. Something with a 27-30 inch scale? var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6418503-1"); So here it is in a nutshell: to create a diatonic (dulcimer) fretboard, just start with a chromatic fretting template and leave out these frets: 1, 3, 6, 8, (10), 13, 15, 18, 20, (22). I wanted to learn to play an instrument but I think the frets have not been placed in the usual manner. "—Dan Erlewine. #4914 and #4917 We offer templates for Gibson's 25.3" long scale, plus three shorter Gibson scales. What is the length of the dulcimer fretboard in Glen’s article? pageTracker._trackPageview(); My wife had the 1/2 fret added to her fretboard, as per your suggestion. Four strings, three of the same diameter and one bass string. When building a guitar or bass and cutting your own fretboard slots (versus buying a pre-slotted fretboard,) it's very important that the fret slots be cut accurately. Hammered Dulcimer is written so that the carefully selected tunes are the true teacher. Many builders make the mistake of using the fretboard like a building's girder, or the keel of a ship, demanding rigidity. I made a template for use with a mitre block, to accurately cut the fret slots to a precision of better than 0.05mm. The How-To Repository for the Cigar Box Guitar Movement! Note to Dulcimer Players - The chords in the following sections will work for. Four strings, three of the same diameter and one bass string. It’s a blasted blue note!! I meant the article above (diatonic Dulcimer-style ) fretting. I designed this page to calculate where each fret slot should be cut, measured both from the … What I meant is the fret markers which I intend to do with mother of pearl dots. document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); In contrast to "traditional" mountain dulcimers, which have diatonic fretboards, it's also possible to build chromatic dulcimers.I often jokingly call mine Martian Dulcimers, as the chromatic fretboard is sometimes seen as an space invader in the mountain dulcimer world — and also because I first used them on the Twang Darkly album Martian Archaeology. I’m working on a new CBG, but I’m a bit puzzled by the fret system. The layout is uncomplicated and follows a logical musical progression from standard major chords up to the more complex ninths chords. Video: Creating your First Cigar Box Guitar Fretboard; Diatonic (Dulcimer-Style) Fretting – What it is, How and Why to Use It; Deciding whether to fret your cigar box guitar; 6 thoughts on “Fret Spacing Calculator Tool for Cigar Box Guitars & More” Luis says: August 6, 2020 at 5:05 pm. Place the FRETBOARD on the SOUNDBOARD and draw the outline of it lightly on the surface of the soundboard. Absolutely, especially on 3-stringers. 8. Hopefully this has given you a good idea of what diatonic/dulcimer fretting is, and why you might use it. Each dulcimer fret position is identified three ways: 1) inches to previous fret; 2) inches to nut; 3) inches to bridge. Every tuning also has limitations. This style of fretting is sometimes called “dulcimer fretting” because it is most frequently seen on dulcimer-style instruments.Basically, in diatonic notes on the fretboard. The Dulcimer Chord Bible, with its 4,764 chords offers a complete solution for both beginner and experienced professional musicians alike.The layout is uncomplicated and follows a logical musical progression from standard major chords up to the more complex ninths chords. It seemed like making one is impossible with the little tools I have, let alone something that looks and sounds good. Dulcimer Fretboard Chart Free PDF eBooks. Below each diagram is a link to a printable PDF file. In general, the longer the VSL, the better the tone quality, but the harder it is to reach some of the chords. Our Fret Calculator also gives you compensated bridge placement -- only at stewmac.com! There are several distinct qualities I require of the fretboard for a Bear Meadow Dulcimer: The fretboard is a dynamic element of the design.