Adding extra frets to the traditional diatonic dulcimer fret pattern is nothing new. Note to dulcimer players chords for dad tuning plays in. If you build it with the intention of playing with a 151 dad, cgc, etc. Calculate fret placement for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, and more in inches or metric. Our fret calculator also gives you compensated bridge.
Ive reorganized the tunes to the recordings they are found on. This question can be a vexing one when we are trying to establish a method for cutting the fret slots. The first step towards getting a dulcimer to play in tune is to have the frets placed properly. Abide with me dulcimer tab version 1, version 2, version 3, version 4, version 5 amazing grace dulcimer tab. A cigar box fret calculator for mac os x and windows.
I designed this page to calculate where each fret slot should be cut, measured both from the nut to. When measuring, always measure from the nut, its more precise that way. When building a guitar or bass and cutting your own fretboard slots versus buying a preslotted fretboard, its very important that the fret slots be cut accurately. You can figure out both of these by using the very first calculator above, the one that only provides the fret offset from the nut for a single fret, given the scale length and fret number. If you want fret distances in inches enter your scale length in inches. The numbers with an asterik represent the frets on a mountain dulcimer. Using this calculator you specify the scale length for the other strings, then if you specify the fret number as, say, 2 it will return the offset from the. Dulcimer kit instructions downloadable instructions for dulcimer kits. Unless otherwise specified, all plans are sold as electronic downloads. There are many discussions about temperament, scale length, etc. Building a ji fretted mountain dulcimer has a serious complication that jumps out at you from the fret spacings. Chords for dgd tuning plays in the key of g 47 notes on the fretboard. Our handy reference guide has detailed charts that show fret.
These templates also indicate the frets to skip to create diatonic dulcimerstyle scale, so they can be used on dulcimers, canjos and strumsticks and other similar instruments. I glued in the dots, sanded everything down and pressed the frets in. Just wondering if this is a coveted feature on a new dulcimer. Lasercut fret scale marking templates provide both.
Beginning dulcimer makers are often perplexed about knowing where to place the frets. Fret calculator a simple program for calculatiing and. Having supplied ourselves with wood, the new dulcimer begins with carving the scroll peghead and tailpiece. The next shows the most traditional of dulcimer fret patterns, not all that common today. Charles dulcimer is a beautiful hammer dulcimer made of solid wood with 9 courses of strings on the treble bridge and 8 courses of strings on the bass bridge, recorded by luis filip costa. Mandolinukeleledulcimer fret wire jescar narrowlow. Please select your instrument class, and enter the scale length. Please not that the type of instrument has no baring on the fret spacing. Electronic version full sized, very detailed plans of the hourglass mountain dulcimer. We have lots of romantic ideas for a heavenly maui wedding. Gitty has a nice range of fretting tools and supplies to help you get going on your fretting jobs. This package contains four onefoot pieces, for a total of four feet of fret wire.
Calculating fret positions liutaio mottola lutherie. These two frets are so common that one could say they have become standard issue on most dulcimers. I continue to hear about 1 and 12 frets on dulcimers. Our fret wire is a perfect size for use in building appalachian dulcimers. Most common are the 6 12 fret and the corresponding 12 fret an octave higher. I just tried it and was able to download a pdf of 25. The fret calculator will lay out fret spacing to match. Paul haslem compositions for the hammered dulcimer free for you to download, print off and learn. The appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, although contemporary versions of the instrument can have as many as.
Electric ukulele land look up ahead, i see the ukulele land, soon youll understand. Yafcalc calculates the distance to that extra 6 12 fret, but it is not normally installed on an instrument. For a new calculation hit the reload button of your browser. Please do not sell or mass distribute these tabs either in print or over the internet. Calculate fret placement for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, and more in inches. Because mountain dulcimers are not chromatic they dont have every fret. The online dulcimer shop 401 lotis way louisville, ky, 40207 usa. The following calculator will calculate fret offsets from the nut for all frets of an instrument, given the. Cigar box fret placement software sandy knoll software, llc. Concert size ukulele body template in pdf format ukulele. Bear meadow fret calculator mountain dulcimer makers. Mandolin accessories free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Fret specs 4 is a fret spacing calculator for the stringed instrument craftsman and luthier guitar makers will find this program very handy for custom scale length guitars. The appalachian, or mountain dulcimer takes its name from its sweet dulce sound.
Fret position reference guide for mountain dulcimer, hurdy. Each month, a new set of two or more high quality dulcimer tabs will be available on this page. Fret position reference guide for mountain dulcimer, hurdy gurdy. 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. A dulcimer tabs dulcimer sheet music dulcimer music dulcimer songs. A program to calculate fret placement and string size for cigar box instruments. This 208page book is the ultimate reference for any builder of appalachian dulcimers. Although you cut hearts in the soundboard, the real heart of the instrument is the fretboard. Wfret is a downloadable application for windows computers. Download fretcalc determine the distance between nut and frets, as well as fret to fret by writing down the length and number of frets, while choosing the desired calculus method. If you prefer a more standard fret spacing, just measure another dulcimer and copy its string length. Version 1, version 2, version 3, version 4, version 5, version 6 angels from the realms of glory dulcimer tab.
My older dulcimers do not have this feature, though both have the 6. Here is a an online fret calculator with several unique features. The stewmac fret calculator can give you fret measurements for many different instruments. Making appalachian dulcimers mountain dulcimer makers. Dulcimer fret wire is sold in pieces that are twelve inches long.
The author of the book is the owner of folkcraft instruments, one of the oldest dulcimerbuilding companies in the world. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Owning a number of dulcimers, i have only one, a june apple cellomer, that came with the 1 12 fret, and i really like it. It also doesnt require any power tools to build, which makes it a perfect project for anyone who is both bored and experiencing a power outage of indefinite. Figuring out where the frets go is one of the trickiest things about building a lap dulcimer. A nice ringing clear soundthis 16 fret dulcimer plays accurately to the 12th fret. Enter the scale length in millimeters if you need millimeters. Measure fret spacingprintable fret template handmade. A new free fretting calculator has just been added to the knowledgebase here at.
The peghead is carved from a single block of walnut, and is one of the main structural elements of the instrument, and its carving is a major. This handmade dulcimer is a tribute to mountaindwelling bluegrass musicians everywhere. You enter the scale length and how many frets and fret specs will output the measurements for you in notepad. Georgia luthier supply hourglass mountain dulcimer plan. Buy mandolinukeleledulcimer fret wire jescar narrowlow gold four feet. Since i am likely going to purchase a mcspadden, is this an available feature. Fret spacing calculator for luthiers peaceful daves stuff. I hope you find them entertaining, instructive, and provocative. It doesnt print a template but will give distances in inches or mm, its more precise to choose mm. You can simply put the bridge where you want it and then set the fret spacing accordingly using the calculator. Note to dulcimer players the chords in the following sections will work for mountain dulcimers but they will be reversed.
The wide spacings five per octave represent the five. Microsoft musical instrument, free microsoft musical instrument software downloads, page 2. I do some minor repair and restoration to older vintage dulcimers i find around, but mostly fixing small cracks, broken head stocks etc. Recorder musical instrument, free recorder musical instrument software downloads, page 2. It will take roughly three feet of fret wire to fully fret a diatonic mountain dulcimer. As soon as you complete your plan purchase with us, you will automatically be given a download link to access your plans. Fretboard project guides the woodwrights shop with. The bear meadow fret spacing calculator bear meadow dulcimers. So i was curious on opinion of how hard or can a 1 12 fret be added to one or two of my others. Rosamond campbell shelly stevens six string snowball by blue microphone snowball by blue microphones soutwind string gauge calculator strings tabs tom hicks tortex pick traditional dulcimer traditional dulcimer playing. Dulcimer fret wire 12 pieces, straightened folkcraft. However, certain instrument have quite idiosyncratic designs. In other words you would need to use a mirror image of these chords on the mountain dulcimers.