Dulcimer Playing With Extra Frets
Jan 17th, 2009 by Doug Berch
Adding extra frets to the traditional diatonic dulcimer fret pattern is nothing new. Most common are the 6 1/2 fret and the corresponding 13 1/2 fret an octave higher. These two frets are so common that one could say they have become standard issue on most dulcimers. These two frets are standard on the dulcimers I make unless someone requests otherwise.
I believe that it was Howie Mitchell who first added the 6 1/2 fret while teaching himself to play the dulcimer. Thanks to this innovation one can get a C sharp on the top and bottom string when tuned D-A-D. This also allows playing a G sharp on the middle string.
More recently many players are using a 1 1/2 (one and one-half) fret. In D-A-D a 1 1/2 fret will provide F natural on the top and bottom strings and C natural on the middle string.
Many years ago, before I used a 1 1/2 fret or even a 6 1/2 fret I added what I call a 1/2 fret to some of my dulcimers. I call this fret a 1/2 fret because it is placed between the nut and the first fret.
In D-A-D this adds both D Sharp and A Sharp to the fingerboard.
I found it very easy to adjust to having the 1/2 fret on the fingerboard because it was below all the other frets.
The combination of the 1/2 fret and 1 1/2 fret adds a lot of musical possibility to the lower position on the dulcimer fingerboard.
Here is the standard D Major Scale played in D-A-D:
With the addition of the 1/2 and 1 1/2 frets a chromatic scale can be played:
By using the 1 1/2 fret it is easy to play a G Major scale or a D Mixolydian mode in the lower positions while tuned D-A-D:
And here are a few chordal possibilities:
In the first measure are two inversions of a B Major chord. The second measure shows two inversions of a G minor chord and the third measure shows two inversions of a C Major chord.
These are just some of the possibilities. I often play B flat, E flat and other chords while tuned D-A-D using the 1/2 and 1 1/2 frets.
I offer the 1/2 and 1 1/2 frets and any other additional frets as options on my dulcimers.
I make chromatic dulcimers, it gives the instrument more versitility with having the sharps and flats , tradition is fine for those who want that but i think the evolution to chromatic is a plus there is so much more to be gained from it.
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Hi Russell,
A lot of people are playing chromatic dulcimers these days for the reasons you mention. I personally have not missed most of the chromatic options though I like having a few extra frets. I’ll have to play one for a while and decided if I can’t live without all the additional notes! being able to make what you want is one of the advantages of being a luthier!
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I have a Warren May dulcimer that I absolutely love, but I am limited when I play it at church. Other musicians very much like to sing/play music in the keys they are written. I’m preparing now for two solos in DAD, but would like to join in on the Christmas hymns that are in F. I can’t figure out how to make that work w/ out retuning.
Where can I get a chromatic dulcimer as a back-up?
[Reply]
Hi Laura,
One option is to have another standard dulcimer tuned differently.
I do make chromatic dulcimers and if you are interested please inquire.
All the best,
Doug
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Isn’t it a 13+ not a 12+ extra fret?
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You are right! Thanks for catching the typo. I’ve fixed it!
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My wife had the 1/2 fret added to her fretboard, as per your suggestion.
Her instrument already had the 1 1/2, 6 1/2 and the 13 1/2 frets when she got it. 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. Which it has, however, we are now wondering about a source book or chart for chording on a chromatic dulcimer. Do you have suggestions? Thanks much for you helpful and educational website.
Sincerely, Joel
[Reply]
Thanks for the kind note. Here are two friends that teach and play chromatic dulcimer. They might have some information to offer:
http://stephenseifert.com/
http://www.darkstudios.com/
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Doug
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