My Personal Dulcimer Setup
Feb 25th, 2009 by Doug Berch
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Doug Berch
Musician and Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer Maker
Nifty, Doug. I could see uses for that 1/2 fret in particular.
I use it for playing some things in a minor scale. It also allows a couple of chords that used to require some heavy string bending – much more graceful now with the 1/2 fret. It’s also out of the way since it is below where one usually plays too!
I am in search of a pattern or the measurements for placement of the fret wire on a mountain dulcimer. I have plans with no mastern pattern or measurements to ensure proper fret placement. Can you tell me where to look?
Thanks much. Nice Dulcimers!
Art
Hi Art,
There is a free program that calculates fret placement – it even has a setting specifically for dulcimers. You can find it here:
http://www.dougsparling.com/software/fretcalc/index.php
Most people I know use the 17.817 calculation option.
There are also two fret patterns in “Constructing The Mountain Dulcimer” by Dean Kimball. It’s a good book with a lot of general information about dulcimer construction.
All the best,
Doug