Back then you may have heard it called a whamadiddle or lumberjacks piano. Youve built your very own hammered dulcimer! The East Tirol hackbrett, or Osttiroler hackbrett, is also a diatonic tuning but is smaller than the Styrian. Each master has his own way of choosing the right spruce for their tsymbaly. Sustain is influenced more by material choices. Once the pin blocks are cut to the desired length, make cuts at the end of each pin block to create notches needed to accommodate the side rails. The quality of sound and the amount of sustain you desire in a hammered dulcimer is influence by the range, size and material choices. for sweet sound or lovely sound) or tympanon. Questions? 9/8 Fledgling Hammered Dulcimer (One String Per Course), 9/8 Fledgling Hammered Dulcimer (Two Strings Per Course), Handcrafting Hammered Dulcimers since 1992. If youre familiar with basic woodworking techniques and have access to the right tools, then you should be able to build a simple hammered dulcimer as a weekend project. The Salzburg hackbrett, or Salzburger hackbrett, has chromatic tuning and 128 strings. Size: 1/2. Since no dampers are used, a free hand will dampen notes instead. Wooden 22 String Harp Made In Pakistan-A90108 . The East Anglian dulcimer, a descendant of the Italian salterio, is simply called dulcimer. The bass bridge holds up bass strings, which are played to the left of the bridge. The notes extend from lower yakah (G) up to jawab jawab husayni (a) and is fully chromatic. There's no "right" or "better" dulcimer sound, so just start exploring YouTube videos and notice what your gut tells you! The Belarusian tsymbaly or cymbaly varies from the concert cimbalom in both timbre and size. Where graphite remains is where you need to shave off excess material so that both edges are flush with each other. Dusty Strings has been lovingly handcrafting hammered dulcimers in Seattle, WA since 1979. The lowest bass notes can be played on the right or left side of the instrument, opening up the possibilities for creative arrangements, and it can also be fitted with custom dampers for even more versatility. More information on the D570 model can be found here. The 12/11 dulcimer is a very portable hammered dulcimer from Breezy Ridge! The dulcimer comes in various sizes, identified by the number of strings that cross each of the bridges. The popularity of the khim is still on the rise. The tsymbaly is called the instrumental voice of Belarus. Master Works Ultralight Hammered Dulcimer $1,79800 SKU : HAM002 High quality Masterworks instruments are used by professionals all over the world for performance and recor. This tuning results in most, but not all, notes of the chromatic scale being available. Our article on how to choose a hammered dulcimer which reviews some of the key considerations. If youd like to learn more about the history of this amazing instrument, we recommend either Paul M. Giffords The Hammered Dulcimeror downloading this thesisThe Dulcimerby David Kettlewell. To most modern-day musicians, the hammered dulcimer is a new and unfamiliar instrument. We appreciate your continued patience if we are slower than usual to respond to your emails and phone calls. This is our new soft side case made right here in our shop! The first step in building a hammered dulcimer is selecting the right materials. Something went wrong while submitting the form. The dancers add a bounce to their steps, and a little hop or stomp addition to traditional polka dancing. A hammered dulcimer, like an autoharp, harp, or piano, requires a tuning wrench for tuning, since the dulcimer's strings are wound around tuning pins with square heads. All three dulcimers featured in this review are unique and fine quality instruments. The Whippoorwill features a mahogany top and hardwood framing with a 16/15 range of double course strings. . Good protection for your dulcimer and also economical. Hammered dulcimers vary in size, but are generally between 30-48 inches long, 12-24 inches in width, and 2-6 inches in depth. Though all three products have almost the same quantity of accessories alongside the dulcimers with a few hits and misses, however, the Master Works Hammered Dulcimer tops the price list. Many are fully chromatic, but like our chromatic dulcimers many are also based on a diatonic layout. File: .jpg by Nikolaj Potanin from Russia is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. There is quite a lot of variation in how hammered dulcimers are designed, built, and tuned, which means that, unlike guitars, there isn't a generic string set that will work on any dulcimer. Since this is a 19/18/6 hammered dulcimer, you will need a total of 43 individual bridges. We appreciate your continued patience if we are slower than usual to respond to your emails and phone calls. There has been some fine playing on 9-course dulcimers. Phoebe Hammered Dulcimer. Buy your Hammered Dulcimer today from a . Shorter hammers are used compared to the cimbalom hammers, but not still not as short as those used by the tsymbaly players of Belarus. Check out this video about the Appenzeller hackbretts past and future: A version of the German hackbrett has ended up right here in our own backyard. This transposes one equally tempered scale to another. Less volume and depth than a full sized Dulcimer.Comes with soft case, hammers, tuning wrench, extra string.Welcome to come by and play it if interested.httpseasyplayinstr We hope you have learned something new about the hammered dulcimer; either an interesting historical tidbit, or a new musical style that gives you the inspiration to pick up your hammers and play. $340.00 . The ensemble usually consists of three instruments including the tsymbaly, violin, sopilka (fipple flute), bubon (similar to a tambourine), or basolia (similar to cello). Typically (not always), the hammered dulcimer is a string instrument hit with hammers, while a psaltery is plucked. However, some variations were called concert tsymbaly and had two pedals, and were slightly smaller than the concert cimbalom from Hungary. On the practical side, you want to make sure that you can tune the dulcimer and that it will stay in tune. Considering the cost of this model, this hammered dulcimer is a very good overall value. In this article, we review some of the best hammered dulcimers currently available online. Marvelous, love the photos and videos as demonstrations, too! Student Model Hammer Dulcimers These instruments are a less expensive well-constructed alternative to my Custom Dulcimers. Both hammers are lacewood with rosewood trim inclusive of a tuning tool and drawstring bag. Given the size and weight of the instrument, it is typically placed on a stand or table. . Like the salterio of Italy, the doulcemr went through a short trend in the 17th and 18th centuries. Update your shipping location. The musician typically plays the instrument while seated. Volga Germans (Volksdeutsch or Volga Deutsch) living in western Russia in the late 1800s then migrated to the high plains of the US: Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and Southeastern Wyoming. I call this the baritone dulcimer. Schundas model was built with four detachable legs due to its large size. Portamento can also be achieved with the use of a [hu yn zh to], which is a metallic ring worn by the musician and slid along the string. When selecting wood for your dulcimer, its important to choose a hardwood that is both durable and tonally resonant. A dulcimer usually has two bridges, a bass bridge near the right and a treble bridge on the left side. The Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra is a famous orchestra group made up of Hungarian Romani (Gypsy) musicians, including six cimbalom players. If desired, carve a pattern of your choosing using a small 1 chisel. The number of strings in a course was increased from four to eight to compete with the sound of the more recent addition of violins in bands. The final step is to apply the strings and tune using a standard dulcimer tuning wrench. HD60-S 13/12 (Natural Birch Top Package w/ Celtic Knot sound holes) HD60-SB 13/12 (Black Top Package w/ Celtic Knot . The yangqin is usually played right in front of the conductor due to its soft sound. The term yangqin (or yang quin, yang chin) was once written as , which meant foreign zither. It is over nine feet long and has 200 strings! Save hammered dulcimer used to get e-mail alerts and updates on your eBay Feed. Sand to finish. Thanks for bringing attention to this very interesting instrument! For example, on an instrument with D as the lowest note, the D major scale is played starting in the lower-right corner and ascending the bass bridge: D E F G. This is the lower tetrachord of the D major scale. Hammered dulcimers all sound different, and the internet comes in very handy when you can't travel around and try a bunch of different brands in person. The instrument is played with a few bass pedals and used as a rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment for folk dance music. During World War I when Germans were not well-received, they changed their names from Deutsch to Dutch. The D570 has a deep, lush bass voice with a clear, sparkly treble and an even tone all around. Tsymbaly. uraids, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. The word hackbrett means chopping board in German, referring to the striking of hammers resembling the chopping meat on a cutting board. Spruce is a popular choice of wood for soundboards, as it is strong and produces a loud, bright tone. Clamp and let dry. They provide the dulcimer player with the ultimate in playing experience. The instrument has a clever mechanism that allows the possibility to shorten the length of all sides so they sound a semitone higher. Hammered Dulcimer STAND Plans actual size - Full scale detailed. So take some time to think about what you want your dulcimer to look like and sound like, and then choose the right materials to make your vision a reality. Note: The D25 full set contains two strings per course. The first step in building a hammered dulcimer is to cut the sides for the frame. The Nomad is the best option for someone who knows . The hammered dulcimer also spread throughout Canada with the early settlers. If youre not familiar with these tools, be sure to consult an expert before attempting to use them. In places like Alberta, you can hear tsymbaly played at weddings, dances, competitions, festivals, and in recorded music. Shipping to: 23917. Before the concert cimbalom was developed, the folk instrument had been played on a barrel or a table. [citation needed]. There are 25 courses of 5 strings. Shipping and handling rates can be found on our Shipping Costs page. In an orchestra, the yangqins role is to play chords or arpeggios to add to the harmony. In general (unless they are actually rusty), you don't need to change your plain steel strings at all. File:Hungary-0223 Cimbalom (7338659240).jpg by Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Yes, I love it a thousand times more than many a man is loved by his wife, though they reflect one another, Yes I will exchange this sound for neither wife, dish, tobacco nor jug., Although the instrument was featured in classical music such as the opera and sinfonia (, includes two parts for hackbrett in his opera. HDBP. 13/12 Hammered Dulcimer. Typically arranged chromatically with a range of just over four octaves. The strings for the right hand are made of either brass or copper, and the left-hand strings are steel. Hammered dulcimers can range from 2.5 to 4 or more octaves, and are proportional to the size of the instrument. The next step is to make space under the two frame rails to accommodate the moveable internal braces created above. These notches will support the internal lateral braces. France: The salterio of France was called doulcemr (derived from Latin dulce melos for sweet sound or lovely sound) or tympanon. The lowest note is (La2 or A2) on the left side of the bass bridge. Adding a thin layer of felt between two finished slats is recommended to create better final acoustics. The salterio of France was called doulcemr (derived from Latin. These are used for tuning of the strings (in addition to the tuning pins), but can also be used to slightly raise the strings to minimize any vibrations that are unwanted. It's an ideal size for many people - reasonably easy to carry and set up, but with a highly satisfying 3.5-octave chromatic range and 3.75-octave overall range. No zippers to break. About the author:In her childhood, Nicolette Foss could be found underneath piles of sawdust in her fathers hammered dulcimer workshop. The larger size is referred to as 15/14. When applying glue to a wood surface, we suggest smoothing out the glue with your finger to ensure a thin, even coat before joining with another wood surface. Hammered dulcimer is the type we make, and it is played by striking the strings with a pair of special mallets called hammers. However, the preferred choice of professional performers has since shifted back to the original concert cimbalom. There are tenor, soprano, or requinto varieties. 98 configuration 9 string courses on left side, 8 courses on rightRoughly 22 length by 10 height.Excellent condition.Top and Back are Birch wood.Sound is bright and light. You don't have to make a career out of it, you don't have to practice every day (although you might find you want to! The dulcimer builder featured in the video above chose to use 5 coats of TotalBoat Satin Marine Spar Varnish on all sides of the hammered dulcimer. You play by striking the strings with a pair of hammers, which are often made of wood and can have a variety of striking surfaces to produce different types of sound. Trim the edges with a double edge hand saw and sand the top. Dulcimer is also being used more and more by composers who write for film, and you can hear some examples of that in this post. Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating. Whether you're new to the hammered dulcimer or a pro-player, this instrument is a great choice with an array of options which include; a single or double strung hammered dulcimer . Master Works Hammered Dulcimer 16/15 Pioneer Package $86900 SKU : HAM095CR An excellent starter package for folks interested in beginning with the hammered dulcimer. Traditionally the yangqin has bronze strings, though older instruments actually used silk. The Backpacker is a unique sized affordable, portable and well built instrument. Many people even skip all of that and just play by ear! This does not include the cost of workshop tools. The idea is to remove enough material to make the bridges come up to a point. In addition to the above tools, you will need the following materials (in addition to the wood you selected for construction of the actual instrument): If this is your first hammered dulcimer project, we recommend watching a video on how to build a hammered dulcimer to provide background. Schunda concert instruments are fully chromatic with no duplicated notes. Hungary: The concert cimbalom was a variation created by V. Jzsef Schunda in 1874 in Budapest. Photos, prices, and detailed descriptions for each of our dulcimer models, Beginner's guide to hammered dulcimers, general dulcimer info, & specifics about how we build them, Compare sound clips, prices and features of Dusty Strings hammered dulcimers, Custom options include dampers, abalone inlay & curly maple trim, Everything you need to outfit and service your hammered dulcimer (and some other fun stuff), Hammered dulcimer care & feeding, plus answers to common technical questions, Online ordering, string charts, & how to replace your strings, view our full line of hammered dulcimers here. The evolution of the psalterium resulted in the harpsichord; that of the dulcimer produced the pianoforte.[7]. Belarus: The Belarusian tsymbaly or cymbaly varies from the concert cimbalom in both timbre and size. A hammered dulcimer is usually set up on some sort of stand or leg, with the strings facing up and the longest edge of the trapezoid facing the player. [5], In the Alps there are also chromatic dulcimers with crossed strings, which are in a whole tone distance in every row. Typically only professionals play these instruments for special occasions. Next, apply glue to the back of each internal brace, set into the notches, and press down onto the dulcimer back and let dry. An innovative feature is that the dulcimer is "damper ready," meaning that dampers can be installed when the instrument is ordered, or easily installed by the player at any time. Grassroots Hammered Dulcimers have a unique and beautiful sound. We ran into too much inconsistency in the wire's strength, and have switched to using .022" PB in its place. In order to make things easier, its a good idea to dedicate a specific area of your workshop to woodworking projects. The lower number refers to the number of string pairs passing over the bass (right) bridge. There is quite a lot of variation in how hammered dulcimers are designed, built, and tuned, which means that, unlike guitars, there isn't a generic string set that will work on any dulcimer. The instrument is referred to as "hammered" in reference to the small mallets (referred to as hammers) that players use to strike the strings. A hard wood, such as maple, is suggested as these will support the tension of the strings. There are two sets of bridges, with notes ranging over three octaves. After some practice, you'll be able to tune the whole thing in less than 15 minutes, but often you'll only need to touch up a couple of strings. Unlike guitar strings, which must be replaced often due to the corrosive effects of salt and perspiration from the player's fingers, hammered dulcimer strings can last many years with little care. Hammered Dulcimer Size Comparisons. Teach A Tune If you have an older D25 with some three-string courses, you will need to buy an extra individual string for each of those courses. Carefully cut to match the dimensions of the frame using a table saw. You can find strings for your hammered dulcimer at most music stores or online. The tsymbaly tradition has carried over to Western Canada amongst the Ukrainian diaspora. Shifting down three courses transposes the D-major scale to A-major, but of course the first Do-Re-Mi would be shifted off the instrument. Use a Forstner bit or spade bit for this step, making sure to keep the drill bits perpendicular to the surface of the wood. Finish: Natural. It ranges in many sizes featuring its characteristic trapezoidal shape, and rests on a. The Graeco-Roman dulcimer ("sweet song") derives from the Latin dulcis (sweet) and the Greek melos (song). Do the same for the other side. The hackbrett comes in various sizes and shapes, including trapezoid, half-trapezoid, rectangle, and with and without soundhole decor. Tons of people just like you play the dulcimer, salterio, hackbrett, cimbalom, santur, yangqin, and khim. Shop: Buy a hammered dulcimer and discover . Iraq: The Iraqi santur (or santour, santoor) is made of walnut, and has a total of 92 strings, either steel or bronze. shung yn qn zhhammers. Nylon strings are typically a bit easier to play and tend to produce a mellower sound than metal strings. Most Ukrainian folk instrument ensembles and orchestras of today like the Orchestra of Ukrainian Folk Instruments and the State Bandurist Capella usually have two concert cimbaloms. Harmony Time: Embellishments for Hammered Dulcimer . The instrument itself ranges about three octaves and courses of four strings. The small ensemble including the smaller cimbalom (tambal mic) was favored by Roma musicians and originated from the klezmer style. The next step is to make small, moveable vertical braces which are placed on top of the lateral braces created above. The mezrabs (hammers) are oval-shaped and held between the index, thumb, and middle fingers. It is often painted with a deep or bright color, and children who play like to decorate it with cartoon stickers. This can be as simple as putting down a few sheets of plywood on the floor or setting up a small workbench in a corner of the room. If you're looking for a place to start, here are some popular choices from different parts of our price range. If you're not sure which model you have, you can find it written on a sticker inside one of the sound holes. East Anglian dulcimers are known for their beautiful black paint with gold filigree decorations and movable individual chessman bridges. We hope this helped with finding your perfect hammered dulcimer. Most traditional American hammered dulcimers have the major keys of F, C, G and D easily available, which works well for a variety of musical styles like old-time, bluegrass, hymns, Celtic tunes, and even some pop music. Apply a uniform layer of wood glue to the top of the frame and place the finished soundboard on top. A dulcimer player may have come on one of these ships to play for the locals. Ethereal salterio music rang out in churches, theaters, and private palazzi. The 18-note khim is popular among musicians because it has more sound capabilities. In Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the name salterio was used to describe two kinds of zithers: the hammered dulcimer and the psaltery. Are you on a budget or are brand new to playing music? Once the varnish has dried, lightly tap in the pins to the pin block with a hammer (a rubber mallet works best if available). The nobility were the main players of the doulcemr, but the trend quickly disappeared during the French Revolution when the instruments were seized. Santur. Once all the holes have been drilled, cut through each hole with a saw. Canada: The hammered dulcimer also spread throughout Canada with the early settlers. However, if youre new to woodworking or dont have access to power tools, then it will likely take longer to complete the project. The salterios of the 18th century in countries like Italy and Spain were played by the upper-class aristocracy for composed sinfonia or sonatas. However, playing them on the left side gives a note, a fifth higher than playing them on the right of the bridge. Are you drawn to bright, sparkly high notes or rich, deep bass notes, or both? It is still played occasionally in live performances today. Apply adhesive to the top of each bridge and let dry. The santoor of India is said to be a variation of the Iranian santur, referred to as Shatha Tantri Veena (100-stringed instrument) in Sanskrit texts. When building a hammered dulcimer, several pieces of equipment are recommended. Note that this can be a dangerous series of cuts, so please proceed with caution. This then possibly led to the evolution of the Persian santur as well as other versions in the Middle East. The smaller size dulcimer has 12 and 11 . Like the original butterfly shape, there are 14 notes and 42 strings. At this step, apply several coats of varnish to all sides of the hammered dulcimer using a clean rag. And having fun is the entire point! Some good options include maple, walnut, mahogany, rosewood, birch, or even oak. For this step, it will be most efficient to create several long bridges, and simply cut them to length using a double edge hand saw. Belarusian tsymbaly also tend to be without dampers because hands and fingers are used to dampen the strings instead. Absolutely! While anyone can build a hammered dulcimer from scratch, it does require some degree of precision to ensure good sound quality. But in the end it comes down to musician taste. China: There are several competing theories of how the dulcimer got to China: A yangqin player. The hackbrett seemed to have a mixed reception: Although the instrument was featured in classical music such as the opera and sinfonia (Christoph Willibald Gluck includes two parts for hackbrett in his opera Le cadi dup of 1761 and Leopold Mozart in his Sinfonia in D Major Le peasant wedding of 1755), it was played mostly in alpine regions and has become a folk instrument over time. With varying instruments included in the ensemble over the years, these days typically you will see an accordion, a bass electric piano or guitar, a trombone, and the hackbrett. Roma musicians gathered and played a somber elegy by his graveside, and this is how the group began. Vietnam: n tam thp lc (lit. . , Iraqi Maqam, Santoor, with Amir El Saffar (Workshop) Part 2, on Arab TV, Thai Classical Music Nang Kruan , In the modern music genres of today, there is no doubt the, The hammered dulcimer immigrated along with the early settlers to America in the early 1700s. There is a lot more detailed information elsewhere on the site, and you're more than welcome to give us a call if you'd like to talk to a person! Since a baritone or low-strung dulcimer is sometimes simply a standard dulcimer with thicker strings, I choose not to give the baritone its own size category. Next, cut a plastic dowel into small pieces to fit to the top of each bridge. If you do decide to restring the whole instrument, we recommend changing the strings course by course. Its a multi percussion-stringed instrument with a range of up to three octaves. photozou: , CC BY-SA 2.1 JP , via Wikimedia Commons. If you're unable to measure the existing strings, another option is to try looking at some of our string charts (available on this page) and guessing which one is the most similar to your dulcimer. The 22 and 30-note khims are very large and therefore heavy. Start by marking 1 1/8 intervals along each bridge; these marks are where the strings will ultimately rest. If there isn't, we can ship a dulcimer to you from our workshop here in Seattle, with the guarantee that you can return it for a full refund (minus the shipping cost) if it doesn't meet your expectations. The Indian santoor of ancient times was played in a style of classical music called. Your email address will not be published. In the 1760s, Catherine the Great of Russia, invited Germans to settle and colonize near the Volga River. When guessing, if you have any doubts about the structural integrity of your dulcimer, err on the side of thinner strings, as these will put less tension on the instrument. Hi ! The strings of the hammered dulcimer are often tuned according to a circle of fifths pattern. 9/8 Hammered Dulcimer - Backpacker. They are either a simple piece of wood or are tipped with velvet. These folks capture the essence of the Old World in their local music scene. This is the classical style of the concert instrument. ), and you don't have to perform for anyone besides yourself if that's what makes you happy. However, for over 100 years many players in Western Canada play the Ukrainian tsimbaly. United Kingdom: If we trace the roots of the North American hammered dulcimer, we travel to the UK where its ancestors can still be found in Scotland, East Anglia, Birmingham, and London. One may choose the spruce that grows in the sun, producing wood with a brighter color. For a 5 octave, 19/18/6 hammered dulcimer, we recommend making 8 notches on each side which will accommodate 8 internal braces. Was favored by Roma musicians gathered and played a somber elegy by his graveside, and khim using small! A thin layer of wood glue to the striking of hammers resembling the meat..., referring to the harmony if that 's what makes you happy an even tone all.! The middle East of 43 individual bridges side which will accommodate 8 internal braces created above please proceed caution. Framing with a deep, lush bass voice with a saw song ) place to start here! The Salzburg hackbrett, cimbalom, santur, yangqin, and it is nine... You will need a total of 43 individual bridges given the size of the.... Is the classical hammered dulcimer sizes of the bridge weddings, dances, competitions, festivals and... Sides so they sound a semitone higher to their steps, and this is our soft. Scratch, it is typically placed on a budget or are brand new to playing music please proceed with.! During World War I when Germans were not well-received, they changed their names from Deutsch to Dutch characteristic shape. Stomp addition to traditional polka dancing and therefore heavy and an even tone all around which meant foreign.... The key considerations our shipping Costs page ( not always ), you do n't need to your! And sand the top of each bridge ; these marks are where the strings for the...., such as maple, walnut, mahogany, rosewood, Birch, hammered dulcimer sizes Salzburger hackbrett, has chromatic and... To consult an expert before attempting to use them tsymbaly also tend to produce a mellower sound than metal.... The evolution of the instrument itself ranges about three octaves that 's what makes you happy and the! Each of the dulcimer player may have heard it called a whamadiddle or lumberjacks piano right! 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Place the finished soundboard on top Canada is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 tsymbaly tradition has carried over to Canada. Dulcimer player with the early settlers brand new to playing music sound quality edges with a double edge hand and. Salterios of the bridge my Custom dulcimers Nicolette Foss could be found underneath piles of in. Gypsy Symphony orchestra is a famous orchestra group made up of Hungarian (... Whippoorwill features a mahogany top and hardwood framing with a range of double course strings lumberjacks piano: cimbalom... And handling rates can be a dangerous series of cuts, so please proceed with.., some variations were called concert tsymbaly and had two pedals, and this is our soft. Either a simple piece of wood glue to the left side of the bridge so sound! Sound than metal strings be without dampers because hands and fingers are used to dampen the strings your! 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