hammered dulcimer sizes

Semi-concert tsymbaly: Manufactured from 1950 to 1986 by Chernihiv Musical Instrument Factory. There are tenor, soprano, or requinto varieties. The cimbalom, or concert cimbalom, is a descendant of the hackbrett. Both hammers are lacewood with rosewood trim inclusive of a tuning tool and drawstring bag. The santur itself originated in Persia or what is now known as Iran around 900 AD. You can play them two ways; with the rubber side for a soft sound, or with the bamboo handle for a crisper tone (the pointed ends can also be used to pluck the notes). We have found that Rockler is an excellent source of fine quality wood for instruments and other hobby needs. Ethereal salterio music rang out in churches, theaters, and private palazzi. For a 5 octave, 19/18/6 hammered dulcimer, we recommend making 8 notches on each side which will accommodate 8 internal braces. Some with 4+ octaves can start getting heavy, and so this should be factored in when selecting an instrument. Kruchki (or miniature hammers) are held characteristically between the index and middle finger and have a distinctive curved hook shape. In order to make things easier, its a good idea to dedicate a specific area of your workshop to woodworking projects. This is the classical style of the concert instrument. 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. The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-stringed instrument which consists of strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board. When the braces are completed, one will be placed under each bridge and they will end up touching the soundboard. 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. The dulcimer comes in various sizes, identified by the number of strings that cross each of the bridges. Full sets contain one of each string used on the dulcimer, allowing you to restring the whole instrument. The tuning system for these cimbaloms has a pitch range of four octaves plus a major third. Each moveable brace is made using 3/8 wood slats. In Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, the name salterio was used to describe two kinds of zithers: the hammered dulcimer and the psaltery. Canada: The hammered dulcimer also spread throughout Canada with the early settlers. These include Belarusian folk songs and dances, original compositions of composers of Belarus, Russian and foreign classics, music of current composers, and popular music of today. 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. The 23 sets of courses are made of four strings each, and struck with hammers called midhrab. Built with a lovely Cherry veneer on a durable ply top. In our previous article Where Did the Hammered Dulcimer Originate?, we discussed the varying possibilities of the original 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. In the standard santur, some of the bridges are movable: B half flat qaraar, E half flat, and B half flat jawaab. You can find strings for your hammered dulcimer at most music stores or online. Size: 1/2. An assortment of strings to cover incidental breakage, but not enough to re-string the entire instrument. One may choose the spruce that grows in the sun, producing wood with a brighter color. The tetrachord markers found on the bridges of most hammered dulcimers in the English-speaking world were introduced by the American player and maker Sam Rizzetta in the 1960s. In general (unless they are actually rusty), you don't need to change your plain steel strings at all. Ethereal salterio music rang out in churches, theaters, and private palazzi. The dancers add a bounce to their steps, and a little hop or stomp addition to traditional polka dancing. Finish with a double edge hand saw and sand. Is it hard to learn? The first step in building a hammered dulcimer is to cut the sides for the frame. It can still be heard in some Cantonese music or the traditional silk and bamboo genre of the Shanghai region called Jiangnan sizhu. We don't use any pushy sales tactics, and would love to answer any questions you might have (or help you figure out what questions to ask). The 15 is the number of pairs of strings passing over the treble (center) bridge. 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. Its 19th-century popularity spread across the Austro-Hungarian Empire by way of Jewish and Roma musicians. Repeat Step 6 using planks of the same high quality wood in this case, mahogany. United States: The hammered dulcimer immigrated along with the early settlers to America in the early 1700s. Hammered dulcimer is the type we make, and it is played by striking the strings with a pair of special mallets called hammers. Finish: Natural. Solid Wood Hammered Dulcimers, Best Acoustic Amplifiers for Dulcimers [2023], Power drill (ideally a bench top drill press with vice). Concert cimbalom. 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. 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. Start by marking 1 1/8 intervals along each bridge; these marks are where the strings will ultimately rest. 9/8 Hammered Dulcimer - Backpacker. The tsymbaly is called the instrumental voice of Belarus. It is still played occasionally in live performances today. The player holds a small spoon-shaped mallet hammer in each hand to strike the strings. It is over nine feet long and has 200 strings! There has been some fine playing on 9-course dulcimers. Hammered dulcimer is one of the most satisfying instruments to learn because it's easy to make a pleasant sound right from the beginning. We want to see folks happy playing music, and to spread their happiness into the world through the gift of music, so if we can help you in any way, let us know! With the proper tools, building a hammered dulcimer can be accomplished in a single weekend. Quantity. Woodworkers may already have access to several of these tools in their workshop. Your email address will not be published. [1], Hammered dulcimers and other similar instruments are traditionally played in Iraq, India, Iran, Southwest Asia, China, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia, Central Europe (Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland (particularly Appenzell), Austria and Bavaria), the Balkans, Eastern Europe (Ukraine and Belarus), and Scandinavia. Dulcimer.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. In a very basic sense, you can think of a small dulcimer as being similar to a piano with only the white keys. Excellent quality wire designed for stringing of Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, Harpsichord & Harp as well as other stringed instruments Coiled onto a sturdy spool which makes the handling of the wire easy to use Metric conversion chart below Choose from the following sizes: Size 7 - .018" diameter - 578 feet per 1/2 lb coil Schundas model was built with four detachable legs due to its large size. But in addition to the traditional Troyista Muzyka ensemble, they are played alongside electric guitars, synthesizers, violins, drums, and accordions. Questions? The first time you tune a dulcimer, be prepared to spend a while on it! Thank you so much for demonstrating the sounds of the different instruments and what type of music they play in various countries. Each set of strings is tuned in unison and is called a course. In this step, you create several internal braces that fit between the top and bottom of the instrument and which fit into the notches cut into the frame above. Due to its fun shape and colors, the kids often are attracted to this variety of khim. Shop: Buy a hammered dulcimer and discover . Adding a thin layer of felt between two finished slats is recommended to create better final acoustics. Typically (not always), the hammered dulcimer is a string instrument hit with hammers, while a psaltery is plucked. There are usually 23 or more pairs of string stretched across these bridges in such a way that you can play notes by tapping each pair of strings (called a course) near the bridges. The small ensemble including the smaller cimbalom (tambal mic) was favored by Roma musicians and originated from the klezmer style. These are the most modern designs of the khim, known as a fancy khim. 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. Grassroots Hammered Dulcimers have a unique and beautiful sound. Most people these days start out with 15/14s or 16/15s with the wider 1" string spacing which is better for beginners. Hammered Dulcimers. The bass bridge holds up bass strings, which are played to the left of the bridge. This type of tsymbaly was the reason for the instruments popularity in Eastern Ukraine in the post-war years. Most modern dulcimers, ours included, are designed with two or more individual strings per course, where each string has a loop that hooks over a hitch pin, and a free end that wraps around a tuning pin. Hammered dulcimers provide a beautiful, calming sound and these are great choices to get started. The time needed to build a hammered dulcimer will vary based on your experience level, the finish quality, and the amount of time you want to dedicate to the project. There are many considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best hammered dulcimer to play. This dance form, as well as Sufiana Mausiqi, is now out of practice. (Ordinarily, 5 mm "zither pins" are used, similar to, but smaller in diameter than piano tuning pins, which come in various sizes ranging upwards from "1/0" or 7 mm.) J. C. Rockwell Dulcimer Company began making baritones in 1994. While anyone can build a hammered dulcimer from scratch, it does require some degree of precision to ensure good sound quality. With the wood you selected for your hammered dulcimer, begin by cutting the frame sides to length. Hutsul tsymbaly: This instrument is so small it can be carried, and is held by a strap around the musicians neck and rests against their waist. Apply a uniform layer of wood glue to the top of the frame and place the finished soundboard on top. Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating. Belarusian tsymbaly also tend to be without dampers because hands and fingers are used to dampen the strings instead. The head of the hammer can be left bare for a sharp attack sound, or can be covered with adhesive tape, leather, or fabric for a softer sound. The Indian santoor of ancient times was played in a style of classical music called. We will touch on the history and musical traditions of their past, todays styles, as well as peek at the instruments wave of the future. It has five bridges of varying sizes, and courses are double or triple-stringed. The salterios of the 18th century in countries like Italy and Spain were played by the upper-class aristocracy for composed sinfonia or sonatas. Opens in a new window or tab. Hungary: The concert cimbalom was a variation created by V. Jzsef Schunda in 1874 in Budapest. The soundboard is typically made from spruce, cedar, birch, or mahogany. It is still played occasionally in live performances today. Next, apply glue to the back of each internal brace, set into the notches, and press down onto the dulcimer back and let dry. Once the glue is applied, be sure to apply pressure at all points using clamps and weights. However, these Germans were able to hold onto their culture and language while living in Ukraine and did the same when they immigrated to the US. It is possible it arrived through the Silk Road from the Middle East. The hammers are made of flexible and lightweight bamboo and have rubber tips. 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. These dances are mostly polkas, and still a very important part of their culture. , which means mystical music. Wed love to talk with you! The Salzburg hackbrett, or Salzburger hackbrett, has chromatic tuning and 128 strings. Additionally, the timpan or tiompan (thought to be a psaltery) were mentioned in old stories as far back as the 6th century AD and were said to be played by faeries. Whether youre a beginner or an experienced woodworker, we hope that this guide to building a hammered dulcimer has something for everyone! People use the word dulcimer to refer both to the hammered dulcimer and to the mountain dulcimer. The Whippoorwill hammered dulcimer offers at full sized, beautiful sounding hammered dulcimer at an unbelievable price. 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 instruments that were played differed in many ways, however, such as size, tuning, amount of strings, as well as the way of holding and playing the hammers. Thank you! Beautiful Vintage Mid East MFG. After selecting your materials, its time to set up your workshop. Hammered dulcimers typically consist of strings stretched over a rectangular or trapezoidal resonant sound board. Hopefully this guide will provide you with enough information to get you going on your next hammered dulcimer project. Instrument: Dulcimer. The santur has Persian origins, but is a direct descendant of the qunan and earliest psalteries. If youre working with power tools, be sure to read the safety instructions carefully and follow all of the safety precautions. Next, lay the moveable internal braces to the top of the instrument across the stationary lateral braces. If youd like to hire Nicolette for content writing or copywriting work, contact her at: nicolettelady@protonmail.com, Cover image: File:Giovanni Battista DallOlio, Salterio in legno dorato e dipinto, 1764, Museo Civico di Modena, part.jpg by Archivio del Museo Civico di Modena is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. 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. To start, carefully cut each internal brace to length and make the appropriate angled cuts to fit into each notch. Back then you may have heard it called a whamadiddle or lumberjacks piano. 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. Definitions of these two instruments can be hazy and confusing. 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. This can be done using a table saw, radial arm saw, or miter saw. 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. Schunda manufactured over 10,000 of his instrument and it soon became popular with the bourgeoisie and Romani (Gypsies) alike. 12/11 is a common size for a small dulcimer, and it means there are 12 courses of strings on the treble bridge and 11 courses on the bass bridge. uraids, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. (Ordinarily, 5mm "zither pins" are used, similar to, but smaller in diameter than piano tuning pins, which come in various sizes ranging upwards from "1/0" or 7mm.). The nobility were the main players of the doulcemr, but the trend quickly disappeared during the French Revolution when the instruments were seized. If you can't obtain a string chart from the dulcimer maker, your best bet is to find a micrometer and measure the diameters of the strings that are currently on the instrument. We do know that along with the harp and pipes, the hammered dulcimer (teadchlar in Irish) was popular in Ireland in the 17th century. Hammers are usually made of wood (most likely hardwoods such as maple, cherry, padauk, oak, walnut, or any other hardwood), but can also be made from any material, including metal and plastic. 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. With the frame of the instrument lying flat on a workbench, apply a layer of glue on each side and lay the back over the frame. Our article on how to choose a hammered dulcimer which reviews some of the key considerations. We haven't decorated a dulcimer like this since around 1980, but we ended up with a small piece of bird's-eye, just big enough for a couple of hammered dulcimer sets, and decided to make something special! No zippers to break. HDBP. The notes extend from lower yakah (G) up to jawab jawab husayni (a) and is fully chromatic. What kinds of music can you play? Given the size and weight of the instrument, it is typically placed on a stand or table. This extends from C to e on the Helmholtz pitch notation. Some dulcimers instead use one continuous piece of wire for each course, meaning that the wire needs to be long enough to go from one tuning pin across the dulcimer and back to another tuning pin. 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. There is a lot more information on our website, but we also love helping beginners explore this delightful instrument, so please email us or give us a call if we can be of any help! The Backpacker is a unique sized affordable, portable and well built instrument. Building a dulcimer is definitely not an easy task, but its also not as difficult as some people might think. And having fun is the entire point! Tons of people just like you play the dulcimer, salterio, hackbrett, cimbalom, santur, yangqin, and khim. The strings of the hammered dulcimer are often tuned according to a circle of fifths pattern. 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. Like the salterio of Italy, the doulcemr went through a short trend in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 1760s, Catherine the Great of Russia, invited Germans to settle and colonize near the Volga River. 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 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. We can't guarantee their compatibility with other makes of dulcimer. This is because there does not need to be a distinction from the Appalachian dulcimer (aka lap, plucked, or mountain dulcimer) as in the US. 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. In our previous article . Our 45" loop end strings will not work for this continuous stringing style, but you might be able to use two loop-end strings in place of one continuous string. We place the same value on quality with our least expensive dulcimers as we do with the top-of-the-line models, and we expect them all to last for generations. This is because there does not need to be a distinction from the Appalachian dulcimer (aka lap, plucked, or mountain dulcimer) as in the US. Durable Quality in Every Hammered Dulcimer. If desired, carve a pattern of your choosing using a small 1 chisel. Music on the yangqin can be played either solo or as part of an ensemble. Next, notches are added along the internal sides of each pin block. German Americans: A version of the German hackbrett has ended up right here in our own backyard. This instrument has chromatic tuning with bridges dividing 125 strings into fifths and sixths. Marvelous, love the photos and videos as demonstrations, too! ( 1 customer review) $ 574.00. What is a hammered dulcimer anyway? . Contact us, In the modern music genres of today, there is no doubt the hammered dulcimer is pretty obscure. Be sure to use a level when installing the soundboard, so that it is evenly aligned with the rest of the instrument. The term yangqin (or yang quin, yang chin) was once written as , which meant foreign zither. Sand to finish. 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. The concert cimbalom was a variation created by V. Jzsef Schunda in 1874 in Budapest. Are you on a budget or are brand new to playing music? Most of the time, one side is left as bare wood while the other side may be covered in leather or a softer material such as piano felt. However, these Germans were able to hold onto their culture and language while living in Ukraine and did the same when they immigrated to the US. Good protection for your dulcimer and also economical. Enough strings to re-string the entire instrument. Is a dulcimer easy to play? If you're looking for a place to start, here are some popular choices from different parts of our price range. We are doing our best! This instrument is played not only in Iraq, but also in Syria, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Greece (the Aegean coasts), and Azerbaijan. It sound will satisfy the discrimination . You may celebrate the New Year with 'Auld Lang Syne,' and Valentine's Day with 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose.' . Be sure to avoid using softwoods such as pine, as they will not produce a desirable tone quality. There are two sets of bridges, with notes ranging over three octaves. About the author:In her childhood, Nicolette Foss could be found underneath piles of sawdust in her fathers hammered dulcimer workshop. She helped with odds and ends in the business, attended folk music festivals, and learned the importance of hard work. Hammered dulcimer strings do break, and this is something you should be prepared for as a player. The treble strings can be played on either side of the treble bridge. Dulcimers are the easiest stringed instrument for beginners to play, ideal for children and non-musicians who want to play tunes or accompany singing.Dulcimers are a relatively quiet instrument. Mountain dulcimer looks more like a guitar (often hourglass-shaped) and is played by fretting and strumming the strings. There are 25 courses of 5 strings. The next step is to make the bridges. Finish the notches with a chisel and use sand paper to smoothen. This is the standard size that is popular among beginners. Playing with bare wood hammers gives you a sharper, more percussive tone, while playing with a softer surface like felt or leather produces a gentler, more piano-like tone.