I’m this first lesson for 911 for 101, let it be known that I’m not going to get into the fundamentals of music theory. If you’re going to benefit from this blog, a basic, working knowledge of music will be needed. If you’ve never learned music theory before, other resources on the Internet are available..
I’m going to show you a concept called “the box” that will help you to easily play a scale. Understanding the box will give you a good foundation to build on.
You’ll notice on your dulcimer that there are markers every 4th course. They are your guide to let you know where the notes are. Without them, it would be guesswork to know which note each course
is.The markers also enable us to draw imaginary patterns or shapes that assist in remembering keys, scales, and chords. And we will use them to make the box.
THE BOX
Remember in kindergarten when you had to connect the numbered dots on a piece of paper in order to draw a certain shape or picture? This time, you’ll use your imagination to connect the markers, forming the shape of a box..
(To know where the subsequent illustrations are located on your instrument, the “D” marker to the bottom right is the first marker on the bottom right bridge of your dulcimer. This bridge is called the bass bridge. Depending on your make and model, you may have some strings below this D, so don’t get confused.)
This is a picutre of what you should visualize in your mind, We have “connected the dots” of each marker in order to draw a box. Now, pretend that this box is a container. All of the notes contained within the box comprise the key of D. The D on the bass bridge and the D on the treble bridge are exactly one octave apart. With this concept, we can now easily play the scale.
PLAYING A SCALE
In the illustration below, the numbers are the sequence in which you strike the strings in order to play a standard diatonic 8 note scale. Start at number 1 (the D marker on the bass bridge) and strike the strings in sequence until you reach number 8 (the D marker on the treble bridge).
The L means that you should play that string with your left hand, and the R means that you should play that string with your right hand. Make sure you use the correct hands! This is important for proper technique!
You have succesfully learned the concept of the box as well as played your first scale.
Tags: beginner, Hammer Dulcimer Lessons