We are now going to learn how to play the three major chords for the key of D. This is really quite simple, so don’t be intimidated by the technicalities if you don’t understand it. If you’ll give it a shot, it’ll make sense.
If you have not learned any music theory, the following paragraphs might not make much sense. I will do my best to make it simple, and you can try your hardest to understand. If you just cannot, please do not give up. Just jump right down to the illustrations and try it out. You may get farther than you think just by doing it before you fully know it!
The Chord Defined
The actual definition of a chord is “two or more notes played or sung simultaneously.” The hammer dulcimer is played with only two percussive objects, which may be chop sticks or pencils if you forget your hammers… So technically, only a two note chord is practical in most circumstances. For this reason, when two notes are struck simultaneously, it is typically referenced as an interval (3rd, 4th, etc.).
A chord on the hammer dulcimer would generally be considered three or more notes played by an arpeggio. An arpeggio is the notes of a chord played in succession rather than simultaneously.
For the sake of simplicity, when referencing a chord it will be understood that an arpeggio will be utilized to play it. This understanding is common for many instruments, not just the hammer dulcimer.
Three Major Chords
Within each key there are three major chords. In order to play them on the hammer dulcimer, you do not have to know the notes that make up the chord.
A Box and a Triangle
Instead, you just need to learn the chord’s shapes and how each shape sounds. And when playing inside the box, a three-note chord will look like a type of triangle when visualized…Just look at the illustrations.
Practice these chords and don’t get caught up trying to memorize the placement of the individual note names of the chord. Once again, learn to associate each shape with the sound and “feel” that they generate.
I’ve included two names for the three major chords for the key of D. First, their position (which is for you if you’re an ear musician), and second, their name (for those who know just enough of music theory to be dangerous).
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Yes, I know this is an A chord that starts on an E, and the previous two chords started on their root. This is a beginners lesson and we’re playing in the box, remember? You can start it on an A, but you’ll have to play outside of Box 1 in order to do that. We’ll cover all of that later!
Tags: beginner, Hammer Dulcimer Lessons