Should I get a dulcimer with a 6 1/2 fret?

A dulcimer without extra frets, and the melody strings tuned to D, is designed to play the modes of the G major scale.

The most useful for folk and popular music are:

• G Ionian Mode - the G major scale.

• D Myxolydian Mode - a D major scale with a dominant (flat) 7th tone.

• E Aeolian Mode - the E natural minor scale.

• A Dorian mode - an A minor scale with a natural 6th, instead of the minor 6th of the Aeolian mode.

If we add a 6 1/2 fret, sometimes called a 6+ fret, we can also play all the modes of the D major scale, especially:

• D Ionian Mode

• A Mixolydian Mode

• B Aeolian Mode

• E Dorian Mode

Some considerations that may influence your preference:

• It's easier to learn to play without the additional 6+ fret.

• It's easier to grasp the concept of modes without the additional 6+ fret.

• Many popular folk tunes don't use the 7th tone in the melody, so you can play them in G or D without extra frets.

• Many songs in instruction books and available tab use the 6+ fret.

• If there is a song that you need to play in one of the modes of the D major scale, either to play with a group, or to suit your voice, you would need the 6 1/2 fret.

I personally enjoy and prefer the purely diatonic dulcimer fretboard without additional frets, but that is what I'm used to.

If you would like a dulcimer with any extra frets, I am happy to provide them for you.

Dark Hollow Dulcimers  215-703-8022

256 Durham Road,  Ottsville,  Pennsylvania  18942