9/8 Fledgling Hammered Dulcimer

Description

The Fledgling is a hammered dulcimer designed especially for beginners with no musical experience. We have often felt that musical novices have been ignored in the dulcimer world–till now! You can choose to have either one or two strings per course. That means either 17 or 34 strings total. Both options have a clear, sweet sound. It stays in tune with itself remarkably well so needs tuning seldom.

Features:

• 9/8 meaning 9 courses on the treble bridge, 8 courses on the bass bridge
• 11” x 31 1/2”
• Weighs only 6 pounds
• American made softwood ply top and back
• Frame is Maple
• Comes with book, note strips, hammers, tuning wrench, and dowel (to be used as a table top stand)
• Comes in a white corrugated cardboard case with handle
• Follow along in our book with our very own YouTube instruction videos
• Note strips and book make it so easy for musical novices to learn to play the hammered dulcimer!
• Little wooden dowel fits into small hole in the back to prop dulcimer on any flat surface
• Major Keys: C, D, F, G
• Minor Keys: Am, Bm, Dm, Em
• Range: C4 to D6

Choose Either One String Per Course, Or Two

You will notice in the drop down menu that says “Strings” you can choose either one string per course or two string per course option.

• One string per course: Painted black for easy string visibility. 17 strings total, making it a very quick tuning experience! This choice may be the best for those who want to get the most affordable hammered dulcimer on the market. It is perfect for someone who wants to dip their toes into making music. No experience? No problem!
• Two strings per course: This dulcimer comes in the natural woodgrain (no paint). It also has a cute little birdie laser design on it. 34 strings total. This dulcimer has more punch than the one-string and sounds a lot more like the rest of our line. Let us know if you prefer it to be painted black and we can do that, but in that case it will not have the bird design on it.

You Can Learn With Easy Book, Note Strip System

To go with the dulcimer, we have produced an easy-to-understand book with basic instruction (this is a dulcimer, this is what it does, this is how it works, etc.). There are also simple tunes in the book, each written with a color and number-based tablature system that matches up to removable note strips that slides over the bridges. The note names on the bass bridge are in black, the right side of the treble are in red, and the left side of the treble are in green.

This makes the dulcimer a self-teacher for complete musical novices. Perfect for both kids and adults; it is simply built with the inexperienced beginner in mind.

If you’d prefer a much more comprehensive learning experience, you can also order Mel Bay’s “You Can Teach Yourself Hammered Dulcimer” book as an add-on.

Follow Along With Our YouTube Videos

If you get a little lost or want some musical company, check out the accompanying tune videos on Youtube where each tune is played slowly and clearly. These tune videos are easy to access as there is a QR code on each page in the book. Just scan the code and it takes you right to the proper playlist (or find the playlist here). The basic instruction in the book is also repeated on fun videos also with QR codes (or find them here).

Finally a Hammered Dulcimer for the Musical Novice!

We are proud and excited about the Fledgling! Not everyone knows how to read music, or can play by ear. We believe everyone can benefit from learning to play music, no matter the musical experience. That is exactly why we’ve created the Fledgling complete system, which takes the pressure of needing to read music or play by ear away. Get one for your kids or grandkids! They’ll love it.

The basic package contains the dulcimer plus hammers, tuning wrench, table top or floor stand dowel, note strips, book, and custom box/carrying case.

This Dulcimer is Easy on the Wallet

We know that hammered dulcimers aren’t cheap. Many people are afraid to shell out big bucks for their first dulcimer when they aren’t sure they will take to it. That is why the Fledgling can be a good solution (or consider renting a Chickadee from June Apple Rentals!). The Fledglings are our most inexpensive models. If you try it and realize the dulcimer isn’t for you, you can easily pass it on to your children or gift it to the fledgling musician in your life. Music is the kind of gift that keeps on giving.

Check our Return Policy before you buy.