Dec 16, 2010 · A dulcimer that is fretted to play using the equal tempered scale will play in tune with most other (Western) instruments. When I began making dulcimers I was taught to divide the string length by 17.81715385 and the resulting number would be …

Diatonic fretting can be used with pretty much any scale length. The scale length of the canjo shown in the article photo is fretted to a 24.5 inch scale. The scale of the chromatically fretted cigar box guitar is 25″. The scale of the instrument in the first photo is about 21″.

Approximately 75 percent of the dulcimers we sell have 25" VSL fretboards, and most of the rest have 26" and 27" VSLs. But a person with really large hands might be most comfortable with a 29 1/4" scale length, and a person with very, very petite hands, might be most comfortable on a 23" or 24" VSL instrument.

This selection tells YAFCalc to calculate fret positions for a Mountain Dulcimer. It uses the Equal Temperament scale for the fret positions, but it leaves out the semi-tones that it does not need for the Diatonic scale on the dulcimer. The calculations do include the 6 1/2 frets.

The half frets been added over the years and make a dulcimer more flexible in what songs it can easily play. Most dulcimer books after the 1980s make use of the 6.5 and 13.5 frets. Many dulcimer books after the 2000s make use of the 1.5, 8.5, and 15.5, too.

Figuring out "where the frets go" is one of the trickiest things about building a lap dulcimer. Our handy reference and fret position guide has detailed charts that show dulcimer fret placement for every scale length from eight inches to thirty-two inches, in eighth-inch increments.

Fret position calculator for 12 tone equal temperament. Enter the scale length, number of frets and number of decimal places that the calculation should be rounded to. Note: If you are fretting an Appalachian dulcimer, then the default mode of "Mixolydian" should normally be used. Read the discussion below for an explanation.

Apr 12, 2023 · Dulcimers have different scale lengths, ranging from 24" to 28". That allows for even greater range of tunings, and various sets of strings will be found best for each dulcimer. Dulcimer players ask for different chromatic frets (I presume that is …

Online Fret Calculator. To calculate fret spacing for any instrument just enter in the scale length (also known as the vibrating length). For most fretted instruments this is the distance between the nut and the bridge. You can enter the length in inches or millimeters. Because mountain dulcimers are not chromatic they don't have every fret.

Nov 16, 2012 · When I choose a scale length for dulci-strummers, I consider the piece of wood I am using for the neck/sides. I've made them anywhere from 22 inch on up to this one, a 26" scale baritone using standard strings, tuned GDg. For all previous ducli's, I made sound hole (s) and installed dual piezos for the electric mojo.