Please email any additions to this list to me ( Jon Weinberg) and include:
If you have any opinions about these or any other books please send them to me at the above email address - I'll include them amd add new publications as I am notified about them.
Hope you find this useful - Jon Weinberg
This page last updated: 11/11/2006
(Thanks to many people for providing their input, and especially to
James Jones for his extensive list...)
Playing the Hammered Dulcimer in the Irish Tradition, by Karen Ashbrook
$23.95 for 90 pp book with cassette
Encourages dulcimer players at the intermediate-to-advanced level to play the "right way". Teaches basic, simple techniques that create the feel of traditional Irish music.
Hammer Dulcimer, by John McCutcheon
Six cassette tapes $59.95
67 lessons on 6 cassette tapes with a tablature book by Homespun tapes. A complete course, including more than twenty tunes and variations in several keys, rhythms and styles.
The Hammer Dulcimer, by John McCutcheon
$39.95 - 90 minute video
This easy-to-follow, comprehensive beginner's course on video makes it easy to see the way the hammers are held, where the notes are found, and how to make exciting music almost immediately.
Hammer Dulcimer Repertoire Tape, by John McCutcheon
$19.95, one cassette tape
Nine pieces from John's performance repertoire, slowed down and including tips on technique for those who have completed "The Hammer Dulcimer" and want to get into more tunes.
You Can Teach Yourself Hammer Dulcimer, by Madeline MacNeil
Book $9.95, CD $15.98, video $29.95
This book begins with tuning tips and scales, then continues with arrangements to help you with skill building. Covers major and minor keys, duplicated notes, modulations, walking bass lines, chromatic notes, drone harmony, back-up chords, interval harmony and more. The video and CD feature Madeline MacNeil's hammer dulcimer solos. A nice combination of optional approaches. Finally a CD making lessons more accessible.
Hammer Dulcimer Tunes and Techniques, by Walt Michaels
$39.95 - an 80 minute video
One of America's finest and most innovative hammer dulcimer players teaches a wide variety of tunes, breaking them down and describing the techniques necessary to play them smoothly and proficiently.
Celtic Tunes for Hammer Dulcimer, by Walt Michaels
$39.95 - a 60 minute Video
Concentrating on this great Celtic music video tape will dramatically expand your hammer dulcimer repertoire and technique.
Aunt Lu's Guide to Dulcimer Tunes, by Judi Morningstar
$10 + $2.50 shipping (see tunebook section below for her address)
(as played by Judi Morningstar) A compilation of lessons I teach my students in standard musical notation with a twist - to make the notes easier to find on the dulcimer. Dulcimer Arrangements. with chords/notation of Silent Night/ March of St. Timothy/ LaBastringue/Liberty/ Well Hall/ Bach Minuet/ Dancing Clown/ Walker Street/ Green Willis/ Saddle the Pony and more.
An Introduction for the Hammered Dulcimer, by Robin Petrie
(of Carnahan and Petrie)
$39.95 for a 55 min. video
Robin shows a basic approach to understanding and playing the hammer dulcimer by ear. She fully explains how to tune, how to find your way around the instrument, how to hammer, and how to pick out scales, chords, and arpeggios.
Hammered Dulcimer, by Peter Pickow
~$12.00 - Oak Publications, 1979
I didn't find this to be much help when I was learning to play. Has it's own unique tablature that makes it confusing to learn tunes from the music.
Contains 26 tunes incl. Ragtime Annie. Flowers of Edinburgh, Gallopede, and a number of fiddle, Irish, and English tunes.
Striking Out and Winning, by Lucille Reilly
$35.00 for book, $35.00 for set of 3 casette tapes
- Shadrach Productions, PO Box 7338, Denver, CO 80207-0338 or email to lucille@dulcimerlady.com
Expensive, but IMHO the best instruction book for the beginner especially if your exposure to other players is limited. Many illustrations. Concentrates on the physical characteristic and feel of playing, holding the hammers, etc. Includes 50 tunes, many of which are contra dance standards.
She also has casette tapes that go along with the book. Each tune is played once on the dulcimer alone, and then once more up to tempo with guitar back-up.
A thorough, well-written introduction to the hammer dulcimer. Covers everything a beginner/intermediate player would need to know. Lots of clear diagrams and photos. 50 tunes for all levels. Spiral bound. 170 pages. 3 companion cassettes (order separately). (James Jones)
The Hammered Dulcimer A_CHORDING to Lucille Reilly, by Lucille Reilly
$27.95 - PO Box 7338, Denver, CO 80207-0338 or email to lucille@dulcimerlady.com
Teaches playing chords on the dulcimer. A good companion to the above book when you're ready to move onto more advanced fare. Concentrates on visual patterns. Lays a good foundation for playing accompanyment and rhythm.
How to play chords on the hammered dulcimer, why chords are the way they
are, plus basic chord progressions you can add to dance tunes right away.
Includes seven different chording styles to dress up your waltzes, hymns,
and your own singing voice. Has the chords to all 50 tunes in Striking Out.
(James Jones)
This is a pretty complete index of dulcimer books available in the US, with listings of Books Indexed (and where to get them). Tunes arranged alphabetically by title, listing books and page numbers, and an index of Christmas music, reference dulcimer books and page numbers. If you think you might already have the music to Jenny Lind Polka, or Eleanor Plunkett, or Presbyterian Hornpipe, but can't remember which book it's in, this Index is handy.
A Collection of Tunes for the Hammered Dulcimer, Vol I and II
Vol I is $12
Vol II book is $12, cassette is $12 or $22 if you buy the set
Available from Blue Heron Productions, 6370 Lakeview Dr., Ravenna OH 44266 or at bergbros2@earthlink.net
Both offer arrangements of fiddle tunes, jigs, rags and waltzes arranged in each category in order of difficulty. There is a forward in each book that includes playing hints and techniques as well as a chart of the HD layout in standard notation so people who are unsure about how specific pitches translate to the dulcimer can immediately find the correct octave, repeated notes, etc. (writeup provided by the author)
Vol I is currectly out of stock.
The cassette tape for Vol II is a long playing teaching tape of every tune played once slowly and then twice up to speed.
Hammer Dulcimer Solos Vol 1 and 2, by Carrie Crompton
Vol 1 Book $5.95 Cassette $9.98
Vol 2 Book $8.95 Cassette $9.98
A nice selection of Baroque and Renaisannce music with arrangements. While learning the arrangements you'll build your repertoire of dulcimer techniques. I found the tunes and arrangements easy to learn and they sound great. There is an accompanying tape of all the tunes so you can hear what they sound like.
An outstanding book of hammer dulcimer solos featuring three varieties of arrangements: melodies that 'stand alone' because of their numerous arpeggios; melodies with an arpeggiated accompaniment(similar to fingerpicking on the guitar); and fully harmonized arrangments. Tapes available for both volumes. - (James Jones)
Kitchen Musician (series)
All books $5 each Complete Set $60
Available at many music stores, or write for catalog to:
Sara Johnson,
The Kitchen Musician,
449 Hidden Valley Lane,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215
A collection of tune books, written and arranged with the hammer dulcimer in mind. Most of the tunes have been set in the best hammer dulcimer keys (D, G, A, C and relative minors) to be playable by chromatic and non-chromatic dulcimer. They are suitable for most other folk instruments as a source of common and uncommon tunes. Guitar chords, historical notes, and discography included with each book.
The Ruffwater Fakebook, by Judi Morningstar
$20 + $2.50 shipping
117 Reels & 52 Jigs for Dancing Includes Back Up Chords. Protective Plastic Cover & Comb Binding. Arranged specifically with medleys for dances (Related Rhythms/Keys - Minor/Majors). 100% H.Dulcimer Friendly Keys!!!
Designer Music by Judache, by Judi Morningstar
$12 + $2.50 shipping
70 Original Tunes/Songs Including: March of St. Timothy/ Ms. Hays Delight/ Michigan Saturday Night/ Farewell to Denmark/ The Godmother/ Judi's Generic Jig/ Anyjig'l'doo & more.
Beyond Designer Music by Judache II, by Judi Morningstar
Price $6 + Shipping)
This Sequel contains 28 More Original Tunes by Judi, including the waltzes which have become so popular in dulcimer circles including: January Waltz/ Farewell to Genny/ Lori's Waltz/ Amelia Jane's Waltz/ Rosie's Reel/ Ruffwater Reel/ Ruffin' the Waters
Hammered Dulcimer Tune Book, by Maggie Sansone
$5.00 Book, $5 tape
Many of the tunes in Maggie's Hammered Dulcimer and Guitar recording. Includes some notation and a tablature that doesn't get in the way of the notes, but this is more of a tune book than a teaching text.
A lively collection of toe-tapping jigs, reels, hornpipes, lilting Scottish strathspeys, 18th century airs, medieval and Renaissance court dances and a country rag. (James Jones)
Traditions ( Mel Bay Publication)
12.95 plus CD
All the tunes from Maggie's first two albums Hammer Dulcimer & Guitar and Hammered Dulcimer Traditions.64 pages with music notation.
Ancient Noels, by Maggie Sansone
$7.95 Book, $15 CD
Renaissance rhythms, and haunting medieval hymns recapture the spirit of Christmas from antiquity.
Dance Upon the Shore, by Maggie Sansone
$7.95 Book, $15 CD
Take a Celtic voyage to Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man , and Brittany with 25 tunes for hammer dulcimer.
Mist and Stone, by Maggie Sansone
$7.95 - Mel Bay Publications
The tunes from Maggie's popular and critically acclaimed recording.
Sounds of the Season, by Maggie Sansone
$7.95 Book, $15 CD
Included are new variations on 15 Celtic and traditional Christmas favorites.
Sounds of the Season II (Mel Bay Publications)
7.95 plus CD
Includes ALle Psallite Cum Luya, three versions of Away in the Manger, March of the Three Kinds,Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Lord of the Dance, Silent Night, We Three Kinds, Coventry Carol, and unusual variations and ancient versions of Away in the Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, People Look East.
A Traveler's Dream:Celtic Explorations (Mel Bay Publication)
$17.95 plus CD
Note for Note transcriptions from the album. This collection of traditional and original arrangementsin standard music notation and chords includes Irish & Scottish marches, jigs & reels, Northumberian pipe tunes, Gaelic Reels, music for the ancient Celtic festivals of Lunasa and Sawhain.
A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS for Hammered Dulcimer (Mel Bay Publications)
$9.95 plus CD
Seventy pages packed with information, Scottish Highland bagpipe ornamentation techniques, transcriptions and new arrangements of all the tunes from the album.
A book of music and arrangements from Steve's first recording, "Tuesday's Child" for intermediate to advanced hammered dulcimer players. Irish, American, French, Welsh, Swiss, and original music.
Merry Christmas as recorded by Linda Thomas
book - $10 cassette - $10 cd - $15
A collection of 12 trad. Christmas Carols comfortably arranged for hammered dulcimer. Titles include: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away In a Manger and others. Includes chords for guitar.
The Gathering Place as recorded by Linda Thomas
book - $10 cassette - $10 cd - $15
Arrangements for the hammered dulcimer for 12 favorite trad. Hymns and Gospel Songs. Titles include: In the Garden, Life's Railway to Heaven, Pass Me Not, Mansion Over the Hilltop, others. Includes chords for guitar.
Playing Hammered Dulcimer w/ companion cassette
book w/cassette - $25
33 trad. hymns, fiddle tunes and waltzes designed to help the player develop repertoire quickly. Also includes 2-track cassette which, by turning the balance knob on the player, allows practice with dulcmer and guitar, dulcimer alone or rhythm guitar alone. Titles include: St. Anne's Reel, Life's Railway to Heaven, The Girl I Left Behind Me, The Ash Grove and others.
Tunes For Hammered Dulcimer, by Linda Lowe Thompson
$20.00 for book and cassette
An easy to understand instructional package for beginners. Lots of good tunes in standard notation and tablature.
Hammered Dulcimer Notebook, by Linda Lowe Thompson
Book only $36, Two Cassettes $20, Set $52
123 Tunes, 67 lessons covering nearly everything you'd like to know about playing the hammer dulcimer. If you liked Tunes for the Hammer Dulcimer, this book and tapes will take you to the next level and beyond.
Hammer Dulcimer Christmas, by Linda Lowe Thompson
$15
This is Linda's third book containing 46 traditional and lesser known carols with chord symbols, tips on simplifying arrangements and suggestions for accompanying singers. For intermediate and advanced players.
Hymns and Carols, by William M. Jones
$9.95
Arranged for the Hammer Dulcimer. Suggested ways to perform over 30 tunes on a 12/11. In standard notation.
Hammer Dulcimer Classics, by Carole Koenig
Book $8.95, Cassette $10.98
Many of the selections in this book are ancient Parisian dance melodies, others are composed by famous composer Michael Praetorius. Other notable inclusions are "Bouree" from Handel's Water Music and "Randeau" by Jean-Joseph Mouret. Contains 19 compositions arranged in multiple versions. A stereo cassette featuring Carole on solo hammer dulcimer is available and is recommended.
Tunes for the Hammered Dulcimer as Played by Paul Van Arsdale by Jean Lewis
That Old Time Religion, by Kendra Ward-Bence
$12.00 - available from Upcreek Productions, Inc., 1513 Upcreek Road, Bidwell, OH 45614 - off: (614) 388-6464, fax: (614) 388-9699 - email: Upcreekpro@aol.com
A book of 30 hymns arranged for the hammered dulcimer.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, by Kendra Ward-Bence
$12.00 - available from Upcreek Productions (see above)
A book of 30 Christmas tunes arranged for the hammered dulcimer.
Purple Bamboo: Chinese Folk Melodies, by Kim Murley
$15 for book and cassette combination
Traditional Chinese tunes for all mid-range melody instruments (in staff and Chinese number notation) and China travel anecdotes. Something different!
Over 150 jigs and reels used for contra and square dances. Pretty much the definative source for classic New England dance tunes most of which are still played today. This is the book used for the festival orchestra at NEFFA!
Balance and Swing, by Ted Sanella
$12.00 - Country Dance and Song Society, 17 New South St., Northampton,
MA 01060
A book more for callers, it contains about 50 dance tunes, incl. some good French Canadian ones. Many tunes are contra and square standards.
O'Neill's Music of Ireland, by Miles Krassen
$20.00 - Oak Publications (available at many music stores)
Over 1,000 fiddle tunes including many that are part of the current contra dance repertoire. Includes a whose section on just O'Carolan tunes. No chords. A good resource.
1000 Fiddle Tunes (often referred to as "Cole's")
$20.00? - M.M. Cole Publishing Co., 919 Michigan Ave, Chicago IL 60611
(available at many music stores)
A fine selection of jigs, reels, and hornpipes many used for dances. Includes many American tunes as well as Irish, Scottish, and English. No Chords. Another standard reference book.
The Fiddler's Fakebook, by David Brody
$24.95 - Oak Publications (available at many music stores)
Over 500 jigs, reel, hornpipes, and old-time tunes. Includes chords and discography. Many tunes are transcriptions off recordings. Contains many tunes used at dances.
80 pp book guides the reader through rhythm, scales and intervals, keys, and tonality right through to score reading.
Tools for Musicianship - Learning and Developing Musical
Skills, by Matt Glaser
3 Tapes $34.95
Matt has designed a powerful and far-ranging method of study that will develop and polish a student's musical skills and bring their playing to a higher level. Includes work on rhythm, advanced ear training, harmony, and improvisation. These lessons can be used by all musicians, regardless of level, style or instrument of choice.
Art and Technique of Practice, by Richard Provost
$14.95, 56 pp book
Instrumentalists will find all they ever wanted to know about practice. This
book outlines the many aspects of practice, such as repertoire maintenance,
note-reading, and technique.
(Review by David Alm - check out his web site):
This is workbook for builders, whether first timers or experienced. It is not a coffee table book. As far as we know, this is the only book out there that takes you thru the whole process of building a hammered dulcimer. Includes pin block layout, color photos, sources of supply, and many useful ideas. Charlie is very helpful to new builders, and has trained a number of people in his shop.
A Dulcimer Builder's Do-It-Yourself Guidebook
by Randy "Ardie" Davis
1504 Frontier Drive, Arlington, Texas 76012
Web: A Dulcimer Builder's Do-It-Yourself Guidebook
(Review by Ardie Davisr)
This book provides easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on how to build a high-quality 15/14 floating soundboard hammered dulcimer with 3-strings per course. It is completely up to date, and provides information and links to over 50 dulcimer suppliers and resources, either via a special Builder's Resource Center Web page, or via hyperlinks in the CD-ROM and .PDF versions of the book.
The Hammer Dulcimer: From Tree to Tune, by Bill Johnson
Information available at: http://www.paonline.com/wjohnson/index.htm
Do-It-Yourself Dulcimer Building Start To Finish. A Modern Hammered
Dulcimer Design by Neal A. Koch
$29.95 + $3.00 shipping - Published by Little Leaf Press, Inc., available at http://www.maxminn.com/littleleaf or call
(877) 548-2431
8-1/2 x 11. 170 pages. 21 pages of computer-generated plans.
Contains "A Brief Natural History of the Dulcimer" by Roger Frood,
21 pages of Dulcimer Resources, Stringing and Voicing Guide,
Glossary and Index. Now in 2nd printing.
Contains step-by-step
instructions and plans for building a 15/14 floating soundboard dulcimer.
Even if you never intend to build a dulcimer, this book is packed with
resources, a complete stringing and voicing guide, illustrations, Internet
resources, history, and more--to help you understand dulcimers and to make
it easy to find the information, people, places, and all the help you'll
need on your dulcimer-playing journey.
Andy's Front Hall
Voorheesville, NY - (800) 759-1775
email: mail@andysfronthall.com
(they carry nearly all the books above and lots of other musical stuff - ask for a catalog...)
Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe
643 Frederick Road
Catonsville, Maryland 21228 - (410) 744-1144
Bristlecone Music
15 Sherwood Road,
Nederland, CO 80466 -
(303) 258-7763 - Bonnie Carol
Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor
20246 Saticoy St.,
Canoga Park, CA 91306 -
(818) 700-8288
Griffin Music
3809 Cascade Ct.,
Raleigh, NC 27604-3301 -
(919) 876-1859
Dusty Strings
3406 Fremont Ave North,
Seattle, WA 98103 -
(206) 634-1656
(primarily known for instruments)
Elderly Instruments
1100 N. Washington Ave.,
Box 14210,
Lansing, MI 48906 -
(517) 372-7888
(massive folk store, with mail order operation so large they
have separate catalogs for books, recordings and instruments)
Fiddlers Crossing
P. O. Box 92226,
Pasadena, California 91109 -
(818) 792-6323 - fax: (818) 793-9401
(source for Cape Breton, Irish, other
Shetland books, Scottish, harp, and other tunebooks)
Fifth String Music
941 C N. Pleasantburg Dr.,
Greenville, SC 29607 -
(803) 242-5428
Fishbite Recordings
59 Shoal Dr.,
Daly City, CA 94014 -
(415) 994-1622
(has a mail order recording catalog)
Folkcraft Instruments
Cor. High & Wheeler Sts,
Box 807-D,
Winsted, CT -
(203) 379-9857
Historical Markers, Ltd
1221 SE 11th Street,
Lee's Summit, MO 64081 -
(816) 525-4826
Homespun Tapes
Music instruction books, CDs, and videos for the hammered dulcimer and many other instruments
The House of Musical Traditions
Takoma Park, MD
Jean's Dulcimer
Hwy 32 (267 South Hwy32),
Box 8,
Cosby, TN 37722 -
(615) 487-5543 - Jean & Lee Schilling
James Jones - Musical Instruments
1384 Colton Mills Rd., Bedford, VA 24523 - (540) 586-6319
e-mail: james@jamesjonesinstruments.com, or visit his web site
Lark in the Morning
P.O. Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460 -
(707) 964-5569 - fax: (707) 964-1979
e-mail: larkinam@mhs.mendocino.k12.ca.us, or visit their web site
Maggie's Music
PO Box 490, Shady Side, MD 20764 - (410) 867-0642 - fax: (410) 867-0265
email: mail@maggiesmusic.com
McQuaid's Traditional Music Shop
38 Pearce Street,
Nenagh,
Co.Tipperary,
Ireland -
011-353-67-34166
Melody's Traditional Music & Harp Shoppe
9410 FM 1960 W,
Houston, TX 77070
www.folkharp.com
Music Folk Inc
8015 Big Bend Blvd,
St. Louis, MO 63119 -
(314) 961-2838
Note-Ably Yours
6865 S. Scarff Rd.,
New Carlisle, OH 45344 -
(513) 845-8232
Oldtime Music Co.
PO Box 9-2294,
Anchorage, AK 99509 -
(907) 561-6862 - Marge Ford
also has large accordian selection
Orchard Spring Instruments
Hwy 52,
PO Box 129,
Fancy Gap, VA 24328 -
(703) 728-4379
The Music Emporium, Lexington, MA
Red Dragon Music Den
670 Winchester Ave.,
Box 3362,
Martinsburg, WV 25401 -
(304) 267-0411
Song of the Wood
203 W. State St,
Black Mountain, NC 28711 -
(704) 669-7675 - Jerry Reed Smith
(big selection of dulcimers, has books, CD's)
David Sheppard Instruments
1820 Spring Garden St.,
Greensboro, NC 27403 -
(910) 274-2395
Wood, Strings and Dulcimers
1178 Woodruff Road, #13
Greenville, SC 29607 -
(864) 288-1440