Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 29, 2009 at 4:07pm

You can use Fretfind2D, it is web-based so works fine in mac. When you print, specify multi page pdf, and it prints out a tidy little template all ready to go. Highlight the frets you want to use (think twice, highlight once) and you are in business. I think you'll get more accurate placement that way, especially if you use a pointy pencil.

fretfind asks lots of questions (number of strings, width of fingerboard, etc.) but you don't really need to specify that if you don't want to.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/2d/standard.php

But to actually answer your question, yes you can use the fret spacing off your existing fingerboard, and leave off the non-dulcimer frets. Just be sure your bridge is the right distance from the nut (twice the octave fret distance.)

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 29, 2009 at 4:21pm

What is the scale length on the parts guitar? I would measure down the first / smallest string from the contact point on the nut to the contact point on the bridge.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan King on September 29, 2009 at 5:28pm

I know this is kinda off-topic, but what exactly is the function of that 6 1/2 fret?

MojoBone Works said:

I can also mark out for the 6 1/2 extra fret for the dulci scale.

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 29, 2009 at 6:08pm

Nathan King said:

I know this is kinda off-topic, but what exactly is the function of that 6 1/2 fret?

It lets you play the flatted 7th tone which makes the bluesy / dominant 7th sound. In mountain / old timey music, that note usually only shows up on the "fifth" chord. E.g., on a D-A-D dulicmer, you would play the 6 1/2 fret of the middle string to make part of an A7 chord. usually at the end of a verse (like a turnaround).

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Permalink Reply by Diydc on September 29, 2009 at 10:34pm

Yes, you can just hold up your neck against a guitar and start at the appropriate fret, leaving out the ones you don`t need. Should, however , look to making as exact a marking as you possibly can on your new fretboard, as even a millimetre away at short distances will lead to out of tune results......

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on September 30, 2009 at 2:15am

Wow, thanks to everyone for all the great info and your eagerness to help. Just another testament to the friendly folks you meet in here! I will try the Fretfind 2d templates first, but if that doesn't work, I'll take Mojobone up on the offer. I'm not sure what the scale length will be yet, as this one is only being built in my head so far. Is the 6 1/2 fret just what it sounds like? An extra between the 6 & 7th of the dulcimer fret spacing?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 30, 2009 at 3:36am

HOLY CRAP is this thing neat. Have you seen what this thing can do? Tidy little template?!? Heh, yeah.

Thanks!!!

Diane said:

You can use Fretfind2D, it is web-based so works fine in mac. When you print, specify multi page pdf, and it prints out a tidy little template all ready to go. Highlight the frets you want to use (think twice, highlight once) and you are in business. I think you'll get more accurate placement that way, especially if you use a pointy pencil.

fretfind asks lots of questions (number of strings, width of fingerboard, etc.) but you don't really need to specify that if you don't want to.

http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/2d/standard.php

But to actually answer your question, yes you can use the fret spacing off your existing fingerboard, and leave off the non-dulcimer frets. Just be sure your bridge is the right distance from the nut (twice the octave fret distance.)

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 30, 2009 at 5:25am

tinyguitars said:

Actually Tres, the 6th fret on the middle string is the "flattened" 7th note as used in the the A7 chord in Dmaj key, likewise the 6th fret on the melody string gives you the 7th note for a D7 chord. The 6 1/2 fret completes the major scale on the melody string, being the Db in the D major scale to which the dulcimer is normally tuned, others would disagree, but I believe this was the sole purpose of its addition. I never understood why the 6th fret note was originally included and the actual note of the scale was not. As a side note, I don't like the look of the frets with both the 6th and 6 1/2 frets. The 4 frets together just looks unnatural to me, like 4 black keys on a piano, so you'll notice that on some of my vintage looking builds I leave off the 6th fret, since it isn't in the scale anyways.

Thanks for the correction -- I obviously don't have any dulcimers (yet:). The flatted 7th is part of lots of "important" scales outside the classic "Ionian" / major scale: the minor pentatonic and blues scales use it, as does the Dorian variant on the minor scale (think playing D-to-D on the piano white keys). Those scales are used in lots of "ethinc" music outside the "Western classical / art music" tradition.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan King on September 30, 2009 at 7:54am

That whole business with the 6 1/2 fret really threw a wrench into what I thought I understood. :-)

As I understood it, if you took a "regular" guitar and took away the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th and maybe the 10th frets, you'd be good.

Is the 6 1/2 fret what would be the 10th fret? Or is there actually another fret between the 6th and 7th, which would give you a quarter step between frets?

I appreciate any further insight into this... maybe a picture would help my brain to better grasp this concept. I guess I never realized how deceptive a dulcimer was until lately.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan King on September 30, 2009 at 8:43am

Yep, that helps a lot actually. I guess part of the confusion on my end was StewMac's fret calculator calls the octave fret #8. Your calling it #7 makes much more sense, especially in regard to the 6 and the 6+. Thanks tinyguitars!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on September 30, 2009 at 4:35pm

What can I say? The amount of help that shows up in here is just amazing!! I have learned so much in the short time I've been a member. The fretfind2d thing is just great , and just what I needed. With a tool like that, I can build with confidence that I at least started out on the right track! Thanks again for all of the comments and advise, very much appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Will Carter on September 30, 2009 at 11:46pm

Hey Bluesheart - once you done the build - try a capo on the first or any frets for some really far out modal playing :) Really gets you outside the normal scenario!

Bluesheart said:

What can I say? The amount of help that shows up in here is just amazing!! I have learned so much in the short time I've been a member. The fretfind2d thing is just great , and just what I needed. With a tool like that, I can build with confidence that I at least started out on the right track! Thanks again for all of the comments and advise, very much appreciated.

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