Sizing/Lingo

    This type of tuning shown in the picture is called Robinson Tuning (above-top).  It is how your dulcimer will be shipped to you unless you request otherwise.  It is a tuning that was invented by Bill Robinson's parents (click here to go to Meet the Builders).  It is not widely used, but is a growing method.  It is personal favorite to many, due to the fact that it keeps the chords that you use in conjunction with the treble bridge lined up with where you are playing on the treble bridge.  To many it is the most simple choice, but often, the most popular method is used.  This method is chromatic tuning (above-bottom).  It utilizes the simple method of "walking up" the base bridge chromatically, and makes the most sense to the most people.

rosette - an architectural ornament thats parts combine to generally form a circle.  In the case of H&R Dulcimers, it is the H&R logo.  Whatever the rosette looks like, it serves two basic functions.  It provides a better visual apearence of an object, and allows more sound to come out of the instrument.

chromatic - comprised of steps of 1 1/2, 1, or 1/2.  The best example is a piano and its keys.

electric tuner - an electronic device that can be set on or near the instrument.  It will help you to tune the instrument perfectly by simply following the arrows until your instrument sounds like a million bucks.

treble bridge - the bridge on the left side of the dulcimer (shown above).   It contains the higher pitched notes, and is played on both sides.  On the left are the higher notes, and contained on the right are the lower.  The treble bridge is almost always tuned chromatically.  

bass bridge - the bridge on the right side of the dulcimer (shown above).   It contains the lower pitched notes, and is only played and tuned on its left side.  The base bridge is quite often not chromatically tuned.  One example of this is Robinson Tuning, which is shown above. 

inlay - the decorative strip of wood that is between the pinblock and exterior piece of wood.  Generally inlays serve no other purpose than to enhance visual appeal.  On an H&R Dulcimer the inlay goes around all sides of the instrument except for the bottom.

mountain dulcimer - this is NOT a hammered dulcimer!!!!  Quite oftem when people hear the word dulcimer, they think of the mountain dulcimer, and have not even the foggiest idea what a hammered dulcimer is.  The mountain dulcimer is a four stringed instrument that looks sort of like a guitar.  It is played by setting it on your lap and sliding your fingers up and down the instrument, almost like a guitar, to get different pitches.