Every aspect of the hammered dulcimer and its playing techniques is covered in this comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand text. A masterful teacher, Madeline MacNeil exceeds the expectations of a beginner's book, providing a firm foundation for the development of a total musician while maintaining an engaging, informal tone throughout. With detailed discussions on dulcimer layout, hammers, tuning, and stands plus extensive performance notes on every tune, this book is a valuable asset to the beginning through intermediate player. From Oh Suzanna to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Madeline shows the novice dulcimer player how to "map your way through" a new piece of music, finding clear, musical directions through what at first must seem like a maze of strings. All tunes are in standard notation. The book is illustrated with photos as well as quaint woodcuts, engravings, and pen and ink drawings. Includes access to an online 85-minute video and audio containing essential basic information on playing the hammered dulcimer--such as tuning, major and minor keys, duplicated notes, repeated notes, modulations, walking bass lines, chromatic notes, drone harmony, back-up chords, interval harmony, and more! Also contains Madeline MacNeil's hammered dulcimer solos on 25 tunes.

Dedication
About The Author
Introduction
Dulcimer Layout or: Where The Notes Are
Hammers
Bridges
Marked Bridges
Tuning Your Dulcimer
The Dulcimer Stand
Playing In Comfort
Playing In Rhythm: Counting Off
Playing Tunes
Alternating Hammers
Hammering Patterns
Are You Sleeping?
Duplicated Notes On The Dulcimer
Mapping Your Way Through "O Susanna"
O Susanna
Exploring Four Keys
Hammering Exercises In The Key Of G .
Hammering Exercises In The Key Of D .
Learning Scales And String Courses
Learning More Notes In The Key Of D .
Practice Tune: Golden Slippers
Duplicated Notes And Repeated Hammers
Home On The Range
More Hammering Patterns
Arkansas Traveler
Vertical And Horizontal Moves, Repeat Signs
Liberty
Hornpipes, Transitional Notes, And Another Repeat
Harvest Home
A Useful Note On The Bass Bridge
Annie Laurie
Practice Tune: No Place Like Home
Intervals
Intervals: Exercises
Playing A Tune Using Interval Harmonies
Deck The Halls
Chords
Back-Up Chords
Playing Chords By Shapes
Learning Chords
Chord Arpeggios
Auld Lang Syne
F On the Bass Bridge, Bounces, Rolls, Fermatas.
My Own House
Triplets And More Interval Harmony Playing
The Lark In The Clear Air
Horizontal Bass Bridge/Treble Bridge Moves
Amazing Grace
Review: Hornpipes, Triplets, Transitional Notes.
Off To California
Drone Harmony
Soldier's Joy
Minor Keys
The Parting Glass
Star Of The County Down
Practice Tune: Simple Gifts
Modulation
Flop-Eared Mule
Musical Form And Another Modulation
Over The Waterfall
Another Modulation And 3rd Interval Harmony
The Ash Grove
O'Carolan, Planxties, Walking Harmony Bass Line
Planxty Fanny Po'er
The Key Of A, Adapting Music To The Dulcimer, Jigs
The Hundred Pipers
Santa Lucia
Playing Music With Style
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
In Closing