This is how I visualize my mountain dulcimer when i am playing my chords.just like i show you in my mountain dulcimer chord cards on my products page. This would be equivilant to the GDD chart also known as the G Ionian chord chart.
I remember when i first started practicing the mountain dulcimer I would make all three of those shapes and do little exercises (med, low,high) (Low,med,high).......
You get the idea. Anyways as I kept practicing that exercise all over the fret board I soon started hearing songs I was familiar with. Now when i play i can hear the Sounds in my head before i place my fingers in the specific spots. It comes naturally after practicing all the time. My favorite music to play is the kind where i get to jump all over the fret board because it challenges my ability. Sometimes if i am improving i hear another song and so thats a fantastic way to learn new songs as well.
If you are one to use sheet music, try never to look at the song title so it becomes more of a challenge for you as well. I think thats the best way to learn to grow.
Lets get back to the fretboard.
As you can see we are in the key of G Ionian however just because you are opened tuned in the key doesnt mean you are stuck in that key. You actually have many modes you can play in as well just because of the way the fretboard is laid out. Infact this fretboard has 21 scales with the fretting currently on it. And as you can see by the picture i have a double dulcimer. And what i did there was just make the upper fretboard into a baritone. So still 21 scales but two different octaves.
In my next blog post I will begin to talk a little more about how to create scales just like i started to share yesterday .
Have a blessed day!!!!
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