Electronic Tuners for Hammer Dulcimer Sam Rizzetta © 2015

Hammer dulcimers are intriguing to hear and to play. But they have many strings to keep in tune, and this can present a real chore to beginners and experienced players alike. When I started playing, back in the Age of Dinosaurs, we were happy to have a tuning fork or pitch pipe, and we tuned everything by ear. In modern times tuning has been made much easier with the advent of digital electronic tuners. Pluck the string you want to tune and the tuner displays the name of the note it hears and whether it is sharp or flat. Continue to pluck the string while tightening or loosening it until the tuner indicates that the string is in tune. Voila!

Almost anyone can learn to play a dulcimer. But not everyone has the knack for tuning. Not to worry. Today we have a confusing but wonderful array of electronic tuning aids available. So, let us take a look at some options that work well for hammer dulcimer. Of course, they can be useful for other stringed instruments, too.

STROBE TUNERS

�Figure 1. Strobe Tuner.

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The first electronic tuner I owned was a used Conn strobe tuner, an analog device the size of a breadbox with vacuum tubes and a built in microphone. It even looked like a breadbox, although it was a lot heavier, and cost hundreds of dollars when new. Well, this was the 1970’s after all, and Les Paul had probably just invented electricity. Strobe tuners are very accurate and popular with piano tuners. Later ones were solid state. I often still use a Petersen Strobe Tuner for accurately placing bridges. See Figure 1.

APPS

�Figure 2. Tonal Energy Tuner on an iPad.

The development of personal computers, smart phones, and iPads has certainly changed the scene. Tuning software abounds. Petersen software now mimics the rotating disk display of strobe tuners. One of

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my current favorite shop and studio tuners is the Tonal Energy Tuner app by Sonosaurus LLC. See Figure 2. It is a truly powerful and awesome tool for anyone who tunes strings or plays music. It is useful for intonation training as well as tuning, and it would take quite a while to describe all its cool features. It names the note it hears and what octave it is in. Deviation from in-tune is indicated by color, position indicators, and numerical readout in cents. A cent is equal to 1/100 of a semitone; 1200 cents equal one octave. Accuracy is 1/10 cent, better than you’ll ever need or hear. It can generate audible tones for tuning by ear, and a very sophisticated metronome is included. Besides, you gotta love the green smiley face that comes on when you’re in tune!

Cost was $3.99 for iOS devices in December 2014, which is amazing for the capabilities you get. If you have an iPad or iPhone, and mostly play at home, this might be all you ever need for tuning. However, I personally wouldn’t be without also having the convenience of a simple, single purpose, small tuner. Their batteries last long and there are inexpensive choices. And since these small electronic devices can fail, I usually carry two.

COMPACT TUNERS

For everyday use, and for traveling, compact battery-powered chromatic tuners have long been the practical choice for hammer dulcimer players. About the size of a pack of cigarettes, they have a built in microphone and a digital LCD or LED display depicting a meter with a needle. It shows what note you are playing and the meter indicates whether it is in tune or sharp or flat. Deviation from in-tune, the amount sharp or flat, is given in cents, like strobe tuners and the Tonal Energy Tuner, so you know how far out of tune you are. This makes it possible to use non standard tunings if you know the deviation in cents. Tuning each note to read zero cents deviation will put you in tune to equal temperament, which is commonly used for piano, guitar, and most modern music. But, I sometimes use deviation

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to help me tune to a sweeter sounding mean-tone temperament for recording, performing, or for placing frets on mountain dulcimers.

Although compact tuners don’t equal strobe tuners for accuracy, they are very good for most tuning chores. In addition to a built in microphone, these tuners also have an input jack to accept an external pickup. In noisy environments it is necessary to use an external pickup clipped to some part of the dulcimer, like a tuning pin or bridge, and plugged into the tuner. See Figure 3.

�Figure 3. Korg DT-2 (left), Korg CA-30 (right), and clip on pickup.

This type of tuner seems moderately durable. Although early versions I owned have passed on to tuner heaven, my current Korg DT-2 and Korg CA-30 have given good service for many years of use and abuse. I’ve lost count of how many times they’ve been dropped on the

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floor, but they are still going. The DT-2 takes a 9v battery while the smaller CA-30 uses two AAA batteries. My DT-2 will start to indicate flat or sharp at - 1 or + 2 cents when listening to a tone generator, very good accuracy. The CA-30 will start to indicate flat or sharp at about - or + 3 cents. This is good for most tuning purposes, and it starts to become tedious to try to tune strings much more accurately than that. In addition to the meter, the CA-30 will also generate audible tones for one chromatic octave starting at middle C, so you can tune by ear. It is like having twelve tuning forks. I find that audible tones are more helpful than a meter when putting the first strings on a new instrument.

The newer Korg CA-40 can be found online for about $16. The simpler Korg CA1 is even less. Although I am most familiar with Korg tuners, there are other brands of similar tuners that probably work very well. An external clip-on contact microphone for tuners can be found for under $20 and will have a piezo pick up with clip, cord, and plug. You can find several brands, and most seem similar. I used to teach some of my dulcimer classes to make their own clip-on pickups, which required a field trip to Radio Shack and learning to solder. After that everyone stayed in tune much better!

It is sometimes difficult to find a place to put the tuner near or on the hammer dulcimer where you can see the display. Setting it on the strings is convenient, but the tuner can slide off. A useful trick is to attach a large patch of sticky back Velcro hook material to the back of your tuner. That usually provides enough friction to keep the tuner from sliding off the strings. Ray Mooers of Dusty Strings suggests sticking a small, self-adhesive rubber bumper on the back of compact tuners; that probably works even better than Velcro. See Figure 3-A.

Compact tuners, in my experience, can hold up for years. However, the pickup clips and wires often do not; I’ve had to replace them regularly. It is also annoying to fuss with the wires now that some convenient alternatives are available.

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Figure 3-A. The back of Ray Mooers’ Korg CA-30 tuner with self-adhesive rubber bumper, pickup, and flat pick ready for tuning.

CLIP-ON TUNERS

When chromatic clip-on tuners became available, I discovered interesting methods of using them with dulcimers. Keep in mind you need a chromatic tuner, not one that only tunes the six strings of a guitar. Clip-on tuners have a display head with a built in pickup, and the display head is attached to a spring clip with jaws to grip a peg head or some other part of an instrument. The tuner picks up the note you are trying to tune rather strongly and is not much confused by extraneous sounds in the room like a microphone would be. This is great for tuning an acoustic instrument in a noisy place and especially

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at jam sessions, workshops, or festivals where other people are talking, tuning, or playing. Clip-on tuners are small, no more than two or three inches in any dimension, and no wires are required. Almost all of them use a CR 2032 battery the size and shape of a nickel.

You must attach the clip to some part of your dulcimer that allows the tuner to adequately pick up the strings you want to tune. I’ve had good success clipping to tuning pins, hitch pins, bridges, and even to the tuning wrench. Sometimes the clip has to be moved to different places to read certain notes better. You might have to experiment. If all else fails, try clipping to a bridge near the strings you are trying to tune. Figure 4 shows the Crescendo CR-200 chromatic clip-on tuner clipped to a bridge.

�Figure 4. Crescendo CR-200 tuner clipped to a dulcimer bridge.

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Another strategy that works okay is to place a spare T-handle tuning wrench on one of the tuning pins and clip the tuner to the center of the handle.

Some dulcimers have a “relief slot,” a sort of narrow sound hole, in the frame below the edge of the soundboard. Some Dusty Strings, Blanton, and Rizzetta dulcimer models have this feature. The tuner clip will often fit in that relief slot to grip the edge of the soundboard, as seen in Figure 5. Tuners usually pick up all the notes really well at that position, and the display is easy to see. The tuner might need to be removed before playing so you can hit the highest strings. The clips of some tuners are too large to fit, and some slots are just too small. But it is often possible to pry off parts of the clip jaws or reshape the clips with a file to get a better fit.

�Figure 5. Tuner clipped to the soundboard through the relief slot.

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Clipping to wooden parts of the dulcimer might mar the finish sooner or later, but some of my dulcimers incorporate a hardwood pad for clipping a tuner. A few of my dulcimers have foot pads for setting the dulcimer on the floor on its short frame rail, and these pads are also a perfect place to clip tuners, as shown in Figure 6.

�Figure 6. Crescendo CR-200 tuner on foot pad.

Some tuners, like the popular Snark tuners for instance, have large clips that make it difficult to find a place to clamp on a dulcimer and get a good reading. In that case, I might try modifying the clips as described earlier. There is a risk of ruining the clips, but clip tuners are so inexpensive that it is worth a try.

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As I write, online prices, at Amazon for instance, start under $10, and some of the better clip tuners are under $30. However, I suggest that we patronize local music stores even if prices are higher. Generally, you can get helpful advice plus faster service if you have a problem, which saves headaches and money in the long run.

ACCESSORIES FOR USING CLIP-ON TUNERS

�Figure 7. Korg PitchHawk tuner clipped to a wedge in the relief slot.

I’ve devised some accessories that allow me to better use clip tuners on dulcimers. I don’t sell them, but you can readily make them yourself if you are a bit handy. The simplest is a wood wedge that slips snugly into the frame rail relief slot on dulcimers that have a slot. That provides a place to clip the tuner and permits using tuners that might not have clips to fit the slot. See Figure 7.

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Not all dulcimers have relief slots. So, I also make tuner accessories that attach to the metal hitch pins or to the tuning pins. One is a wooden friction clip that slides onto the hitch pins and has a block at the top for attaching the tuner. See Figure 8. Of course, it has to be made to fit a specific size hitch pin, and won’t fit all dulcimers.

�Figure 8. Korg PitchHawk G-2 on a friction clip to fit hitch pins.

Perhaps my favorite accessories, because they are more universal as well as small, portable, and easy to make, are the ones that I call “pin adapters.” They fit onto the tuning pins, and I’ve made two types. One uses the head of a tuning wrench with the handle removed and a little wooden block attached. See Figures 9 and 10. The block is a cube 5/8” on each side to perfectly accommodate clip-on tuners. A “T-handle” tuning wrench that fits your dulcimer can be modified into a portable adapter by just cutting off most of the handle.

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Figure 9. Pin adapter made from tuning wrench head.

�Figure10. Pin adapter made from tuning wrench head, with Korg G-2.

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The second pin adapter, shown in Figures 11 and 12, works equally well. It is simply a block of wood with a hole to fit onto a tuning pin. The hole should fit snugly and accurately. This is done by drilling an undersize hole and enlarging it by burning. A spare tuning pin is placed in a vise with the square head sticking out. The head is heated with a propane torch until it just begins to turn dull red. Then the wood block is pushed onto the hot pin head to enlarge and shape the hole. Finally, the outside of the block is tapered toward the hole end so the block will fit on to a tuning pin without interfering with adjacent pins.

�Figure 11. Wood block pin adapter, cherry wood.

This is a simple and cost effective clip tuner option if you already have the tools. I keep several on hand, and it is easy to make more if they get lost. Don’t ask how I know about loosing them!

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�Figure 12. Crescendo CR-200 tuner on wood pin adapter.

Both types of pin adapters are small and light weight; they transmit string vibrations to a clip tuner very well. All the notes on the dulcimer can be picked up from one location, and the tuner needs to be moved only once so you can tune the pin that the tuner was on. Since the majority of modern American dulcimers use zither-size tuning pins, an adapter that fits those will likely fit most dulcimers.

The Dusty Strings Dulci-Tune is a more sophisticated solution using a similar approach, and I’ll have more to say about it later. An advantage of the pin adapters is that the tuner can be left in place while you play or perform. Plus, you can still use the same tuner to tune other instruments. Thus, clip tuners really become hammer dulcimer tuners which, by the way, also let you tune a guitar! Or a mountain dulcimer, even. Will miracles never cease?

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CHOOSING CLIP-ON TUNERS

I’ve been making and tuning stringed instruments since the 1950s and using electronic tuners and chromatic clip-on tuners since they first became available. Of necessity I’ve owned well over a dozen different brands of clip tuners because they have failed so often. Since the display head is generally connected to the clip via plastic arms and moving joints, you might guess that they can break. And they do. But for me, most tuners failed electronically first. Most lasted just a few months. Especially disappointing was the GoGo TT-1 because it worked so well but died so quickly. The longest lasting was a Petersen StroboClip which lasted about two years. Either I live near some electro-magnetic anomaly that fries them, or they all use similar circuitry that is not very robust.

Most had accuracy that was only marginal. They indicated a note was in tune even when it was a little sharp or flat to the ear. Some, like Snark tuners, have bulky clips which limit where you can attach them on a dulcimer, although pin adapters can solve that problem.

The Petersen StroboClip is the most accurate clip-on I’ve owned with a claimed accuracy of 1/10 cent. It was also the most costly. Current retail is $99 but some online prices are much lower. The display mimics the rotating display of strobe tuners. If you want a clip-on with the better accuracy of a strobe, the StroboClip fills the bill. It also has presets for sweetened temperaments. I did like my StroboClip. But in the shop or recording studio I still prefer a real strobe or, better yet, the Tonal Energy Tuner app. And for tuning to practice, jam, teach, or perform, the accuracy of some less expensive tuners is not only okay but much easier and faster to use. Some have great displays that are more readable under difficult lighting conditions.

The 2015 generation of chromatic clip tuners seems much improved in function. I can only hope they last longer as well. I’ve tested several, and two of my current favorites deserve mention. They are the Crescendo CR-200 (about $22 online) and the Korg PitchHawk G-2

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(about $26 online). You can see each of them in some of the pictures above. Both have really nice color displays with bright characters and indicators against a contrasting black background. Visibility is excellent; readability is the strong point for these new tuners. But both have rather limited display head range of movement. The CR-200 has more head adjustability, while the G-2 display is viewable from a wider angle. Both are very easy to read, and quickly identify the note they hear. When listening to a tone generator, the CR-200 starts to indicate flat or sharp at about - 4.7 and + 3 cents. The G-2 has better accuracy, indicating flat or sharp at - or + 3 cents. Either one is okay for general, everyday tuning of strings.

I do like the G-2 display better, primarily because it shows deviations on a scale that is easier to interpret. Each mark on the scale seems to equal roughly 5 cents. This allows me to tune to approximations of tunings other than equal temperaments, like mean-tone temperament or just intonation. Although resolution is crude for this purpose, not as good as the larger tuners mentioned, the G-2 is the only small clip tuner I’ve tried so far that comes close to letting me do this. That really won’t matter to most dulcimer players, but it is a plus to me. Also, the long but narrow display allows the G-2 to fit in my small plastic hammer box along with two or three sets of hammers.

An unusual, and at first annoying, characteristic of the G-2 is that the ball and socket joint pops apart rather easily when pushed too far. However, it also easily snaps back together. So, it might be an advantage that the joint comes apart before it breaks. Time will tell. Tuners do suffer a hard life in my hands. There are chromatic tuners that cost less, but either of these is worth the price. Both have clips that are less bulky than the Snark clips. The G-2 costs more but is my number one pick among clip tuners at present.

I’ve only used the G-2 and CR-200 for a few weeks. So, I rate them highly for now, but that is subject to revision if they don’t hold up. Clip tuners seem to come and go like mayflies, so it is near impossible to test them all. You might find others you like.

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A DEDICATED HAMMER DULCIMER TUNER

I must disclose that I collaborate with Dusty Strings on hammer dulcimer designs. However, I have no connection with their new Dulci-Tune tuner. The Dusty Strings Dulci-Tune is a tuner for hammer dulcimer that combines the “pin adapter” concept and a tuner all in one elegant tool. Retail price is $79 with a spare battery, handy magnetic flat pick, and plastic case.

�Figure 13. Dusty Strings Dulci-Tune.

The Dulci-Tune has a metal “star head” that fits, just like a tuning wrench, onto the zither-size tuning pins of most American hammer dulcimers. Be aware that it does not fit the larger piano-size pins that were used on some older dulcimers. A star head fits the pins in 45 degree increments which is much preferably to the 90 degree

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increments of a square head. The star head is attached to a 2 inch long (50 mm) flexible gooseneck arm with a metal ball fixture on the end. And the ball is mated to the plastic socket of a Snark tuner display head. The plastic sockets on such tuners can occasionally break, but Dusty Strings adds a clever reinforcement that appears to make it a lot stronger.

The ball and socket combine with the flexible arm to provide excellent range of adjustability, much better than any clip tuner. It is dirt simple to bend the display to your perfect viewing angle. The metal parts and gooseneck seem extremely sturdy and should be long lasting. The ball and socket joint can even be taken apart if the Snark display head should ever need replacement. Dusty Strings says this requires a straight pull off and push on, and it takes some effort due to the reinforcement. The possibility of replacing just the relatively inexpensive display head is a real plus, since it is possible for tuners to fail electronically or at the plastic socket joint.

The display head is from the Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner, a chromatic clip tuner. While my earlier Snarks had marginal accuracy and eventually failed electronically, I was curious to test the newer SN-8. It has a very nice and easy to read color display that indicates notes quickly and holds them well. I attribute that partly to how well the gooseneck conducts vibrations to the pickup. When listening to a tone generator, the SN-8 started to indicate flat or sharp at about - 4 or + 5 cents, okay for most tuning. While slightly greater accuracy might be nice, in practice it can take too much time and tedium to try to tune to better tolerances when you have so many strings to tune as a hammer dulcimer.

While I do like the G-2 and CR-200 displays, in use the SN-8 display is also very good. It has an easy-to-read simplicity that facilitates the task of tuning. The color display has large, bright characters against a contrasting black background and is viewable from quite a distance. This display is the “big print” version of mini tuners; players who have vision issues should take note. While the features and price might be

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aimed at experienced players, this would certainly be an easy tuner for beginners to use.

With its flexible gooseneck, the Dulci-Tune is convenient beyond compare for hammer dulcimer tuning. Since I can get a perfect viewing angle without fuss and without needing accessories, tuning is simplified. It is compact and unobtrusive, so it can be left in place during a performance. If you like to tune with a pick, the magnetic flat pick that’s included will stick to the gooseneck ready to use. One minor downside is that you would need a different tuner for instruments other than hammer dulcimer, but that is not a huge burden. I travel with a spare tuner anyway. Since I’ve only used the Dulci-Tune for a few days, I can’t assess the durability of the Snark display.

So, that leads us to the obvious question, is the Dulci-Tune worth its comparatively hefty $79 price? It all depends on how much the convenience is worth to you and how well you like some of the other options. Some players will balk because they can find a Snark SN-8 online for about $13. But, the unique value of the Dulci-Tune is in its quality and elegant adaptation for the dulcimer.

I must admit the Dulci-Tune is a cool piece of gear. When I factor in the convenient user experience, the durable parts, and the effort it would take to make one, the Dulc-Tune starts to look like a fair value. Since the display head is replaceable if necessary, the investment seems more justifiable. Not everyone will be able to justify the cost, but I believe that dedicated players with a lot of strings to tune will really like it.

SUMMARY

In summary, the Tonal Energy Tuner app is awesome, with excellent accuracy should you ever need it. And, for quick tuning at home and on the go, clip-on tuners are convenient. I like the Korg PitchHawk G-2 and Crescendo CR-200. Finally, the more I use the Dusty Strings

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Dulci-Tune, the more I tend to grab it first, because it is so simple and fast to use and so easy to pack when traveling. I’ve been leaving it on one of my dulcimers where it looks like a little black sunflower peeking over the strings. The dulcimer might get lonely without it.

�Figure 14. Dulci-Tune.

Tuning has to be the most annoying part of hammer dulcimer ownership. Anything that makes that task easier, faster, or more pleasant gets our interest and is worth considering. I hope some of the tools and strategies discussed will make dulcimer life easier for you. And although tuning is still a chore, we should be truly thankful for electronic tuners.

Be in tune. And happy hammering!

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