You could say the Merlin and Strumstick are the offsprings of the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer. Yet, the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer is in the Zither group of stringed instruments, while the Merlin and Strumstick are in the Lute group.
Can someone explain the comment about the Marlin’s first fret being the 4th fret on a mountain dulcimer? Are we talking about length/scale only, and not musically? On a Merlin, the low D strings first three frets are E, F# and G, same as a mountain dulcimer. Unless you’re saying “Merlin” universally, but the model in the video appears to be the “G model” (physically identical instrument strung with a lower gauge tuned GCGG) because that model has numbered frets whereas the standard Merlin (DADD) isn’t numbered.
We are talking about scales. These are diatonic instruments so the scale patterns are set. The mountain dulcimer frets are as follows; full, full, half, full, full, half, full, full, full, half, full, full, half, full, full, full, half. The Merlin (G or D models are; full, full, half, full, full, full, half. In order to line this sequence up with the mountain dulcimer you must start at the 4th fret. This is only important in the fact that tab music for the mountain dulcimer cannot be used for the Merlin.
JOHN I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING GOOD WELL I WENT TO YOUR COUNTRY HOME IN 2015 BUT I REALIZED RECENTLY THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN TO YOUR CITY HOUSE SO IN 2021 MAYBE WE WILL GO (JULY 16TH TO SEPTEBER 14TH)
TablEdit v3.01 supports these three instruments. For the Merlin, the module name of a Strumstick module must begin with "Merlin".
Thank you for the explanation. I think I'm going to try the Merlin.
You could say the Merlin and Strumstick are the offsprings of the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer.
Yet, the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer is in the Zither group of stringed instruments,
while the Merlin and Strumstick are in the Lute group.
I got an Appalachian mountain dulcimer for Christmas in 2017, it's tuned in the key of D.
Can someone explain the comment about the Marlin’s first fret being the 4th fret on a mountain dulcimer? Are we talking about length/scale only, and not musically? On a Merlin, the low D strings first three frets are E, F# and G, same as a mountain dulcimer. Unless you’re saying “Merlin” universally, but the model in the video appears to be the “G model” (physically identical instrument strung with a lower gauge tuned GCGG) because that model has numbered frets whereas the standard Merlin (DADD) isn’t numbered.
We are talking about scales. These are diatonic instruments so the scale patterns are set.
The mountain dulcimer frets are as follows;
full, full, half, full, full, half, full, full, full, half, full, full, half, full, full, full, half.
The Merlin (G or D models are;
full, full, half, full, full, full, half.
In order to line this sequence up with the mountain dulcimer you must start at the 4th fret.
This is only important in the fact that tab music for the mountain dulcimer cannot be used for the Merlin.
This was very helpful, thanks!
Actually you can downtune a merlin, so long as the top 2 strings are in tune with the series on bottom, i use "guns n roses" tuning. Which is D and G
JOHN I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING GOOD
WELL I WENT TO YOUR COUNTRY HOME IN 2015
BUT I REALIZED RECENTLY THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN TO YOUR CITY HOUSE
SO IN 2021 MAYBE WE WILL GO (JULY 16TH TO SEPTEBER 14TH)
Good idea!
Which of the 3 is best for a beginner?
I would say the Seagul Merlin.
Me to. I should be getting mine this month!
And where is the music playing?