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Bing Futch - Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer

Item Number 1310139

Regular price $30.00

Bing Futch’s “Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer” is the most comprehensive how-to-learn-the-dulcimer book available. You’ll learn the basics, sure, and start playing songs right away. Even better, though, is the depth of content that Bing provides for beginner mountain dulcimer players. This one incomparable volume offers it all - technique, repertoire, theory, history, and FUN!

This book DOES include songs and exercises in a variety of tunings. DAD, of course, but also tunings that were more common 70 or 120 years ago - DAA, DGD, etc. This is not the "first" dulcimer book you should get - it's the "second". Not because of the quality of the content, but because the alternate tunings intimidate some folks. Order this along with the "First Lessons" book and you'll be good to go!

Once you’ve worked your way through this mountain dulcimer book, you’ll be a competent dulcimer player that can enjoy playing with any group. You’ll have a great time honing your skills with Bing, and you’ll end up with a wealth of technical skills, music fundamentals, and dulcimer repertoire!

This amazing book includes free downloadable audio files that you can use to teach your ear how the tunes and exercises should sound. Here's a link to the page with the audio files.

This beginner dulcimer book is published by Folkcraft® Instruments, under the Fingers Of Steel® imprint.

133 pages.

Customer Reviews

Based on 21 reviews
67%
(14)
10%
(2)
19%
(4)
5%
(1)
0%
(0)
M
Marsha Janota
Theory but no technique

I am in the process of buying my first mountain dulcimer. If Bing’s Beginning Mountain Dulcimer book were the only beginner book to use, I would be cancelling my order for a dulcimer. I would have no idea how to proceed. In this book, a beginner is asked to go back and forth among many tunings without a clear explanation as to why. Most songs in the book are in DAA, some in DAD, some in other tunings. The author cautions that changing tunings often causes a slackening of the melody string.
Most of the book covers Modes; I’ll admit that this is over my head, but hey, I’m a beginner. Perhaps I’ll come back to this book once I learn how to hold, strum and pick the instrument (where is one supposed to pick .. in the hollow, half way up, anywhere?). If, like me, you’re looking for a book on basic techniques and some nicely arranged beginner arrangements in DAD, this might not be a good choice. (But I still think you’re great, Bing!)

Note: In DAD, the book represents an open melody string as D5 (Loch Lomand). Other books say that same string is D4.

J
Jennifer Mundine

Checking it out….

L
Liston Mallard
Not what I was hoping for

When my dulcimer arrives it will be tuned to the suggested DAD. Early in the book, I am instructed to tune the dulcimer to DAA. And in those instructions I think there is a typographic error because if I follow the instructions, all strings will be tuned to AAA. Most of the training is in DAA.
I appreciate the youtube videos done by the author and will strive to be 1/250 of his skill level in the next 15 years. So I give this book a rating of 3 stars. I am not currently happy with it, but in time I will try using it.

S
Stephanie Cudo
Great beginner's book!

I have never played a stringed instrument before, nor can I even read music, and so far, I have found this book to be a great starting resource. I haven't gotten very far, but I am excited to make my way through the whole thing. I find the progression of concepts to be quite logical and intuitive to follow, and having audio files of the different exercises really helps me with the learning process. It's made me feel much more confident in learning how to play this instrument when I used to doubt if I would ever be able to play anything.

L
Linda Becker
know what you need

I got "Bing Futch - Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer" since I am very familiar with music theory (via piano). What I was not familiar with was working with a stringed/fretted instrument. I found an easier beginner book that gave more information on strumming and finger placement by Joyce Och's. Also, make sure your dulcimer is modern fretting not traditional fretting if using these books. I am looking forward to progressing to the Bing Futch book soon. Also taking time with Banjo Lemonade with Mandy on-line.