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Bing Futch- Method For Beginning Mountain Dulcimer

Regular price $25.00

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 you in this one incomparable volume - 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.

Once you’ve worked your way through this 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!

With your purchase, we'll email you a link so that you may download the PDF version of your new book. The PDF file is in ZIP format - you'll need to unzip the file after your download is complete.

After you've extracted the files from your ZIP folder, you can print the sheet music, or enjoy it on your tablet or PC.

Your ZIP file will include:

  • The complete book, in PDF format (104 pages)
  • A folder with each song demo track, in MP3 format, so that you can hear how each song/example is supposed to be played (105 tracks)

This book is published by Folkcraft Instruments, under the Fingers Of Steel imprint, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.

Customer Reviews

Based on 21 reviews
67%
(14)
10%
(2)
19%
(4)
5%
(1)
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M
Marsha
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.