Dulcimer string tension calculator
A four-string mountain dulcimer in DAD is strung D3, A3 and a doubled D4 melody pair. The calculator opens on the GHS D20-M set (.012, .012, .014 and a wound .024) and a 28½″ (724 mm) scale, and shows the pull of every string and of the whole set.
Tension of the GHS D20-M set in DAD, 28½″ (724 mm)
Four-string mountain dulcimer, melody pair doubled. Unit weights from D'Addario's tension chart.
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | .012 | 10.5 | 23.1 |
| 2 | D4 | .012 | 10.5 | 23.1 |
| 3 | A3 | .014 | 8.0 | 17.7 |
| 4 | D3 | .024w | 8.9 | 19.7 |
GHS D20-M Dulcimer Set, D mixolydian, loop end (Muziker, GHS text)
How to use it
- Enter your scale length. Measure from the nut to the 7th fret (the octave) and double it.
- Choose the tuning: DAD (D mixolydian on the open strings, the major scale from the 3rd fret, the most common tuning today) or DAA (D Ionian from the open melody string, the older drone tuning).
- Keep the GHS set or pick String by string and type the gauges on your packet. String 1 and 2 are the melody pair, string 4 the bass.
- Switch between lb, kg and N; ≈ marks an estimated gauge.
Help and explanations
At that scale the set totals about 83.6 lb (37.9 kg): 23.1 lb on each .012 melody string, 17.7 lb on the .014 middle and 19.7 lb on the .024 bass. Retune to DAA and the melody pair drops to 13.0 lb each, a 63.3 lb set. Change the scale to your instrument's and every figure follows.
How the tension is worked out
The formula is D'Addario's: T = UW × (2 × L × F)² ÷ 386.4, with unit weight UW in lb per inch, scale L in inches and frequency F in hertz. Plain steel weights come from the D'Addario tension chart, and the wound .024 uses the nickel-wound weight from the same chart. The GHS D20-M gauges come from GHS's description of the set, sold for DAD.
Scale length matters more on a dulcimer than on a guitar, because the range is wide. The same set that pulls 83.6 lb on 28½″ drops to 72.3 lb (32.8 kg) on a 26½″ dulcimer, about 14% less, and the melody strings go from 23.1 to 20.0 lb each.
Choosing gauges for your dulcimer
No maker publishes a target tension for the dulcimer. As a rough yardstick (our estimate, not a published figure), 15 to 20 lb per string feels comfortable to most players, and on a long 28″ to 29″ scale a .012 melody string in D4 pulls more than that. If it feels stiff, try a .011 or .010 and check the number here. On a short scale under 25″ the same set loses tension, so look at the bass: if it reads well below the others, a heavier wound string evens it out.
DAA takes about 44% off each melody string compared with DAD. If you switch tunings often, choose gauges for DAD and DAA will simply feel lighter.
Tips
- Changing a set? The dulcimer restringing guide covers loop ends, tail pins and the melody pair.
- Building a new dulcimer? Lay out the diatonic frets with the dulcimer fret calculator.
- A string that stands out on the chart will feel stiffer or looser than its neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge strings does a mountain dulcimer use?
For DAD on a standard 27″ to 28½″ scale, a typical set is .012 and .012 on the melody pair, .014 on the middle and a wound .024 on the bass, as in the GHS D20-M. Shorter scales often use slightly heavier strings for the same pitch.
What is the string tension on a dulcimer in DAD?
With the GHS D20-M on a 28½″ scale: 23.1 lb (10.5 kg) on each .012 melody string, 17.7 lb (8.0 kg) on the .014 and 19.7 lb (8.9 kg) on the .024, about 83.6 lb (37.9 kg) in total.
Does DAA tuning lower the tension?
Only on the strings you lower. Going from D4 to A3 on the melody pair takes each .012 from 23.1 to 13.0 lb on 28½″; the middle and bass strings stay the same, for a 63.3 lb total.
Are dulcimer strings loop end or ball end?
Most dulcimers take loop-end strings hooked on pins at the tail; some newer models use ball ends. The tension is the same for the same gauge, scale and pitch.
Can I use guitar strings on a dulcimer?
Yes, plain and wound guitar strings in the right gauges work if the tail takes ball ends. Check the tension here first: a .012 is fine for D4 on most scales, but a .010 tuned to A3 on 28½″ pulls only about 9 lb and feels slack.