This collection presents a colorful array of music for the fretted dulcimer illustrating a wide variety of playing styles and techniques. Mel Bay Publications asked Loisto author this method book/collection because of the adventurous diversity of her playing techniques and musical interests. It is a tour de force of mountain dulcimer playing techniques, ranging from traditional southern Appalachian to Cajun music, cowboy songs, sea chanteys, black spirituals, traditional Irish, Scottish, and English music, camp-meeting songs, and European, Mexican, Israeli, and Oriental folk music. The book also offer basic instruction on reading music and tablature, right- and left-hand techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs, strumming, fingerpicking, flatpicking, various tunings, and accompaniment chords. The pieces themselves are arranged in notation and tablature for the three-string dulcimer in a variety of tunings with lyrics where appropriate

Dulcimer Muse is a beautiful collection of fingerpicked and strummed tunes and songs arranged for the mountain dulcimer for players seeking to expand their repertoire. Thirty-one arrangements are gathered from Medieval and Renaissance eras, traditional folk music of Ireland, Scotland, England, Brittany and Spain, plus original compositions. Intended primarily for intermediate to advanced players and for some ambitious beginners, the pieces include melody lines in standard notation, mountain dulcimer tablature, with chords above most of the dulcimer tablature that can be shared with other musicians for accompaniment. Suggestions on how to play with greater musicality and ease are included. Set one-step lower than customary to bring out the dulcimer’s deeper tones; the majority of pieces are arranged in Mixolydian and Aeolian tunings.

Of all the mountain dulcimer books published over the past 20 years, this book is the jam-session standard. Contains 40 favorite fiddle tunesthat can easily be played in the regular keys and upto speed. In notation and tablature. Level of difficulty - intermediate. (Arranged for the beginner to advanced player intraditional keys fo they can be played with other instruments. Accompaniment chords included.)**Note - only 25 songs of the 40 total from the book are on online audio

This classic collection provides fretted dulcimer players with an authentic Irish repertoire. The 31 selections include jigs, slides, hornpipes, polkas, reels, slow airs, harp tunes, and songs. Accompaniment chords and musical notation are provided for other instruments. The modal music of Ireland fits well to the modal techniques and nuances of the dulcimer. It can drone like the uillean pipes, be rhythmic as a bodhran, and melodic like a fiddle. Lois gives the dulcimer player an important introduction to the techniques of applying Irish music to the dulcimer. Consider this the beginning of a new approach to an old music, and a point of departure for your own interpretations of tunes you love

Turlough O'Carolan is the most revered of all Irish harpers and composers. This collection, epertly transcribed in notation and tablature, presents 30 beloved O'Carolan medoldies featuring a uniquely Irish collection of moods and meditations. the arrangements are designed for the intermediate to advanced player, performing on a dulcimer with a 6 and 1/2 fret. the book also includes playing tips and a biographical sketch of Turlough O'Carolan.

Put some aloha into your playing with Hawaiian & Polynesian Music for Appalachian Dulcimer! More than just a repertoire collection of classic Pacific island melodies, this book includes the history and background stories of the individual tunes and a brief language pronunciation guide. In addition, the author provides humorous and insightful observations on interpretation, fingerstyle technique, and Hawaiian slack-key guitar style as applied to the mountain dulcimer. Written in standard notation and tablature for the 3-course dulcimer with the 6+ or 6½ fret, these fingerstyle arrangements are for intermediate to advanced mountain dulcimer players who are looking for a challenge and want to try something new. These arrangements sound best played fingerstyle, and make use of polyphony, harmonics, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and the sweet chords beloved by Island musicians. Some selections like “Aloha ‘Oe” are instantly recognizable, while others such as “Wehiwehi ‘Oe” or “Pauoa Liko ka Lehua” may be unfamiliar outside of Hawaii. Includes access to online audio of all 22 examples and melodies in DAD, CGC and DGD tunings. To help the student master these arrangements, the author provides detailed performance notes for each tune. Includes access to online audio.

Many of the developing dulcimer clubs and groups throughoutthe country wanted a book that would provide music for themto play in different voices. These 34 pieces are charming, with many familiar American folk favorites. New players often use this book for its melody parts alone, which provide simple arrangements of the tunes