As a dulcimer player, you will sooner or later begin to see or hear phrases like "modal instrument," "Ionian mode," "Mixolydian mode," "major modes," or "minor modes." I first encountered the term "modes" when learning about Gregorian chants in my music history class. It wasn't until I started playing the mountain dulcimer that I wished I had paid more attention in that class! This is a dulcimer player's explanation of the modes and how you can experience the modes and at the same time get more variety out of your playing by simply changing the tuning of your melody string. This article will present a brief explanation of the modes and then focus on the Aeolian Mode tuning, along with the tablature and recording of a song in my favorite modal tuning. After reading this article, I hope you will be inspired to try something new and enjoy!

What is a mode?

A mode is simply another name for a scale of seven different tones progressing by half or whole steps to each note (tone) in the scale. The order of these whole steps and half steps identify the specific seven modes in which the ancient Greeks mathematically worked out and established in the sixth century B.C. The Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian modes were named after people inhabiting Asia Minor. There are many fine publications available that study the modes in depth. The aim of this publication, however, is to introduce the four most common modes heard in Appalachian music and suggest songs, tunings, and arrangements for each of these. It is NOT a comprehensive guide to modal scale study.

Where is a mode?

If you look at your dulcimer fret board, without a 6-1/2 or 1-1/2 fret, then the scale structures are easy to see. The Ionian mode is the scale that has become our most common "major scale" of today. The correct alignment of half and whole steps begin on fret "3" and end on "10" to complete one octave. (Imagine the white notes of the piano from "c" to "c".)

Fret:		3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Interval:			whole	whole	half	whole	whole	whole	half
Solfege:	DO	RE	MI	FA	SOL	LA	TI	DO

The next closest related mode is similar to the above major scale, but has a "lowered 7th degree." The Mixolydian mode begins on open string and ends on "7." (Imagine "g" to "g" on the piano.)

Fret:		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Interval:			whole	whole	half	whole	whole	half	whole
Solfege:	DO	RE	MI	FA	SOL	LA	TE	DO

The Dorian mode begins on fret "4", ends of "11", and has a minor scale sound, with a "raised 6th degree," having a more haunting sound. (Imagine "d" to "d" notes on the piano.)

Fret:		4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Interval:			whole	half	whole	whole	whole	half	whole
Solfege:	LA	TI	DO	RE	MI	FI	SOL	LA

Another minor sounding mode is the Aeolian, beginning on fret "1," and ending on fret "8." This is sometimes referred to as the natural minor scale. (Imagine "a" to "a" notes on the piano.)

Fret:		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Interval:			whole	half	whole	whole	half	whole	whole
Solfege:	LA	TI	DO	RE	MI	FA	SOL	LA

Let's look at this mode and how you can tune your dulcimer for the above scale structure.

The beauty of this mode is heard in the melody moving over the drone strings. However, accompanying chords give an optional "harmonic" sound for singing, or playing with other instruments, if desired. The chart below presents some common chord positions in this tuning.

Take some time to explore the scale improvising on frets 1 through 8. You will no doubt come up with melodies that you recognize in this minor mode. The tablature below will give you the song "Wayfarin' Stranger." Notice that the key signature for this tune has a b flat, indicating a d minor tuning. Thus, the notes of the DAC tuning:

You can use the optional chords notated above the melody for accompanying the singing verse.