DulcimerStickClassNotes

Class Notes for How to make a dulcimer stick

Class materials

Class slides (pdf)

Tuning Peg Slot Cutting on the Drill Press Using a Forstner Bit (pdf)

Audio Recording of Class

End block template (small)

End block template (large)

Resources

Buying

Strum Stick This is the guy that invented the instrument (also the Martin travel guitar)

Building

You Tube

How to build a strum stick, part 1 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to build a strum stick, part 2 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to build a strum stick, part 3 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to build a strum stick, part 4 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to build a strum stick, part 5 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to build a strum stick, part 6 by Andy Mackey (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to make a Music Stick by Bill Atkins

How to build a strum stick by Evan Harrison (instructables)

Supplies

Pickin’ stick - Building a stringed Instrument Book which got me started!

Stewart MacDonald Luthier Supply

Luthier’s Mercantile

McKinney Hardwoods (lumber)

Woodcraft (exotics [ebony], tools)

Wood World (lumber)

CB Gitty Medium Fret Wire

Guitar Tuners

Mandolin Tuners

Bone nut and bridge blanks

Adjustable Suede Leather Strap for Strum stick

Playing

The Strum Stick Playing Instructions and Owners Manual, Part 1

The Strum Stick Playing Instructions and Owner’s Manual, Part 2

Strum Stick Instruction CD (download)

Chord Diagrams

How to play the music stick, part 1 by Matt Circley (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to play the music stick, part 2 by Matt Circley (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

How to play the music stick, part 3 by Matt Circley (courtesy of Evan Harrison)

Construction Notes

These instruments (like most folk instruments) offer a lot of possible variations when constructing. In this section folks who build them may post information about their build, along with photos and sound samples, and provide some feedback about what they like and don’t like about the build.

Walter Anderson

Smaller of the two instruments (at right)

Specifications:
Scale length: 22 3/4”
Width: 7/8”
Thickness: 1 1/16”
Length: ~ 29”
Neck Material: American Black Walnut, plain cut
Back Material: Birds eye maple
Front Material: Western Red Cedar
Nut Material: Ebony
Bridge Material: Ebony\

Built directly to match specifications in the book above. Scale length was 22 3/4”. So the stick is 7/8” wide, 1 1/16” thick, and finishes to about 29” long. It is tuned to GAg’ (though other tunings are possible). It was constructed with mandolin strings. My primary issue with this instrument is that the narrow fret board (stick) is very difficult for my fat fingers to avoid contact with two adjacent strings. Someone with small hands (like a child) would probably like the size better.

Larger of the two instruments (at right)

Specifications:
Scale length: 22 3/4”
Width: 7/8”
Thickness: 1 1/16”
Length: ~ 33”
Neck Material: American Black Walnut, plain cut
Back Material: Birds eye maple
Front Material: Western Red Cedar
Nut Material: Ebony
Bridge Material: Ebony\

This instrument was a direct result of my concern over the smaller size of the previous. I made it with a stick that was 1 3/8” wide, and 1 1/4” thick. I chose a longer scale length (not needed for the different tuning, but helped) of 25 1/2”. I like the width of this one; however, the thickness is a slight bit too much and makes the instrument feel a little ‘clunky’ in my hands. I suspect a larger man, might like this one…

Instrument made to document process for class

Specifications:
Scale length: 22 3/4”
Width: 1 1/4”
Thickness: 1 1/4”
Length: ~
Neck Material: American Black Walnut, plain cut
Back Material: Birds eye maple
Front Material:
Nut Material: Ebony
Bridge Material: Ebony\