Ionian
/ DAA
Ionian mode, commonly referred to as DAA, is Dan’s favourite mountain dulcimer
tuning. Ionian / DAA allows Dan to play major scale melodies and chords but also
to play minor chords to accompany a minor-scale song. There are also other chord
families, proving the rich harmonic potential of the dulcimer in Ionian.
Dan exploits
this harmonic potential by finger-picking
chords to accompany his fine baritone
voice on folk songs. He also arranges
songs as instrumental airs in Ionian.
other dulcimer tunings
Dan uses
The Dorian mode (DAG) conjures up a strong
sense of the medieval on the dulcimer,
Bagpipe tuning (AAA) gives a rich sound
with either a major (Ionian) or a Mixolydian
scale and the Aeolian mode (DAC) is sometimes
used to evoke a sense of the Elizabethan
period. |
