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These two techniques are very similar and the effect is much the same, so for the sake of comparison they are included together in this tutorial. Michael Fox told me he virtually never uses drop thumbing on the Dulcijo, but it seems natural to me and I use it without thinking about it so I’m including it. You’ll be in good company if you ignore it altogether but it’s here just in case.

Here’s an example of double thumbing. I’ve made the first note in each measure a quarter note just for a little variety and to delineate each measure. The remainder of each measure is the double thumbing technique. It’s basically just a repetition of the thumb on the top string. This short exercise takes you from D to D on the 1st string. The right hand finger used to play each note is written below each note. (T=Thumb and M=Middle or Index).

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Normal MIDI

Now compare the drop thumbing exercise below with the double thumbing exercise above. They’re identical except for one note in each measure (the “and” that follows the 3rd beat). On that particular note you bring your thumb all the way down to the 1st string, so your thumb rotates between playing the 3rd string and the 1st string. This is basically the same as drop thumbing on clawhammer banjo except on the banjo you go down to the 2nd string. Generally, on the Dulcijo when doing drop thumbing you should go down and play the string on which you are playing the melody, and in this case it’s the 1st string. Be sure to watch the video to get an idea of how you should hold your right hand when drop thumbing.

Very Slow MIDI

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Normal MIDI

The final example shows drop thumbing to the 2nd string while playing the melody on the 2nd string. When playing a melody on the 2nd string it usually sounds really good to include the first string as a drone, so don’t worry about hitting just the 2nd string with your middle finger. Playing the 1st string open on any of the notes will give your playing a more dulcimer-like sound.

Notice also that the standard notation is exactly the same for the above example as well as the one below because all of the notes are the same even though you’re playing one on the 1st string and the other on the 2nd string.

Very Slow MIDI

Slow MIDI

Normal MIDI

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