The Dulcimer Doctor Diagnoses Fret Buzz
Good Morning, Y'all - Happy Friday!
I have a list of things I want to write about for our newsletter's "In The Shop" segment, and I've been putting today's topic off for a long time. While it's really helpful knowledge, it's also difficult to write about. So please bear with me!
One of the most common problems that people have with their dulcimers is something called "fret buzz". It's an annoying sound made when an oscillating string (one that you've just picked or strummed) touches one of your frets. It is a metallic sound (metal string hitting metal fret), and it can be highly annoying. This only happens when a string hits a fret.
There are several reasons for a string to hit a fret. Some of the potential reasons are "human caused" and some of the reasons are due to the instrument itself. I'm going to enumerate some of the possibilities here.
CAUSES
1) Strings too loose. Do you remember from two weeks ago, when we talked about tuning from DAD down to B♭ F B♭? The strings got really loose. Loose strings like this oscillate in wider patterns, and are more prone to hitting the frets.
2) Strings too light. Some really great players like to use really light strings (Carol Walker is a great example of a top-tier player using very light strings). Lighter strings have the same issue as loose strings - they oscillate so widely that they will sometimes hit the frets as they move back and forth. (Carol has such precise and controlled technique that she doesn't get fret buzz.)
3) Nut or bridge too low, or string slots in nut/bridge too deep. If the string is too close to the fret (because it is low at either end of the instrument) you can get fret buzzes, since even a normal oscillation (with the correct gauge of string) will cause the string to strike the fret.
4) Warped fretboard. Sometimes the center part of a fretboard will warp or bulge, causing it to rise higher than either end. The ideal fretboard is totally flat, or has a tiny dip in the middle. A high spot in the middle of a fretboard means that some of the frets are too close to the strings.
5) Fret too high. Sometimes a fret is installed incorrectly, and stands proud of the neighboring frets. The proud (tall!) fret is closer to the strings, and might well be close enough to give you some fret buzz.
6) The player. I always have to approach this "problem" delicately! A very heavy strummer is more prone to getting fret buzz than a gentle player. The wide oscillations introduced from a heavy strum can easily cause fret buzz.
7) The player - #2. Where you're strumming... The sweet spot (tone vs volume) for strumming most dulcimers is above fret 17. Moving the strum closer to the bridge is a bit more powerful, but can become very nasal, tonally. Moving the strum closer to the center of the fretboard (to say, fret 10, or even fret 7) gives a beautiful, sweet tone. But strumming closer to the center of the fretboard makes fret buzz far more likely. Even a modest (normal) strum above fret 7 is prone to causing fret buzz.
Now we'll talk a bit about how to decide what problem you actually have. Sometimes an instrument has more than one of these issues.
DIAGNOSIS OF FRET BUZZES (HOW TO DIAGNOSE/FIX A FRET BUZZ)
Sight down the fretboard. Hold the tail of the instrument at your cheek, and look down the edge of the fretboard, toward the head of your dulcimer. Do you see the fretboard sitting flat, or is there a little dip in the middle? You should be fine. Do you see a bulge in the middle of the fretboard? This could be a problem.
If your fretboard is flat, or has a small dip in the middle, then your fix is easy. You need to raise the strings a bit farther from the frets. We're going to do this by putting something (a shim of some type) underneath either the nut, or the bridge.
Play the string that's giving you a fret buzz, or play the string that's giving you the "worst" fret buzz. Usually this'll be the bass string, but it could be any of your strings. Use a pick, and don't play "hard" to emphasize the buzz. Play normally.
Pick the one string, by itself, right above the last fret (usually that's fret 17 on a Folkcraft or FolkRoots dulcimer). Do you hear the buzz on the open string? Try pressing the string down at fret 1. Does the buzz go away? If so, you have this:
BUZZ ON OPEN STRING THAT GOES AWAY
WHEN YOU PUSH THE STRING TO A FRET
If you hear the buzz on the open string, but not when you're playing fret 1, then the problem is likely with the nut. So let's raise the string, at the nut. Here's how: Loosen your strings, so that the nut can be lifted out of its slot. Put a piece, the size of your nut (typically 1/8" by 1 3/8" or 1 1/2") of paper in the bottom of the nut's slot, put the nut back in place, and then tune your dulcimer. At this point, you go back to playing the problematic string "open". Is the buzz gone? Great! You're done. Go play some fun music.
Is the buzz still there, but maybe not as bad? Also great - this means that we're on the right track. Loosen the strings, remove the nut, add another layer of paper. Try again. At some point the buzz on the open string will go away.
Your piece of paper (1/8" x 1 3/8") might end up being several pieces of thin paper. Or thicker paper, like construction paper. Or even a cut down business card. But what if you have this problem:
NO BUZZ ON OPEN STRING, BUT "YES TO BUZZ"
WHEN PUSHING THE STRING TO A FRET
How about if there's no buzz on the open string, but there IS a buzz when you're fretting your dulcimer? Maybe there's a buzz when you're fretting fret 3, or fret 7. When this happens, your issue is most likely the bridge. We're going to use the same technique we just used for raising the strings at the nut, but this time we're going to put shims (one at a time) underneath the bridge. Slowly raise the string, until the buzz goes away. But what if you have this (much less common) ailment:
BUZZ WHEN PLAYING OPEN, AND ALSO WHEN PLAYING A FRET
If you have a "combination" buzz, you might have to add height to both the nut and the bridge. Usually when this happens, you'll have other things wrong with a fretboard, too, not just the setup on the nut or bridge. But you can add height with impunity - it won't hurt your instrument, and might well solve your problems. Worst case, nothing works, and you have to send your instrument in for repair or adjustment.
I recall a few years ago, sitting backstage at a wonderful festival in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. I was warming up, waiting to assemble with the other artists for the evening performance. And developed a buzz on my open, melody string. My luthier tools were all packed in my van, and I didn't have access to my backup dulcimer - not in time to take the stage. But I had my pocket knife, and found a concert program. I made a quick sliver of paper, used it to raise my action, and got through the show without incident.
At some point, this quick-fix method (shims to raise the string height) might not be enough. But a skilled luthier (fretted instrument builder/repair person) can fix most anything.
I hope this helps! It's a tricky thing, diagnosing fret buzzes, but if you follow the process (above), you'll be able to fix most buzzes.
Happy playing, Y'all - Have a great weekend!
Richard Ash - luthier-who's-likely-to-start-beekeeping-soon-and-hopes-to-hear-lots-of-non-fret-buzzes-around-the-yard
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: MICHELLE BOWLING
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Michelle: I have been playing the dulcimer for about five years now.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Michelle: I recently purchased my first Folkcraft - the LAP-JO - in August of 2023. Then in October, I purchased my dulcimer.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Michelle: I play in church, with a small group I just started meeting with, and in the coffee shop. I play my best concerts at home though - in front of my pets and my family. And when the weather is nice, outside on my patio.
Folkcraft: What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing the dulcimer?
Michelle: I've also started taking piano lessons. I enjoy hiking, reading, and crochet.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE MICHELLE & YOU!
FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU!
No new Folkcraft Player to feature again this week, but we are still happy to re-feature Michelle Bowling. Hi, Michelle! Are you enjoying the crisp, fall weather?
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1. How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
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This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
In this mini lesson, Mandy Tyner (of Banjo Lemonade) teaches you three beginner chords and gives you a couple of great tips on fretting! Have fun! Just click on the image below to listen & learn. CLICK HERE to visit the page on our website where you can download the free TAB.
We have a slew (that's a fancy luthier word for "bunch") of videos for you to watch on our YouTube channel. Click here to see the full list. Be sure to comment on a video, and subscribe to the channel - either action helps us a LOT with YouTube's suggestion algorithms.
BAKER'S DOZEN - VOLUME #2 - FIDDLE TUNES
by Shelley Stevens
This great collection includes 13 classic American fiddle tunes, each presented with both standard notation and dulcimer tablature. Enjoy playing these beloved tunes on your mountain dulcimer with this fun and engaging songbook. (21 pages)
SONGS INCLUDED:
Blackberry Blossom - DAD Tuning
Flop-Eared Mule - DAD Tuning
Flying Hog Reel - DAD Tuning
Folding Down The Sheets - DAD Tuning
Jenny Lind Polka - DAD Tuning
Johnson Boys - DAD Tuning
Petronella - DAD Tuning
Shady Grove - DAD Tuning
Shakin’ Down The Corn - DAD Tuning
St. Anne’s Reel - DAD Tuning
Staten Island - DAD Tuning
Whiskey Before Breakfast (Fiddle Style) - DAD Tuning
Whiskey Johnny - DAD Tuning
ALSO AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM AT FOLKCRAFT.COM
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