Charlie's Dulcimers

Share Charlie's joy in building and playing dulcimers!

[Best book on how to build a
Hammered Dulcimer! This is the one you want.]

Charlie Alm's Hammered Dulcimer Book

Item number: HDB
Charlie Alm, has written a book on Hammered Dulcimers. It is called "THE HAMMER DULCIMER BOOK - How I Build the Things". It has been advertised in Fine WoodWorking, Dulcimer Players News, Sing Out, and American Luthiers Guild. He has built over 100 of the instruments and is very well known in the midwest.

It is the most detailed book on building hammered dulcimers. It is basic enough to be helpful to a novice, and in-depth enough to help an experienced builder. There are a number of books that discuss the Hammered Dulcimer in some detail, but this goes the farthest. This is the book to help you build your hammered dulcimer. The book is now in its eighteenth printing. He has received orders from every state in the U.S. and many other countries, including: Japan, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, England, Germany, Norway, Israel, Phillipines, Hungary, Scotland, Netherlands, Isle of Man, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Greece, Denmark, and Ireland.

For more information on Charlie's book, to see photos of ones which were built using the book, and to read testimonials from people who have ordered the book, visit his main site at Charlie Alm's Hammered Dulcimers, or you can click the button below to order now.

Only $19.95 USD

Click here for to see what customers say about the book.

Charlie Plays Westphalia Waltz on Hammered Dulcimer

Charlie plays Westphalia Waltz on the hammered dulcimer. The Westphalia Waltz , originally a risque Polish folk song called, "Pytala Sie Pani" or "Wszystkie Rybki" was know prior to 1920. Great video for beginners to learn this song, as hammering is clearly visible. The dulcimer is #63, built in 1987, a 12/11 made of Indiana cherry wood, and features wheat sheaf sound holes, sitka spruce sound board dyed black, and a lid. Charlie has a number of hammered dulcimer tunes on YouTube.

Charlie Plays Golden Slippers on Hammered Dulcimer

Charlie plays Golden Slippers on the hammered dulcimer. Golden Slippers is a spiritual made popular in the years after the American Civil War by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. It is sometimes known by its first line, What Kind of Shoes You Gwine (Going) To Wear. Great video for beginners to learn this song, as hammering is clearly visible. The dulcimer is #63, built in 1987, a 12/11 made of Indiana cherry wood, and features wheat sheaf sound holes, sitka spruce sound board dyed black, and a lid. Charlie has a number of hammered dulcimer tunes on YouTube.

How to Tune a Lap or Mountain Dulcimer

Charlie shows how to tune a mountain dulcimer. First, tune the bass (or big) string so it is not to tight or too loose and sounds pleasing. Then hold it down at the fourth fret and tune all of the other strings to be the same note. If you are playing with others you simnply tune the bass string to match them, and re-tune the others as described.

Charlie uses machine tuners on all of the dulcimers he builds and recommends them, especially to beginners. This is not strictly "traditional" -- the traditional dulcimer has wooden friction tuning pegs, like a violin. If you have ever tried to tune an instrument with this type of pegs you know how hard it is. The machine tuners make a dulcimer MUCH easier to tune. This dulcimer is made of 150 year old Indiana tulip poplar wood, and features hummingbird sound holes and Grover tuning pegs. It is the 554th Appalachian or lap dulcimer Charlie has built.

Charlie Plays Wildwood Flower on Mountain Dulcimer

Charlie plays Wildwood Flower on the mountain dulcimer. Written in 1860 by Maud Irving with music by Joseph Philbrick Webster, the original title was I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets. It was made famous by the Carter Family, and later Woody Guthrie used the melody for his song, The Ruben James. Great video for beginners to learn this song, as frets and fingering are clearly visible. The dulcimer is made of 150 year old Indiana tulip poplar wood, and features hummingbird sound holes and Grover tuning pegs. This is the 554th Appalachian or lap dulcimer Charlie has built. Charlie has many more mountain dulcimer tunes up on YouTube.

Charlie Plays Amazing Grace on Mountain Dulcimer

Charlie plays Amazing Grace on the mountain dulcimer. Amazing Grace was written by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (17251807) and published in 1779. Great video for beginners to learn this song, as frets and fingering are clearly visible. The dulcimer is made of 150 year old Indiana tulip poplar wood, and features hummingbird sound holes and Grover tuning pegs. This is the 554th Appalachian or lap dulcimer Charlie has built. You can see Sukie the little calico cat has got up on the couch to be next to Charlie as he is playing. In the background you can hear Charlie's greatgranddaughter, Rachael, who is 19 months old.

Alternate Payment: If you wish you can pay with a personal check or money order. Please call for amount of shipping to include. If you are uncomfortable with making payments over the internet, it is fine to call us up and pay with your credit card over the phone. Our phone: 765-563-3504 during business hours 9-5 EST. Our mailing address is: Prairie Wind Toy Co., P.O. Box 428, Brookston, IN 47923-0428. Questions? Don't be bashful about calling -- real people answer our phones!

Prairie Wind Toy Company
P.O. Box 428
Brookston, IN 47923
765-563-3504

Questions about Charlie's book, "Hammered Dulcimer, How I Build the Things"?
Click to email us questions about the Hammered Dulcimer Book.