Practical Music Theory for Mountain Dulcimer, Intermediate

Tuesdays: September 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 2026.

3:00–4:00 p.m. Central / 4:00–5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Five 60-minute sessions. $120 per course.

This is a standalone course.

How do you choose a chord when there isn’t one printed above the melody? And once you choose it, where do you put your fingers? I’ll show you how I use three main chord shapes to find major and minor chords, then put them to work with real music.

We’ll start with the shapes, find them in different places, and use melody notes to choose chords that fit. Then we’ll turn it around and use chords to find notes for melodies, harmonies, and fills. We’ll also use the shapes for backup and simple chord-melody.

We’ll work with familiar musical examples as we look at chord families, common progressions, keys, and the number system. I want you to hear why a chord works and know how to try another choice. You don’t have to memorize a thick chord book.

I’ll use my interactive mountain dulcimer chord and fretboard website to show how the notes, chords, and shapes connect. You can use it on your own between sessions, too.

You should be comfortable reading tablature and playing a few common chords. DAD tuning. Bring a capo. Tablature and printed chord reference materials will be provided.

I’ll record each entire live session from beginning to end. You’ll receive all five complete session videos whether or not you attend live, so you can review and practice along at your own pace.

Taking two or more different courses in this series? Use COURSEBUNDLE at checkout for 10% off. Current Mountain Dulcimer A to Z subscribers receive 20% off with their subscriber code. Use one discount per order; discounts do not combine. If you register on different days or forget the code, email me and I’ll help you get the discount.