Musical instruments are the necessary material conditions for performers to show their artistic talents. It is the common wish of every dulcimer player to get a handy dulcimer. So how can we choose a satisfactory dulcimer and have it for a long time? It is very important to choose and maintain the dulcimer.

1. The choice of dulcimer

First of all, it depends on whether the material used for making the piano is high-quality wood. The wood grain and wood color of the dulcimer panel are required to be uniform. Because the panel is made of multiple pieces of sycamore wood, if the material selection and production are not good, there will be color differences. The panel is uniform and the panel is uneven. Because the panel of the dulcimer directly affects the tone and sound quality, it is the most important core part of selecting the dulcimer.

The second is to look at the quality of other components, including whether the pegs and pegs are neatly arranged, whether there are cracks around, whether the pegs are vertical, and whether the rotation is flexible. Whether the balls and small yards are in order, whether the left and right cover plates are in line with the piano body, and whether the hinges are appropriate, otherwise there will be noise.

Once again, look at the production process of the piano. The paint and color of the piano should be uniform and shiny. Whether the strings and pegs are rusted, pay attention to check the body for defects, cracks and scratches.

Finally, listen to the timbre and sound quality of the piano, which will ultimately determine the choice of the piano, so it is also the most critical. The primary criteria for a high-quality dulcimer are pure sound quality and beautiful sound. From the bass region to the treble region, it should be connected up and down. Compare whether the sound quality of each sound region is balanced and uniform, the reverberation is long, the hand feels elastic, the sound is strong, concentrated, and there is a certain amount of sound. penetrating power.

2. The maintenance of dulcimer

In order to keep your beloved musical instrument in good condition and prolong its life as much as possible, it is essential to give it careful care and maintenance.

General maintenance methods:

Moisture-proof: Putting the dulcimer in a damp place will easily cause the strings to rust.

Sun protection: Do not put the dulcimer in a place with strong sunlight, otherwise it will not only cause the strings to run, but also crack the panel and reduce the service life.

Antifreeze: Do not put the dulcimer in a place that is too cold, the body of the violin will be deformed when it freezes, affecting its service life.

Anti-baking: Don't put the dulcimer next to the heater, especially in the winter in the north.

Shockproof: Avoid collisions and bumps, especially when handling.

Anti-pressure: Do not place heavy objects on the dulcimer, which will not only cause the strings to run, but also break the strings and bridges.

Dust-proof: Clean the dust on the body frequently. If there is too much dust, it will not only affect the vibration of the panel, but also bring noise. You should cover the dulcimer when you are not playing.

In order to maintain the average tension of the strings, the balls should not be moved easily except for tuning, and should develop a good habit of tuning the strings at any time and establishing a fixed pitch.

The pitch of the piano must be kept at 440 Hz, and it cannot be low-load or high-load for a long time, which can also be said to be a taboo on the use of the instrument. In addition, when the strings are broken or the strings are loose or black, they should be completed or replaced in time, and attention should be paid to the tuning of the strings. When there is a noise, it should be dealt with in time.

The correct method of tuning and striking is the best maintenance for the dulcimer.

1. Tuning method

Before tuning, it is necessary to check whether the string numbers on each string are consistent, and each string should be evenly separated. Generally, the ball should be placed in the middle of the rolling plate. The tuning procedure is based on the fixed phonemic arrangement of the dulcimer, and cyclic tuning according to the interval relationship of fifths and octaves.

The specific method of tuning: First, use the tail of the piano bamboo with the left hand to pluck the strings up and down, and use the wrench to turn the pegs with the right hand to tune the pitch on one saddle to the same level. Turning left raises the note, turning right lowers it. When tuning steel strings, generally tune the tone on the left side of the bridge first, and then tune the tone on the right side of the bridge. When the interval relationship is inaccurate, you can use the method of moving the ball to make fine adjustments. The direction and force of rotation when tuning is also important. When the wrench is inserted into the peg, it needs to be stable and vertical. When rotating, the force should be even and slow, and the action should not be too fast or too violent, otherwise the peg will be loose, the strings will easily run, and the piano cannot be tuned. Therefore, the correct tuning method is an important guarantee of intonation.

2. How to strike the strings

The correct strike method is not only the guarantee of all performance skills, but also has an important influence on the maintenance of the dulcimer. It is important to have a dulcimer with a good sound quality, but if you strike the strings incorrectly, not only will it not make it sound beautiful, but it will also reduce its lifespan.

The first thing to do is to use the correct "string touch point", which refers to the position where the bamboo falls on the strings. Generally, it is better to be about 2 cm away from the piano yard. This is the best position for the strings to vibrate, and the tone is better. The rule is that the higher the pitch, the closer the touch point is to the bridge, and the lower the pitch, the farther the touch point is from the bridge. Using the correct "touch point" refers to the position where the strings touch the bamboo. Generally, the basic timbre of the dulcimer played by the middle part of the bamboo head is pure and melodious. If the timbre needs to be changed, it can be slightly adjusted up and down to obtain a bright and honest timbre. In addition, the incorrect angle and force of the strings will also cause uneven force on the strings, incomplete vibration of the sound, resulting in string running and noise.