Arranging Acoustic Music Although this course is focused on the hammer dulcimer, the harmony theory offered here is applicable to any acoustic instrument.  This is a basic course and does not cover ensemble arranging.  Think of it as a "Just Enough Theory" course and you'll understand the content better. The course is aimed at students who know some tunes, how to play scales and can find their way around the dulcimer with confidence.   The goal of the course to equip you with the musical tools you need to make original arrangements for the dulcimer. Live links show what is available.  More to come In the mean time....... ►  Look for my article on multi-voice arranging at Mel Bay's Dulcimer Sessions.  www.dulcimersessions.com           The text will be up about December 1.  The topic is the Chrismas Carol We Three Kings.           A sound file accompanies the text. ►Look for my detailed article on on multi-voice arranging in Dulcimer Players News.  www.dpnews.com        That issue will come out early in 2009.  A sound file accompanies the text.

Three Essential Tools for Arranging Knowledge            Key                        Circle of 5ths Diagram                       Keys and the circle of 5ths             Scales                         Musical scales                         Frequently used scale                               Unusual scales             Chords                         Intervals  if you are not familiar with interval nomenclature, visit this link                         Chord Basics if you are not familiar with chords, visit this link.                         Chords on the diatonic scale                         Chord Voicing                         Tension Chords                         Combination Chords                         Color Chords – chord extensions             Chord Progressions                         Chord Progressions in major keys                         Chord Functions                         Circle of 5ths and Chord Boxes             Modes                         Diatonic Modes, chords and chord selections             Rhythm                         Rhythm, The Beat Window and Meter                         Dysclocksia                         Polyrhythms  Skills             Chord Falls             Chord Imagine             WAEF and WIDs             WIDs integrated with melody             Up ii down V             Walking Bass             Weird Scales             Metronomic pulse                        Procedure             Transposition             Modulation Techniques                      Fitting Chords to Diatonic Melodies             Arranging a melody - Ook Pic Waltz             Choosing Chords Outside the Diatonic Population

Tunes             Bonapoarte Crossing the Rhine             Bonnie Portmore             Un Canadian Errant             Crested Hens             Dark Island             Final March of Mary Queen of Scots             From the Top of the Hill             Hard Times Come Again No More             Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring             Kesh Jig             Ook Pick Waltz             Si Bheg Si Mhore             Suo Gan             In the Bleak Mid-Winter             Star of the County Down             The Water Is Wide                   Chord Charts Chord charts for the following tunes:   Can You Read My Mind?  Dark as a Dungeon Dream Dream Dream       Eleanor Rigby Mr. Bo Jangles Music of the Night Norweigian Wood Satisfied Mind Spanish Harlem Stand By Me What’ll I Do? Yesterday Your Mother Should Know    NoteWorthy Files             Hard Times Come Again No More             Suo Gan             In the Bleak Mid-Winter             Star of the County Down             The Water Is Wide                  Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine             Shenandoah             Dark Island     ABC Files            Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine                      Crested Hens              Dark Island             Hard Times Come Again No More             Ook Pick Waltz             Star of the County Down             Suo Gan             The Water Is Wide