1-2-3-5

Do you know the 1-2-3-5 pattern? If not, you should. Sometimes, it's just the thing for filling space. It works starting from a marked course of strings (for a major chord) and from strings one above the mark (for a minor chord). But beware! It doesn't work played from one below the mark.

Try this:

• Go to the marked G mid-way up the right treble bridge on your instrument
• Play G with your left hand, alternate hands as you move through the pattern
• Continue straight up the treble bridge, through the notes of the scale …               G - A - B, skipping C, strike D  See that? 1-2-3-(skip4)-5 (L-R-L-R)

Want to continue on into the next octave?

• Your left hand will lead you across the treble bridge to strike the octave G on the left side of the treble bridge
• Continue through the pattern … G - A - B, skip C, strike D

You've been moving up the treble bridge, but like other patterns on the hammered dulcimer, this one works across the valley, too.

• Go to the low G on your bass bridge
• Play the pattern, 1-2-3-5, straight up the bass bridge (LRLR)
• Left hand leads you across the valley and strikes the octave G on the right side of the treble bridge
• Continue up the right treble bridge, 1-2-3-5
• Left hand leads you across the treble bridge to the next octave G
• Continue up the left treble bridge, 1-2-3-5
• Congratulations! You've just played three octaves of the 1-2-3-5 pattern!

Extra credit:

• Play the Am pattern
• Now try it in D, and Em, and all over your instrument
• You've been moving UP the pattern, now move DOWN!  5-3-2-1 Figure out where to cross the bridge and valley

Incorporate this into your warm-up exercises. It's fun. It's useful. It even sounds pretty in practice!