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Greensleeves
(What Child Is This)
A Basic 4-Equidistant String
Arrangement for Mountain
Dulcimer
by Janita Baker with excerpts from Fingerpicking Dulcimer,
MB99537BCD
“Greensleeves” is a melody we hear a lot around the holiday
season with the lyrics of “What Child Is This.” This
arrangement is a good introduction to four equidistant
string playing on the mountain dulcimer. The dulcimer is tuned to D - A - A# - C (bass string to first
string). It enables you to play the usually illusive “F” natural note found in this piece.
Adjusting Your Mountain Dulcimer to Four Equidistant Strings:
There are many advantages to playing “four string” dulcimer, not the least of which is the versatility it
gives a player in both fingerpicking patterns and, by utilizing “chromatic” tunings - the ability to play fully
chromatic songs on a diatonically-fretted fretboard.
If your dulcimer’s nut and saddle are not already slotted to allow for a four evenly spaced string pattern,
you will need to have the two extra slots cut. This is best done by a qualified luthier; most music stores
have access to a competent guitar repair person, and this adjustment should pose no problems for them.
Many currently manufactured dulcimers offer this feature when you buy them.
Playing Instructions:
Remember it is no harder than fingerpicking three strings, and note how seldom you use the second
string. By having tuned into “Chromatic Aeolian” with your four separate strings, you are able to more
easily reach the “F” natural (4th fret, second string) enabling you to play a complete F major chord which
enhances the melodic composition of the arrangement.
In measure 3 and 4, leave your index finger down on the 4th fret, third string for both measures; the
stretch to reach the 1st fret, melody string in measure 4 may seem difficult at first but with a little
practice you should have no problem making this reach while still sustaining the third string note.

Listen to Janita Baker play “Greensleeves”

FINGERPICKING DULCIMER, MB99537BCD
by Janita Baker

This book and CD collection of 21 songs is arranged in a
fingerpicking style for the mountain dulcimer and offers a wide
variety of musical genres and playing levels. Divided equally
between arrangements for three and four equidistant strings, the
songs progress in difficulty within each section from beginner to
advanced level. Each piece is written in both standard music
notation and dulcimer tablature, and is accompanied by
performance tips for playing that song. Many arrangements utilize
the 6 1/2 fret, and tunings range from standard modal tunings to
four-string variations. The arrangements cover a wide variety of
song styles including traditional, ragtime, blues, and classical
standards. Songs include My Old Kentucky Home; Londonderry Air,
All Through the Night, The Entertainer, Careless Love, House of the
Rising Sun, Für Elise, and Bach's Minuet in G. There is an extensive
introduction on playing techniques for both left and right hands,
tunings, reading tablature, and dulcimer embellishments. The
accompanying CD is an instrumental recording of solo dulcimer,
designed to give the student a note-for-note reference to each
written arrangement while providing a performance-quality
listening experience.
Editor’s Note: For more instruction on fingerpicking the mountain
dulcimer we recommend Janita’s outstanding book, Fingerpicking Dulcimer, described above. For a quick
intro you might also want to visit the February 2006 Back Issue of www.DulcimerSessions.com and review
the article on “Fingerpicking ‘til Your Heart’s Content.”
About the Author
Janita Baker has been playing and teaching mountain dulcimer since 1975 and is in great demand at
dulcimer festivals and workshops across the country. She is the author of several dulcimer tablature books
including Blues & Ragtime for Fretted Dulcimer (Mel Bay Publications) and a collection of solo
instrumentals entitled Solace (both currently out of print). Janita has produced a number of solo dulcimer
albums over the years, and along with her husband, Robert, released their first duo album, “Walkin’
Around Lucky,” in 1998.
And, for a Holiday Season treat check out Janita and Robert’s latest
CD, The Hot Rod Sleigh: The Hot Rod Sleigh is an acoustic collection
which celebrates the season with a great balance of light-hearted
parody and lovely old country traditionals, with just a touch of delta
blues and acoustic swing for good measure. Robert Baker on guitar,
National steel and lead vocals; Janita Baker on mountain dulcimer and
autoharp; Kelly Powers on fiddle, mandolin, accordion and harmony
vocals, Jean Sutton singing harmony, and Peter Morin on dobro.
This album was nominated by Just Plain Folks to receive their Holiday
Album of the year for 2002.
CONTENTS: Wrap My Heart in Ribbons; Santa's Back in Town; The Hot
Rod Sleigh; Walkin' the Floor This Christmas; Hesitation Christmas
Blues; Winter Wonderland; Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy; Santa the
Knife; It's Christmas Time Pretty Baby; Jingle Bell Rock; His Baby Done Changed; Rockin' Around the
Christmas Tree; Reindeer Boogie; Christmas Carols 'Round the Old Corral.
Janita and Robert are the owners and builders of Blue Lion dulcimers and guitars, which they started in
1977. To date, the have produced over 4,000 mountain dulcimers and over 100 acoustic steel string
guitars. The instruments are noted for their clarity, balance and quality of craftsmanship, and are played
by many of the top performers in the country.
The July 2003 Back Issue of www.DulcimerSessions.com features an article on Janita and Robert’s Blue
Lion dulcimers and guitars.
For information about Janita’s other tablature books and recordings or for details on Blue Lion dulcimers
and guitars visit their website: www.bluelioninstruments.com