-1These tables show the "movable" chords of any 1-5-5 Diatonic dulcimer tuning.

Each of these finger placement patterns can be played up and down the fretboard,
keeping the same finger separations to form the succesive chords shown in the table.
(Some teachers refer to these as "moveable chords".) You will also note that these
patterns give a succession of chords which are major, minor, or otherwise, none of which
forms a recognizable "scale". This is the problem with chord encyclopedias (which
group chords according to names but not according to the treble fret on which they are
formed).
It is a simple matter, from these groupings, to select those that comprise major and minor
chord scales, as shown.
To really understand chords, the dulcimer student must do two things: (1) forget about the
use of drones and (2) learn basic chord theory. It won't hurt, honest!!!

P
at
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rn
#1
:
9

2 3 5 6 7 8
1 4 8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
2 5 9 0
3 4 6 7 8
B
m
B A E D B
A D G A
m 7 m 7 m
P
at
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rn
#2
:
9
2 3 5 6 7
4 7
7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 8
1
3 4 6 7 8
0
 F
E A B A
D # G D
m m m 7
m
P
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rn
#3
:
1
3 4 6 7 8 0
2 5 9
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2 5 9
3 4 6 7 8 1
0
F F
B E
# G A C D # G
m m
m m

If you want to play a Major Chord scale pattern:

Major Scale: (The Ionian Mode starts on the third fret.)

2 3 1 2 4 4 5 7 7 8 9
0 1 0 0 2 3 3 5 6 7 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
D G A D A D G D G A D

If you want to play a minor chord scale pattern:

minor scale: (The Aeolian Mode starts on the first fret.)

2 2 2 3 5 5 6 8 9 9
1 0 1 1 3 4 4 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
B F# B E B E A E F# B
m m m m m m m m m m
Other miscellaneous chords for 1-5-5 tuning:

1
5 6
3 6 0
+
4 7
Major 4
:
1 4 8 minor: 2 5
4
5 8
6
3 6 1
+ 7
0
F#
G C E A G Bm
m

Dominant Seventh:
7
3 3 4 6 8
4
0 2 2 5 6
6
2 4 6
7 9
+
A A A E D A
7 7 7 7 7 7

When you are in any of the positions on the bass and middle strings, you can freely play
passing tones and chordal variants without danger of a dissonance (watch out for the 6+
fret). When playing harmony, just move your position ahead of the melody by 2
positions for a simple parallel third.
An easy formula for converting tab from DAA to DAd:
Subtract three from the tab number on the treble string. When your result is -1, -2, or -3,
you need to move to the middle string at 2, 1, and open, respectively.

Another Ionian Melody chord scale pattern:

 1 1
1
1 2
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 7 7 8 9 0 14
1 1
0 0 0 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 9 12
0 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 14
1 1
1
2 3
M L R F
Sol La Ti Do Re Fa Sol Ti Do Mi Sol
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