Sound Better Instantly — The Right Way to Fret Notes on Your Dulcimer Guitar
If your dulcimer, Strumstick, or M4 sounds a little buzzy or slightly out of tune, the problem might not be your instrument; it’s how you’re fretting the notes.
In this lesson, Ryan from Inglewood Instruments breaks down one of the most important skills every player needs to master: how and where to press down on your strings to get a clean, in-tune sound every time.
You’ll learn:
🎵 Where to place your finger relative to the fret
🎵 How to eliminate buzz instantly
🎵 Why pressing too hard can throw your notes out of tune
🎵 How to build muscle memory for cleaner chords and melodies
This simple fix can make your playing sound 10x better — even if you’re just getting started.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & why this matters
0:21 – What “fretting a note” actually means
0:46 – The right spot to press (avoid the buzz!)
1:56 – What happens when you press too far from the fret
2:42 – Understanding the physics behind buzzing
3:42 – Finding the “sweet spot” for clean tone
4:55 – Don’t press too hard — here’s why
5:52 – Common tuning issues caused by pressure
6:18 – Demo on Seagull Merlin (low string tension tips)
7:45 – Sharp notes and how to avoid them
8:36 – Practicing good fretting technique
9:00 – Simple up-and-down neck exercise
9:33 – Wrap-up & practice advice
9:42 – Did this help? Leave a comment!
10:06 – Outro & where to find full lessons
⭐ FIND EVEN MORE RESOURCES FOR ALL LEVELS AT:
► https://bit.ly/start-dulcimer
Connect with Inglewood Instruments at:
✉️ Questions? Email us at - hey@heyinglewood.com