Dulcimer
As an invention of early Scottish and Irish pioneers, the Appalachian (or mountain) dulcimer is a truly American instrument dating from the early half of the 1800’s. It was a later addition to the fretted zither (referring to any instrument without a neck) family and a close cousin to the particular zither called a scheitholz, a popular instrument of German settlers who migrated down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania. The name dulcimer comes from the Greek dulce (sweet) and Latin melos (song), meaning "sweet song". Though it is quite different from the hammered dulcimer - a forefather of the modern piano - the name of that existing instrument may have influenced the naming of its distant American cousin.
Ginny Lynn playing the mountain dulcimer.
A favorite tune, "Wildwood Flowers" played on the dulcimer.
Dulcimers were made in either an hourglass or teardrop shape from the woods easily available in the area – poplar, walnut, or cherry - and fretted with wire or brass on hand. Though some were commercially made in the late 1800s, for the most part dulcimers were crafted by individuals supplying their families and friends with dulcimers passed down for generations. Most dulcimers had 3 or 4 strings and were played on the lap, making them easy to strum with a pick or feather. This made the dulcimer easy to learn and easy to play, becoming an instrument for the common man. They became a staple of small gatherings in homes and groups of dulcimer players would gather to demonstrate new songs and techniques. Since the 1960s, the Appalachian dulcimer has carved its own niche in the genres of old-time, rock, pop, jazz, country, blues and classical music and is now more popular than ever.
Jean Ritchie playing "Hangman" on the dulcimer. An example of how the dulcimer is a singing instrument.