The Mountain Dulcimer is a wonderful instrument. (Old picture. Glad I lost much of that weight!)
I received my first Mountain Dulcimer back in December of 1978. It was an ordination gift from my wife and members of our congregation at Christ Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY. I didn’t play it much for many years. This was because it was difficult due to an action that was too high.
Action is what musicians call the distance between the strings and the fret board. I had to press very hard to play it.
Fast forward to around 1994. I was at the home studio of a friend who was recording a few of my songs. (See my CD on Amazon: Under Your Rainbow). He had a dulcimer and let me play. It was so easy with a low action.
The proverbial light bulb went off in my brain. I went home and lowered the action on mine! What a difference. I used it to accompany myself while recording I Hear You Knocking.
From then on I would play it regularly. Fast forward to around 2002. We were now living in Bossier City, Louisiana. While on a vacation trip to Branson Missouri, we visited a shop selling Mountain Dulcimers. There I found, fell in love with, and purchased the instrument in the picture above.
This instrument is somewhat irregular in that it has 6 string instead of the usual 3. It is played the same because these strings are paired. It is thus much like a 12 string guitar. It quickly became the favorite of my two instruments.
Fast forward again about 5 years and I was working as a Hospice Chaplain. For several years, while visiting y patients I would bring the Mountain Dulcimer along. I played out favorite hymns for my patients.
I also was hired for a once a month gig. The program director of the local residential recovery program for compulsive gamblers heard my play at a health fair. The humorous part of this monthly concert is this. I was successful if the residence fell asleep during the concert! I have also on occasion entertained in nursing homes and long term care facilities. These audiences did not fall asleep.
If you watch some of the videos on the Soul Notes section of the website you might notice my strumming technique. Traditionally the strings were strummed using the end of a feather. Modern players usually us a pick. As you can see I prefer to finger pick.
Traditionally the melody is played on only one string. The other two act as drones. I follow this method. However, musicians more accomplished than me will also use the other strings either for notes in the melody or for playing chords.
The Mountain Dulcimer is an instrument you can learn to play in one session and spend the rest of your life advancing to more complicated methods. I highly recommend it for people of all ages. It is a great instrument as a first for young people. Also, it has been suggested that one way to keep your mind sharp is to learn to play an instrument.
Although the Mountain Dulcimer is an Appalachian instrument it is played today all across the country. You may find a regular group of players in your area. There are also groups that host workshops. Check out the Friends of Mountain Dulcimer website. If you happen to travel to Branson or to Mountain View Arkansas be sure to check out a store. Also on line
https://cedarcreekdulcimers.com/cedarshop/index.php/shop-2/mountain-dulcimers/
https://mcspaddendulcimers.com/
