Dulcimer (Appalachian) — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Dulcimer (Appalachian)Type: instrumentA fretted, hourglass-shaped American folk instrument played on the lap, associated with the music of the Appalachian Mountains.## History The Appalachian dulcimer (also called the mountain dulcimer or lap dulcimer) developed in the Appalachian Mountain region of the eastern United States during the 19th century. Its ancestry likely includes the German scheitholt, the Norwegian langspil, and other European folk zithers brought to Appalachia by settlers. The dulcimer became deeply embedded in the folk culture of Appalachian communities, used to accompany ballad singing and for solo entertainment. Jean Ritchie, a Kentucky folk musician, brought the dulcimer to national and international attention during the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s. The instrument has since developed a dedicated community of players, builders, and festivals throughout North America. ## Construction The Appalachian dulcimer has a long, narrow body, typically 30 to 36 inches in overall length, with an hourglass, teardrop, or elliptical shape. The instrument has a fretted fingerboard running down the center of the body, raised slightly above the soundboard. Three or four strings run the length of the instrument over a hollow wooden body. The fretboard has diatonic frets (with some additional chromatic frets on modern instruments), with the intervals based on the major scale. The body acts as a sound box, with the soundboard typically spruce and the back and sides walnut, cherry, or other American hardwoods. A strum hollow (an area beside the fretboard) allows the player to strum or pick the strings. Sound holes may be round, he…