by Ryan Dooley for the Tennessee State Museum” Though it goes by many names, the Appalachian, mountain, lap, plucked, fretted dulcimer does not get the recognition it deserves. Its unique history and connections to Tennessee have often been relegated to folk music revivals from almost a century ago. It is difficult to champion such a … Read More
by Ken Longfield and Ken Hulme We know, that like Don Quixote, we are tilting at windmills with this little essay. Many in our Appalachian (mountain, etc.) dulcimer community use the term scheitholt to describe an elongated box over which passes any number of strings from five to fifteen. We even used the term until … Read More
Professionally transferred from its original 1976 16mm format release onto DVD, Gene DuBay’s remarkable film captures the friendship of I.D. Stamper and John McCutcheon in a back yard visit at I.D.’s shop. Stories, songs and playing strategies are non-stop in the film and the musical talents of both men are shared for us all to … Read More
I listened today, for the first time, by way of Kevin Teague’s 2025 YouTube video, to a Dulcimette – what Kevin describes as a backpacker dulcimer. Kevin’s Dulcimette was built by James McAnulty. It’s tiny, and sounds pretty, if you like the higher pitched end of a dulcimer. Other players who’ve told me about this … Read More
By Mark Dettmer There are pretty well established methods on how to tune and play the guitar, ukulele, and other stringed instruments. Back in the year 1900 this was also true for the mountain dulcimer, but now the feeling I hear from frustrated dulcimer first timers is that there are too many people shouting out … Read More
By Mark Dettmer The history of Appalachian (mountain) dulcimers cannot be written without the mention of seclusion, remote isolation – and let’s face it – sometimes being an introvert. Scholars of the Hummel and early versions of the mountain dulcimer all point to these instruments’ uses in the teaching of music mainly for religious hymns … Read More
