#mountain dulcimer

☑️ play dulcimer

☑️ befriend an otter

I play a bunch of string instruments but primarily mandolin. Here's a picture of the instrument that got me into playing music.

Both of these are mountain dulcimers, the one on the left belonged to my grandmother. This instrument is unique to Appalachia and was typically used as accompaniment to singing.

The Appalachian dulcimer is an American fretted zither, developed by Celtic immigrants in the Appalachia. It's the first major instrument that was created in America, and dates back to the early 1800s. The dulcimer has a wooden sound box that comes in many shapes such as an hourglass, teardrop, rectangle, or a narrow trapezoid. Along with 2 or 4 sound holes, a fret board centered on the soundbox, 2 melody strings and 2 drone strings. The dulcimer is typically played with pick or hand, but traditionally with a quill.