Appalachian Dulcimer

This instrument is part of the dulcimer/zither/psaltery family and comes in a variety of shapes. Mike's is of the hourglass shape, has a walnut body and solid spruce top and was made in the US by Stoney End. The instrument has four strings, the top two tuned together to make a double course to be better heard over the other two accompanying strings. When using the strumming style of playing this double course plays the melody with the other two strings providing a drone. The dulcimer is played by sitting and resting the instrument accross the knee. The strings are stopped behind the frets with the left hand whilst stroking the strings with a plectrum of playing with the fingers. There are various "modes" or keys that players use; dorian, ionian, myxolodian and aeolian which involves retuning the instrument. The Appalchian dulcimer is also known as the mountain dulcimer and was first seen in the early 1800s in the Appalachian mountains. Mike uses the dulcimer on Men's String Vests and Maggie, Milly, Molly and May both of which will be on the forthcoming second album.