According to Wikipedia a dulcimer is :
a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. The body extends the length of the fingerboard and it's fretting is generally diatonic.
I mention this beacaue it is one of my other passions and that it fits into my next post. It is an obscure instrument on the grand scale. It is one of the few American instruments and most people scratch their heads over it. Above is a picture of me and ONE my babies.
I started playing about 2o years ago. I was working late one night and was given the assignment of moving a gentleman who chose (do you really choose these moments?) to end his marriage at the Happiest Place on Earth. Now I had to walk him, his two suitcases an this stringed thing from the tower to a room far in the north wing. You don't ask someone in that situation how their day is going. So I asked what the instrument was called. He told me about the dulcimer he bought at the American pavillion at EPCOT. When he got to the room he played a couple of tunes.
When I heard it I knew I had to have one. So the next day I went to Lewis Music at Downtown Kissimmee. There Mrs. Lewis showed me the dulcimer she had in the shop and said, "Now I could sell you this dulcimer but I won't." I was absolutly floored . She told me that I could get a better one at EPCOT and that she would get me with the picks, books and such. Nice lady.
Now I played off and on but didn't really try in earnest until about 6 years ago. I'm not great but am making progress. I love it and find it very relaxing.
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