Was thinking of picking up a mountain dulcimer aside from banjo playing…anyone have experience with them?
Hey, I got gobs of opinion!
Especially, if you're used to banjo, I can't hardly hear a dulcimer. Hammered nor Mtn. style.
I bought one, haven't really sat down and tried to learn how to play it. It is a Deering Dulcimer the main reason I bought it.
I've wanted a hammered dulcimer for many years.
Even the kits are quite expensive.
Local guy makes them. $100. Obviously not the best but to bang around on might be fun.
I mucked around with one 40 or 50 years ago. It was fun, but the limitations of the instrument are such that I never actually wanted to get one.
They're pretty simple to play.
A "no wrong notes" strum stick was 'way too complicated/advanced for me.
My wife bought a mtn. dulcimer several years ago .... worked at it for several months, maybe more ... set it aside. Now whenever I ask if she wants me to go get her dulcimer or merlin so we can "make beautiful music together," she politely declines my offer. 
[But says that she'll probably get back to it some day.]
Now, how's that for pertinent info?? 
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Originally posted by steve davisI've wanted a hammered dulcimer for many years.
Even the kits are quite expensive.
My brother got one for free. He was a very good pianist in his younger days and thought it might be fun to play hammered dulcimer in his older age. He was talking to a hammered dulcimer teacher about it and the teacher had one that he wanted to give away. My brother took lessons one winter and then lost interest. He keeps saying he is going to get back into it.
Edited by - BG Banjo on 09/08/2025 11:09:42
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Originally posted by eagleislandI mucked around with one 40 or 50 years ago. It was fun, but the limitations of the instrument are such that I never actually wanted to get one.
They're pretty simple to play.
I played snare drum from the 4th through the 12th grade in school and found the "mallets" very balanced and responsive.
I attempted the Victory Garden theme and did fairly good for my one and only try.
It was a lot of fun.
Any jam I ever attended that had a hammered dulcimer, to me, was a disaster. The hammered dulcimer completely drowned out all the other instruments and all you could hear was the hammered dulcimer. I am not very fond of them as a result. As far as the regular dulcimer, they all sound the same, as in just a constant droning down strum with little variation.
Joe
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Originally posted by cottontopAny jam I ever attended that had a hammered dulcimer, to me, was a disaster. The hammered dulcimer completely drowned out all the other instruments and all you could hear was the hammered dulcimer. I am not very fond of them as a result. As far as the regular dulcimer, they all sound the same, as in just a constant droning down strum with little variation.
Joe
To me, a dulcimer is an instrument for someone who cannot play an instrument. But, they do have a following and carry a lot of cultural history. So, in that sense, they are not so bad. I just don't like to see them at jams.
Joe
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Originally posted by stevebsqWas thinking of picking up a mountain dulcimer aside from banjo playing…anyone have experience with them?
So, you're talking mountain dulcimer, which is not a hammer/hammered dulcimer.
It's similar to banjo in that it uses various tunings. It's easy enough to work out simple tunes on. Check out videos and you'll see how far one can go with making complex music. Like anything else, it can get really involved.
Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer (FOTMD) is the go-to site for dulcimer people. Check it out: fotmd.com
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Originally posted by chuckv97Here’s someone taking on “Salt Spring” ,, very nice!
facebook.com/stories/102386745...permalink
Here's another https://fb.watch/B-_D62N1iq/?fs=e
