Ron Gibson Mountain Dulcimers

To order a dulcimer please email ron@gibsondulcimers.com

or leave a message at 740-262-2660

The Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer - A Brief History

While the sound of the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer may conjure up images of Scottish Highland bagpipes or ancient English cottages tucked deep in a misty glen – it is actually a fairly recent instrument in historical terms. The mountain dulcimer is a true American folk instrument developed by the people of the Appalachian Mountains. But like the early emigrants to America, it has many relatives from the old country.

The dulcimer belongs to a family of instruments characterized as fretted zithers. A zither is an instrument where the fretboard runs along the entire length of the instrument. The German zither known as a scheitholt is closest in style to the Appalachian Dulcimer. The scheitholt probably originated in medieval times and was based on instruments from the Middle East. A scheitholt typically has straight sides and a narrow width that grows wider near the strummed end of the instrument. The frets are placed directly on the soundboard and there is no separate fretboard as in a mountain dulcimer. However, the fret pattern or scale is identical to that of the early mountain dulcimer. Some historians believe that the scheitholt was introduced by German immigrants into the Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian Mountains and as it spread throughout the mountains, it was modified into the mountain dulcimer. Several versions of the scheitholt have been found in the Appalachians with some dating back to the 1700’s.

Most Appalachian history was passed down orally and there is little documented history of the mountain dulcimer. The little history that does exist suggests that the Appalachian dulcimer was developed during the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. Few early dulcimers survive to provide evidence of a first builder and it is likely that the instrument evolved over time with many Appalachian artisans making a significant contribution. Early dulcimers were built from the wood commonly found in the mountains, such as walnut, poplar, maple, chestnut and sycamore. Dulcimers were usually made entirely of one wood, with walnut being the most common.

Early dulcimers were often crudely constructed by modern standards. The earliest instruments had three strings, hand carved wooden tuning pegs and frets made of bent nails, which extended only under the first or melody string. The strings were sometimes made from screen door wire. The soundholes were usually very simple designs such as upside down hearts.

The shape of the dulcimer was largely left to the interpretation and preference of the builder. Over time, regional variations became more distinct and certain dulcimer shapes became associated with particular sections of the Appalachians. Some builders were very prolific and began to produce very good instruments.

Probably the most famous builder was John Edward Thomas. Thomas lived in Knott Co. Kentucky (a few miles from my own birthplace) and developed a version of an hourglass shaped dulcimer. Thomas sold his dulcimers from the back of a mule cart. During a period roughly between 1870 and 1930, it is believed that Thomas made well over one thousand dulcimers. My own Kentucky model dulcimer is a copy of J. E. Thomas’s dulcimers.

Although I didn’t know it at the time, the first dulcimer I built over 30 years ago is a very close replica of a J.E. Thomas dulcimer – even down to the nails for frets. (Picture below) (If picture does not appear - Click Here)

Another early builder is John Scales of Floyd Co. Virginia. Scales made a teardrop shaped instrument that was thicker than modern dulcimers and included soundholes in the fretboard. His dulcimers were made in the period around 1840. Below is a picture of a John Scales model dulcimer that I reproduced for a museum in Virginia. (Picture below)(If picture does not appear - Click Here)

Charles Hammack was a West Virginia builder who made an hourglass dulcimer style in the mid 1800’s. His dulcimers had wider bodies and are more typical of the shape of many modern dulcimers.

Early Dulcimer Music

The music most suited to the Appalachian dulcimer was the old English ballads. These songs were based on modal melodies that matched the modal tuning and fretboard layout of the dulcimer. Songs such as Barbara Allen, Banks of the Ohio and Wagoner’s Lad were based on songs from the old country, with the words usually adapted to the new world and region of the singer. Dulcimers were played alone and with other instruments. In summertime, they were played on lonely cabin porches after a hard days work in the fields. In wintertime, the crackling embers of the fireside hearth and revolutions of the spinning wheel accompanied the plaintiff mountain vocals and ringing drone of the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer.

When radios became available to the mountain people, they discovered a whole new world. It was common for neighbors to gather on a Saturday night at the house of the first family to own a radio and listen to the Grand Ol’ Opry and other popular shows. Suddenly, there was music and news from the outside world. They heard Jimmy Rodger’s blend of blues and Tin Pan Alley, Uncle Dave Macon’s banjo, mountain string bands, such as The Fruit Jar Drinkers, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers and Grayson & Whittier. They also heard new types of music such as Dixieland jazz that did not lend itself to the confines of the mountain dulcimer.

Mass produced instruments also became more readily available to the mountaineers through outlets such as Sears & Roebuck and the handmade mountain dulcimer began to fade from common use even in the isolated Appalachian Mountains. In the guitar, fiddle and banjo, musicians found instruments that could be heard above the noise of crowds and were also better suited to modern melodies and chord changes. Other than in a few isolated outposts, the dulcimer was soon relegated to a wall decoration or totally discarded and nearly faded from history

The 1950’s and early 1960’s saw a renewed interest in authentic American folk music and folk instruments. Groups like the Kingston Trio were mining a rich tradition of songs by American folk music pioneers such as the Carter Family- and having huge hits in the process. Many folk music enthusiasts wanted to dig deeper and find the origins of this music. Along the way, they discovered dulcimer players like Jean Ritchie of Kentucky. Jean Ritchie did much to popularize the dulcimer outside the Appalachians, especially with people in urban areas.

Eventually the dulcimer was adopted by a new generation and spread throughout the United States. Soon, dulcimer clubs were formed, festivals were organized and the dulcimer began to make a comeback. Even local music stores began to stock dulcimers, books and accessories. Many talented musicians pushed the boundaries of dulcimer music to a point where no style of music was considered “unplayable” on a dulcimer.

Today you can hear blues, classical and even jazz music played on a mountain dulcimer… and with a little practice – you can probably play it yourself. After all, one of the reasons the Appalachian Mountain dulcimer is so popular is that it is the easiest stringed instrument in the world to play. While you may not be able to pick up a dulcimer and immediately launch into Bach or Beethoven – chances are that you will be able to play some familiar and entertaining tunes with very little practice. In fact, you can play the dulcimer using just one finger to fret the notes and many people play their whole life in this style without ever losing interest in the instrument.

Of course, the other reason the dulcimer is so popular is its haunting, beautiful sound. Actually, the literal translation of the word dulcimer is “sweet sound” or “sweet melody”. There is probably nothing more soothing or relaxing than to sit on your porch on a summer night and play the dulcimer – crickets chirping… night birds singing … and if you’re lucky, the water from a nearby holler splashing against the moss covered rocks and providing a background rhythm.

The mountain dulcimer continues to grow in popularity each year. While it is good to see so many people learning to play and appreciate the mountain dulcimer, it is also sad to see the proliferation of cheap imported plywood instruments. I firmly believe that the best dulcimers are still handmade and there are many talented builders producing highly original top quality dulcimers. There is a certain magic to an instrument that is handcrafted by a lone luthier working late into the night – testing, playing, checking, refining, experimenting. The magic of the mountain dulcimer comes from the heart, soul, sweat and history of the people of the Appalachian Mountains .... and hopefully, this will not be lost or forgotten.