Very similar to an Appalachian dulcimer. They usually get called Tennessee music box when the shape is rectangular rather than curvy sided. A bigger difference, from a musical perspective, is the short frets. The two melody strings closest to the players body are the only ones fretted the other two are drones. Traditionally strummed with a quill and fretted with a noter.
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That's correct Dave. I sometimes include a fret in the 10th fret position too just so I can get a C chord when tuned DAd but that's not usually found on early dulcimers. Often they go up past the 14th fret too but those high notes almost never get used by the old ballad and hymn singers. This 8 fret configuration gives you a major scale plus the high e note.
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That's correct Dave. I sometimes include a fret in the 10th fret position too just so I can get a C chord when tuned DAd but that's not usually found on early dulcimers. Often they go up past the 14th fret too but those high notes almost never get used by the old ballad and hymn singers. This 8 fret configuration gives you a major scale plus the high e note.
Nice Build Jim looks Great Looking forward to Hear You play it
Thanks Gary. I hadn't made the noter yet when I took this pic but I'm uploading the vid now showing it's use.
An excellent description and pictures of the build, Jim! What's a 'noter'? Like a sort of slide? Cannot wait to hear this beauty!