The beauty in my profile pic is a 1987 Folkroots. Gorgeous tone and a lucky find on eBay for $250. I played her in competition at Winfield this year.
Literally just got my dulcimer yesterday and then read the decidedly lukewarm opine of Roosebeck instruments but what's done is done. Anyone want to donate a dulcimer to someone that made a mistake?
Don't let anyone tell you your first dulcimer purchase was a mistake no matter the brand. I played the first seven years on a $100 kit with friction pegs. I wrote many of my tunes on that dulcimer and I performed with it at the World's Fair in 1986 and the Seattle Folklife festival.
If you play a little bit everyday you will get better regardless of the instrument. Can you find a better instrument? Absolutely! You can spend $4000 on a dulcimer but you will not learn any faster.
You are about to discover that every dulcimer you purchase or build from here on will never be enough. 
I am ordering these:
Keyboard case
Croí Cróga by Clannad or Loreena McKennitt's version of The Highwayman
Just put the instrument on your lap. Play something. If it sounds good, do it again. If it doesn't, try something else. Don't be too ambitious, just try to find the melody for all those nursery rhymes we learned as kids. You'll get those melodies in a short amount of time and will be able to figure out more complex ones later on.
This is the very essence of learning any instrument. By continually experimenting with what sounds good and what doesn't, you build your intimacy with the instrument. And like any other skill, if you practice 15 minutes a day, you will learn your instrument. Your brain begins associating certain sounds with certain shapes and it starts to snowball. Before you know it, you are writing tunes and able to jam with confidence because you know your instrument.
"...plus it seems most beginners get caught up in collecting tab and playing only from tab without actually learning to play from memory. I don't know how many folks I've seen who literally have to use tab to play Boil Them Cabbage!!!
I whole-heartedly agree, Ken. The same goes for people who can only play with sheet music. Tab & sheet music are useful in SMALL doses. After that it becomes your ball and chain.
It's like training wheels on a bike. Sure you can keep your training wheels on but you'll never be a good rider.
Frank Ledgerwood told me stories of people who came to him to improve their playing and he would ask them to play their favorite song so he could evaluate what they needed. They would tell him they couldn't because they didn't have the tab...for their favorite song?
I often get asked how I developed my style and it was by just experimenting. I learned my instrument by making up tunes. Put away the tab and just spend some time with your dulcimer. Sight reading tab and music are two great skills to have but I'll take knowing my instrument any day.
I might not know a song but in a few beats I can jump in and jam with anyone because I know how to make the sound that I'm hearing in my head. I may not know know I'm playing a C9 chord but I know the sound I am after and how to get there.
I have considered teaching a workshop on how to write tunes with no music theory or tab, and it will be a beginner class because if you can fret and strum your instrument, if you know what sounds good to you, then you have the ability to write your own songs. The biggest impediment is people thinking they can't do it so they don't even try.
...Anyway, I've been thinking about getting a dulcimer with a true diatonic fretboard but then adding a flexifret for every half fret, so the dulcimer could function as truly diatonic, fully chromatic, or anything in between.
Dwain is building a Concert Grand for me with flexi-frets. Brilliant idea! Opens up the entire dulcimer fret possibilities on one instrument. I'm hoping to have mine in time for Walnut Valley.
...but I like to play and I find that different instruments make me think differently. On guitar, mandolin, or dulcimer, I come up with different things. The modal nature of the dulcimer, in particular, forces me away from my natural tendency toward chromaticism.
Hey Craig good to meet you!
Wow - a Capritaurus AND a D-00. What a great pair.
I played guitar for many years before I started the dulcimer. The main draw for me was exactly as you say: diatonic forced me to rethink composing and experimenting with different tuning and string configurations.
As a result, I've now gone back to playing guitar again and started noodling in CGCFCD - what an amazing find courtesy of Martin Simpson!
I keep a drummer's stool in the back of the van in case the venue had no chairs (outside in the park, camping, etc.)
I have not made the transition to standing and playing as I've been playing for nearly 40 years and just can't find a position where I can still do the technical work.
In my studio I use an office chair that I fitted with "rollerblade" type wheels and removed the arms. Super comfy. I also use a keyboard stand fitted with padding for standing and playing flat.
I have arthritis in my picking thumb it is hard to hold a plain, thin pick comfortably for very long...
Have you tried the PykMax? I would think this would be perfect for you! It allows you to loosen your grip completely without dropping the pick.
Within a minute of playing with mine the first time I ordered 3 more. It's a super comfortable picking system.
Hi Patricia!
Joellen introduced you and Wayne to my wife and me at the Hollywood Monday night. I had returned home Saturday from the Menucha Dulcimer Festival where I learned from Joellen that you were presenting your Wonderful(!) film plus a concert from Joellen and Aaron.
My wife was delighted to make the drive to see and hear the magic.
We were not disappointed - well maybe a little: the concert could have been another three or four hours! :D 
Thanks for making a lasting tribute to this magical instrument and community.
Dean
It's probably not a good look on stage, but it's better than losing control of a pick and having it fly into the audience!
I liked your entire response but I can definitely relate to the above. I found a fantastic new pick (I use the 1mm) and it addresses just about any pick foible you can imagine. Here are a couple of photos on my page: Pykmax
I discovered my favorite pick only recently. It's called Pykmax and is a revolution in guitar picks (IMHO). It's really hard to describe how it works but it basically is a mini-platform that holds a pick and is cradled in your hand. It's fantastic! They come in different pick sizes but I use the purple 1mm.
After 5 minutes of playing I no longer realized it was there except for the wonderful freedom from pick slips, turns, bounces, fly aways and any other picking mishap you can imagine. :D
Here's a couple of photos: Pykmax
[quote="Ken Hulme"]
"There's no right way, or wrong way to play the dulcimer." Just YOUR way.
Hear Hear!
